ABU DHABI – The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has announced a significant salary increase for its citizens working in the private sector on the eve of the New Year 2026.
Effective from January 1, 2026, the minimum wage for Emirati employees in private companies will be raised to 6,000 AED per month.
The Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE) confirmed that this change will apply to all Emirati workers in the private sector.
The new regulation will also affect the process for issuing, renewing, and modifying work permits. Under the new rule, employers who fail to comply with the salary increase will face significant consequences.
The minister warned that if an Emirati employee’s salary is not raised to the required minimum, no work permit applications—whether new, renewed, or modified—will be processed starting January 2026.
In addition, the government has set a final deadline of June 30, 2026. If salaries are still not adjusted by this date, penalties will be imposed from July 1, 2026.
This wage increase marks a substantial change from the previous minimum wage of 5,000 AED for Emirati workers in the private sector.
The government’s decision aims to ensure fair wages for local employees and improve working conditions in private businesses across the UAE.
MOHRE has also implemented a system to monitor compliance, using smart applications and digital communication tools to send automatic notifications to employers.
