UAE: Increasing the minimum salaries of citizens working in the private sector to 6,000 dirhams per month

The Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation announced an increase in the minimum salaries of citizens joining private sector jobs to 6,000 dirhams per month, starting from January 1, 2026, and allowing establishments that hired citizens before the aforementioned date to adjust their salaries according to the new minimum before June 30, 2026.

The new minimum salaries for citizens in the private sector apply to new work permits for citizens, as well as those that are renewed or amended as of January 1, 2026.

The Undersecretary of the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation for Labor Market Operations and Emiratisation, Khalil Al-Khoury, confirmed that the decision to increase the minimum salaries for citizens in the private sector comes within the framework of the Emiratisation strategy, which followed a gradual approach to increasing the minimum salary, which began with 4,000 dirhams per month, then 5,000 dirhams, reaching 6,000 dirhams as of the year 2026, in line with the average wages prevailing in the labor market according to the nature of the job, and in a way that supports private sector establishments and gives them… Appropriate opportunities to deal with gradual increases in minimum salaries.

He called on establishments to amend the employment contracts of citizens in accordance with the new minimum salaries before the scheduled date of next June 30, as the minimum salaries for all citizens in the private sector will be 6 thousand dirhams by the indicated date.

He said that a package of measures will be implemented against establishments that are not committed to amending salaries, starting from July 1, 2026, as citizens whose salaries have not been amended will not be counted among the Emiratisation targets set for establishments.
Covered by Emiratisation policies and decisions, as well as stopping new work permits for the establishment until salaries are adjusted in accordance with the new minimum.

He praised the private sector establishments’ fulfillment of their obligations towards Emiratisation goals and policies since they began to be implemented, in light of the support provided to them by the “Nafes” program to achieve what is required of them, especially through its electronic platform, which is full of national competencies ready to join the jobs available to the establishments, in addition to the many privileges provided by the Ministry to establishments committed to the Emiratization goals.