What Nafis is
Nafis is the UAE’s federal programme to increase the number of Emiratis in private-sector jobs. It sits alongside the MoHRE Emiratisation targets that employers must meet: the targets create the demand for UAE Nationals, and Nafis makes the roles financially attractive by topping up salaries and covering some of the employer’s costs.
For you, that means two things. Employers hiring to meet a target are hiring to keep you — a departure creates a gap they are fined for. And a private-sector salary can be worth more than it looks once the Nafis support on top of it is counted.
What you can get
The main programmes for employees. Each has its own eligibility rules and amounts, which depend on your qualification and salary band.
Salary support
A monthly top-up paid by Nafis on top of your private-sector salary, scaled by qualification and salary band, for a set number of years.
Pension contribution support
The government covers the employer’s share of your pension contributions for a period, which makes you less costly to hire and protects your retirement savings.
Child allowance
A monthly allowance per child, up to a cap, for working Emirati parents in the private sector.
Training & apprenticeships
Subsidised training, on-the-job apprenticeships and certification programmes linked to private-sector roles.
Talent programmes
Structured programmes for high-potential graduates and specialists in sectors the country is prioritising.
Job matching
A national vacancy platform where employers search registered UAE Nationals and post Emirati-only roles.
Salary support is paid monthly by Nafis directly to you and is typically granted for up to five years, with the amount set by your qualification level and capped by salary band. Pension support runs for a fixed period on eligible salaries. Nafis publishes the current figures — we confirm what applies to you on the screening call.
How to register, in five steps
- 1Create your UAE Pass
Nafis uses UAE Pass to log in. If you already have it for other government services, you are ready.
- 2Register on nafis.gov.ae
Log in with UAE Pass, confirm your Emirates ID details and create your jobseeker profile.
- 3Upload your documents
Attested qualification certificates, Emirates ID, family book and a CV. Attestation matters: employers need it for MoHRE’s skilled-role definition.
- 4Complete your profile
Education, experience, skills and the sectors and emirates you are open to. A complete profile is what employers can find and what benefits are assessed against.
- 5Apply, or be matched
Apply to Emirati-only vacancies on the platform, and register with us so we can introduce you to roles directly and prepare you for them.
Finding your Nafis number
Your Nafis number is issued when your registration is approved, and it lives in your Nafis profile. Sign in to nafis.gov.ae with UAE Pass and it appears on your dashboard; it is also in the confirmation email sent when the profile was approved.
If you cannot find it, the usual reasons are these:
- Registration was started but never completed. A profile missing attested certificates or the family book stays pending, and no number is issued until it is approved.
- You are signing in with a different UAE Pass account. The profile is tied to the Emirates ID used at registration.
- Your employer registered you, not you. Employer-side registration attaches you to their establishment; you still need your own jobseeker profile to see the number and track benefits.
There is no public directory to search, and no third party can retrieve the number for you. If none of the above applies, contact Nafis support with your Emirates ID number. Employers asking a candidate for a Nafis number are usually checking eligibility for salary support before making an offer, which is a good sign.
Who is eligible
Most employee programmes share the same core conditions.
- UAE National with a valid Emirates ID and family book
- Registered on Nafis with a complete profile
- Employed, or about to be employed, by a private-sector company on a MoHRE-registered contract
- Salary within the band set for the programme you are claiming
- Attested qualification for qualification-based support levels
Government and semi-government employees are generally outside the salary-support programmes, which are designed for private-sector roles. Some free-zone employers participate; mainland MoHRE-registered employers always do.
After you are hired
Benefits do not switch on by themselves. Three things have to happen, and the first two are the employer’s job.
- Your contract is registered with MoHRE and your salary is paid through the Wage Protection System.
- Your employer registers you on Nafis under their establishment, which triggers the assessment for salary and pension support.
- You keep your Nafis profile current — new qualifications, a new employer or a salary change can affect what you receive.
An employer who has never hired an Emirati before and does not know step two exists. Support is not backdated if registration is late. Every candidate we place is registered by the employer as part of onboarding — ask your HR team, or ask us to speak to them.
Nafis FAQ
Your Nafis number is shown in your profile after you register on nafis.gov.ae. Sign in with UAE Pass and it appears on the dashboard and in the confirmation email sent when your profile was approved. If you cannot see it, check that registration was completed rather than started, and contact Nafis support with your Emirates ID number. Employ Emiratis cannot look a Nafis number up for you — only Nafis holds it.
Five steps: create or sign in with UAE Pass, register as a jobseeker on nafis.gov.ae, upload your attested qualification certificates, Emirates ID and family book, complete your profile with education, experience and the sectors you want, then apply to listed vacancies or let employers find you. It takes about fifteen minutes and costs nothing.
UAE Nationals employed, or seeking employment, in the private sector. Most programmes require a Nafis profile, an attested qualification and a MoHRE-registered contract once you are hired. Exact criteria are published on nafis.gov.ae and change from time to time.
Salary support is typically granted for up to five years from the start of the private-sector job, subject to the salary band and qualification rules in force when you are registered.
Nafis lists private-sector vacancies and lets employers search registered candidates. Registering makes you visible; a consultancy like ours adds pre-screening, preparation and direct introductions.
Benefits only activate once your employer registers your contract on the Nafis platform. Ask your HR team — or ask us to speak to them; we do this for every candidate we place.
