If you are an Emirati looking for private-sector work β or thinking about moving from a government role β Nafis is the programme designed to make that step easier and better paid. It offers salary support, training and direct links to employers who are actively hiring UAE citizens. Here is what is available, who it is generally for, and how to get started.
What Nafis is
Nafis is a federal programme launched to increase Emirati participation in the private sector, working alongside the Emiratisation targets that private companies must meet. In practice, that means employers have a strong incentive to hire Emirati talent, and Nafis adds financial and training support on top to help citizens take up and stay in those roles. The official portal is nafis.gov.ae, and it is the only place you need to register β signing up is free, and you should never pay an agent to create your profile.
Salary support and financial benefits
The best-known benefit is salary top-up support: for eligible Emirati employees in qualifying private-sector roles, Nafis can contribute an additional amount on top of the employer’s salary for a set period, helping close the gap with public-sector pay. Amounts have typically varied by qualification level β university graduates have generally been offered higher support than diploma or school-level holders β and support is time-limited rather than permanent.
Other financial benefits have included allowances linked to children for eligible employees, pension contribution support for a period, and jobseeker support in certain circumstances. Because rates, durations and conditions are updated as the programme evolves, treat any figure quoted by friends or on social media as approximate. Log in to nafis.gov.ae and check the benefits listed against your own profile β that is the current, personalised picture.
Training and career development
Nafis is not only about money. The programme has run training initiatives to prepare Emiratis for in-demand private-sector fields such as healthcare, technology, finance and customer experience, often in partnership with employers and training providers. Some schemes combine study with practical placement, and some offer support while you train.
- Job matching: browse vacancies from companies with Emiratisation targets and apply directly through the platform
- Training programmes: sector-focused courses and apprenticeships advertised on the portal as intakes open
- Career guidance: counselling and workshops to help you choose roles and prepare applications
- On-the-job support: structured programmes in some sectors that support you during your first months in a new role
If you are a fresh graduate, these routes can be as valuable as the salary support: private employers consistently say that candidates with even short, relevant training or placement experience stand out.
Who is typically eligible
In general, benefits are aimed at UAE citizens who are registered jobseekers or employees in the private sector, meeting age and employment conditions that vary by benefit. Some support applies only if you are not already receiving a similar benefit, and salary support usually requires a genuine, registered employment contract with a qualifying company, with pay going through official channels. Students and recent graduates may qualify for specific training schemes even before they hold a job.
Eligibility is assessed case by case through the platform and linked government data, so the fastest way to know your position is to complete your registration fully β incomplete profiles are the most common reason benefits appear unavailable.
How to apply, step by step
Start at nafis.gov.ae and sign in with UAE PASS, the national digital identity β if you do not have it yet, set it up first, as you will need it for most government services. Complete your profile carefully: education, experience, skills and the type of work you want. Upload clear copies of the documents requested, such as your Emirates ID and qualification certificates.
Once registered, browse the vacancies and training opportunities and apply for those that genuinely fit. If you receive an offer from a private company, check with both the employer and the platform that your salary support and other benefits are activated and correctly registered from your start date. Keep your profile updated as your situation changes.
Nafis has changed the maths of private-sector work for Emiratis. Register properly, use the training on offer, and verify your benefits on the official portal β then apply with confidence to employers who are actively looking for you.