571 cases of “sham resettlement” have been detected since the beginning of 2025

The Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation revealed that 571 cases of “sham nationalization” of citizens were detected in private companies from the beginning of the year until the end of the third quarter of 2025, confirming that legal measures would be taken against companies involved in fake nationalization, in implementation of Cabinet Resolution No. (43) of 2025 regarding violations and administrative penalties related to the initiatives and programs of the Emirates Competitiveness Council.
Labor Market Observatory statistics, reviewed by Emirates Today, showed that more than 95% of private establishments are committed to providing real job opportunities for UAE citizens in compliance with Emiratization policies and decisions.
Statistics showed that the number of inspection visits to private sector companies until the end of the third quarter of this year amounted to more than 590 thousand visits, while the percentage of increase in inspection visits in 2024 compared to 2023 was about 55%, and the percentage of decrease in violations committed against establishments in 2024 was about 38%.
The Ministry stressed the efficiency of the field and digital supervisory system in monitoring negative practices, most notably fictitious Emiratization, which is a limited negative practice that does not constitute a phenomenon in the UAE labor market. At the same time, it stressed on dealing firmly with companies that are not committed to Emiratization policies and decisions.
She pointed to the negative repercussions of fictitious Emiratisation on the goals and objectives of the Emiratisation file, which is not based on merely employing citizens, but rather aims to prepare productive and sustainable Emirati human capital in the private sector, enabling Emirati cadres to actively participate in the development process of the country, support its economy, and increase their contribution to the national economy, especially the priority sectors targeted in the semi-annual Emiratisation goals, which requires developing the competence of citizens within real skilled jobs and exercising them in actual job tasks that enhance their capabilities.
The Ministry appreciated the private sector’s commitment to Emiratisation policies, decisions and targets, stressing its continued support for committed companies by including them in the Emiratisation Partners Club, enabling them to obtain 80% discounts on the Ministry’s transaction fees, and giving them priority within the government procurement system in cooperation with the Ministry of Finance to support their work, with the exception of the support provided by the “Nafis” program for citizens’ wages, and other benefits and advantages.
The Ministry called on citizens and members of society to report any cases of fictitious localization they may be exposed to, and not to be drawn into the violating companies, and to contact the Ministry on the number 600590000 or the Labor Consultation Center 80084 or the Ministry’s smart application or its website.
“Sham nationalization” is defined as the virtual employment of a citizen through the company obtaining a work permit for him and registering him with the company for a purpose other than the purpose designated for issuing the permit and concluding a work contract whose formal elements are present but which lacks its basic elements in proving the real work relationship, in order to circumvent the decisions that regulate the work of citizens in the private sector, including the goals of nationalization, or for the purpose of illegally benefiting from government support systems and incentives related to the employment and training of citizens.