By dubailife 
The number of Emiratis employed in the private sector reached 113,000 by the end of July, as announced on Wednesday.
Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister, and Chairman of the Presidential Court, was informed of this milestone during a meeting with members of the Emirati Talent Competitiveness Council at Qasr Al Watan in Abu Dhabi.
The council, known as Nafis, was established in September 2021 to spearhead the nation’s Emiratisation strategy, which aims to ensure that 10 percent of skilled private sector jobs are occupied by citizens by the end of 2026.
Since Nafis was launched, approximately 81,000 Emiratis have joined private sector companies. Sheikh Mansour serves as the chairman of this federal initiative.
The latest employment figures for Emiratis reflect an increase of about 13,000 since May 26, when it was announced that the significant milestone of 100,000 had been surpassed.
Sheikh Mansour commended the council’s efforts in creating opportunities for Emiratis in the private sector, which plays a crucial role in the UAE’s economic growth.
### Encouraging Local Talent
As part of the nationwide Emiratisation strategy, companies are required to increase their Emirati workforce by 1 percent every six months.
UAE employers with at least 50 staff members were mandated to reach a 4 percent Emiratisation target by the end of 2023.
This target will rise to 6 percent by the end of 2024, 8 percent in 2025, and 10 percent in 2026.
Additionally, the government directed last year that businesses with 20 to 49 employees must employ at least one Emirati by the end of 2024 and two by the end of 2025, further expanding the Emiratisation campaign.
In March, the UAE approved a Dh6.4 billion budget to bolster Emiratisation in the private sector.
In July, President Sheikh Mohamed recognized the winners of an award celebrating outstanding Emiratis in the private sector.
Sheikh Mohamed received the 10 winners of the Nafis Awards in the individuals’ category for 2023-2024 at Qasr Al Bahr, as reported by state news agency WAM.
During the reception, he reaffirmed the UAE leadership’s commitment to encouraging national talents to excel in the private sector.
Sheikh Mohamed also emphasized the vital role of private institutions in promoting Emirati participation and fostering a culture of excellence and competition in the labor market.
Source : thenationalnews