Nafis is the federal programme that pays support to Emiratis who take private-sector jobs, and it is also the platform Emiratis use to find those jobs. If you are an Emirati job seeker, the questions that matter are practical: which jobs qualify, how much support you might receive, and what changed when the programme was overhauled in 2026. This guide answers those, with the amounts reported for new beneficiaries from September 2026.
This is a time-sensitive topic. Amounts and conditions below are as of November 2026, as announced by the Emirati Talent Competitiveness Council (ETCC) and reported in the UAE press. Several details of the new schemes were still being published when this was written. This is general information, not legal or financial advice: check your own eligibility on the Nafis platform or with the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE) on 600590000.
What Nafis is, in one paragraph
Nafis was launched in September 2021 as part of the second set of the UAE’s “Projects of the 50”, with a budget of up to AED 24 billion over five years. Its job is to make private-sector work more attractive and accessible for UAE nationals, through salary top-ups, family allowances, pension support, training and job matching. On 6 April 2026, the ETCC announced that the programme would be extended until 2040. According to the Abu Dhabi Government Media Office, more than 176,000 Emiratis had been employed through the programme by then, with 152,000 active beneficiaries across 32,000 establishments at the end of March 2026.
Who can benefit
Nafis support is tied to a private-sector job, not to unemployment. As summarised by law firm Morgan Lewis in June 2026, the core conditions are that you are a UAE national, work for a private-sector employer regulated by MoHRE or the Central Bank of the UAE, and are registered with the UAE pension fund.
From September 2026, salary is also a condition. The ETCC set a standard minimum of AED 6,000 a month for eligibility, aligned with the minimum wage for UAE nationals, and a maximum of AED 20,000 for the salary support scheme. Gulf News reported that support is suspended for eligible private-sector and banking employees whose gross monthly salary is below AED 6,000.
The main benefits for new beneficiaries
These are the levels reported for people entering the programme from September 2026. Existing beneficiaries are moved across gradually (see the next section).
| Benefit | Reported amount | Key conditions |
|---|---|---|
| Salary support: bachelor’s degree | Up to AED 6,000 a month | Salary between AED 6,000 and AED 20,000 |
| Salary support: diploma | Up to AED 5,000 a month | As above |
| Salary support: secondary school | Up to AED 4,000 a month | As above |
| Salary support: below secondary | Up to AED 4,000 if married or with dependants; up to AED 3,000 otherwise | As above |
| Child allowance | AED 600 a month per eligible child, with no cap on the number of children | Salary not above AED 50,000; spouse not employed by a federal or local government entity |
| Salary support for children of Emirati mothers (new) | Up to AED 3,000 a month | Private-sector job; salary AED 6,000 to 20,000; accredited bachelor’s degree |
| Salary support for wives of Emirati citizens (new) | Up to AED 3,000 a month | Salary AED 6,000 to 15,000; accredited bachelor’s degree; at least two children or five years of marriage; conditions on the husband’s status |
| Pension contribution support (Eshtirak) | The legally required employee share | Salary AED 6,000 to 20,000; registered with an eligible UAE pension fund |
Sources for the table: Khaleej Times (19 August 2026), Gulf News (19 and 30 August 2026) and Morgan Lewis (18 June 2026), each reporting the ETCC framework.
Some details are worth reading twice:
- Child allowance age limits. Gulf News reported that sons qualify until 21 or until they start work, and daughters until they marry or start work. The same child cannot attract duplicate social allowances.
- Government income. Beneficiaries cannot receive a federal or local government salary or pension at the same time, except a pension inherited from a deceased person.
- Pensions. From September 2026, Nafis covers only the employee’s share of pension contributions; employers pay their own statutory share.
- The wives’ scheme. Khaleej Times reported limited exceptions to the children and marriage-length conditions, after two years of marriage, for groups including medical-degree holders and teaching staff, subject to the Council’s published requirements.
What changed in 2026, in date order
- 1 January 2026: a minimum wage of AED 6,000 for UAE nationals took effect for new or renewed work permits, according to Morgan Lewis. Existing Emirati staff without an upcoming renewal were to be raised to that level by 30 June 2026.
- 6 April 2026: the ETCC Board extended Nafis to 2040, removed the cap on the number of children eligible for the child allowance, and announced the two new salary support schemes for children of Emirati mothers and wives of Emirati citizens.
- August 2026: the Council published the detailed framework, reported widely from 19 August.
- September 2026: the new rules took effect for new beneficiaries, and revised levels began applying automatically to existing ones. Gulf News reported that beneficiaries do not need to take any action.
If you were already receiving support
Existing private-sector beneficiaries are not cut off overnight. Gulf News reported that the transition applies to people registered with Nafis on or before 14 August 2026. Where current support is above the new level, it falls by AED 500 every six months until it reaches the new amount. Gulf Today published the schedule for bachelor’s-degree holders earning above AED 20,000, starting at AED 3,000 a month in September 2026 and falling to AED 500 in March 2029, after which support ends.
Emiratis working for free zone employers and other employers not covered by the AED 6,000 minimum wage requirement follow a separate phase-out: full support from September 2026 to February 2027, 70% from March to August 2027, then 30% from September to November 2027, after which it ends. That is the schedule reported by Khaleej Times and Gulf News; Morgan Lewis summarises it as up to 15 months of support.
Training and job programmes
Nafis is not only cash support. The Abu Dhabi Government Media Office reported that around 7,700 Emiratis had completed its Kafa’at, Khebra and training-for-employment programmes by the end of March 2026, and around 3,500 had benefited from the National Healthcare Programme. The original 2021 package also included an apprenticeship model, a healthcare training programme with educational grants, and a scheme giving six months of support to Emiratis who lose private-sector jobs for reasons outside their control. Check the Nafis platform for which programmes are open to new applicants now, because the 2021 descriptions predate the 2026 changes.
How to use Nafis as a job seeker
The UAE government portal directs nationals to search for private-sector jobs through the Nafis programme at nafis.gov.ae. In October 2026, Gulf News described a new “Emirati Work Bundle” that joins up the journey: you register on Nafis and search for a job, receive an appointment, join the workplace, and the registration procedures for you and the employer are then completed.
A few habits make the platform work harder for you:
- Complete your profile fully. Employers filter by qualification, and your qualification level also sets your salary support band.
- Check the salary before you accept. An offer below AED 6,000 a month would not qualify for support under the September 2026 rules, and one above AED 20,000 falls outside the main salary support scheme.
- Confirm the employer type. Support depends on the employer being a private-sector entity regulated by MoHRE or the Central Bank, so ask whether the role is with a free zone entity or a government-owned body.
- Prepare a CV for private-sector recruiters. They often screen quickly against the job description. If you are early in your career, a fresh graduate resume builder helps you lead with your qualification, internships and skills, and you can create a free account to save versions for different applications.
Before you rely on Nafis support
Support is a top-up, not a guaranteed part of your salary, and the rules have already changed once since launch. When comparing offers, look at the employer’s salary on its own first, then treat Nafis support as an addition that depends on your continued eligibility. Ask HR whether your registration is complete, keep your pension registration up to date, and check the Nafis platform for the published terms of any scheme you expect to receive.
Frequently asked questions
Is Nafis only for fresh graduates?
No. Salary support is tied to a qualifying private-sector job and salary band, and the bands run from below secondary level to bachelor’s degree. Graduates and experienced Emiratis can both benefit if they meet the conditions.
Do I lose Nafis support if my salary rises above AED 20,000?
Under the September 2026 framework, the main salary support scheme is for salaries up to AED 20,000. Existing beneficiaries above that level are being phased down by AED 500 every six months, as reported by Gulf Today.
Is there still a limit on the number of children for the allowance?
No. The ETCC removed the cap in April 2026, and the reported amount from September 2026 is AED 600 a month per eligible child, for beneficiaries earning up to AED 50,000.
Do I need to reapply because of the 2026 changes?
Gulf News reported that changes for existing beneficiaries are applied automatically. If your support stops or changes unexpectedly, check your status on the Nafis platform or contact MoHRE.
Sources
- Second set of ‘Projects of the 50’ – NAFIS – UAE Cabinet
- Mansour bin Zayed announces extension of Nafis Programme until 2040 – Abu Dhabi Government Media Office
- UAE’s Nafis salary rules to change in September; what employees need to know – Khaleej Times
- 3 key Nafis updates for Emiratis working in private sector from September – Gulf News
- Nafis sets two cases for Emirati women in private sector to receive child allowance – Gulf News
- Nafis programme to support Emiratis earning over Dhs20,000 in private sector until 2029 – Gulf Today
- UAE Nafis Update: What’s Changing – Morgan Lewis
- Searching for a job – The UAE Government portal (u.ae)
- UAE’s Emirati Work Bundle simplifies private-sector employment journey – Gulf News