Dhs6,000 minimum salary for Emiratis in private sector as of January 2026

The Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE) has announced an increase in the minimum wage for Emirati citizens working in the private sector to Dhs6,000, as of Jan.1, 2026.

This condition will apply to the services of "issuing a citizen's work permit, renewing a citizen's work permit, and amending a citizen's work permit."

MoHRE affirmed that it will send warning notifications through service delivery channels and the smart MoHRE application, highlighting the following message: The minimum wage for citizens in the private sector is Dhs6,000, as of January 1, 2026.

From Jan.1, no application for a citizen's work permit (issuance/renewal/amendment) will be printed or delivered if the salary is less than Dhs6,000, with a note on the necessity of adjusting the salary. If the salary is not adjusted before June 30, 2026, the following procedures will be applied starting July 1, 2026: The citizen will not be counted within the Emiratisation percentages until the salary is adjusted, and a restriction will be added to the establishment "stopping new permits because the salaries of citizens are less than Dhs6,000."

The increase in the minimum wage for citizens applies only to the citizen's work permit for two years (new, renewal, amendment), so that the citizen's salary is not less than Dhs6,000 as of January 1, 2026, the Ministry of Human Resources  and said.