ABU DHABI: The Abu Dhabi Misdemeanor Court has slapped a private company in UAE with a AED10 million fine because the company failed to follow Emiratisation rules and tried to cheat the system by pretending to employ 113 fake Emirati citizens as employees.

The Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation found that the company was not following the correct procedures for hiring Emiratis. They then handed the case over to the Abu Dhabi Public Prosecution.

The investigation showed that the company was pretending to hire Emiratis and not actually employing them. This was against the rules of the “Nafis” programme, which is meant to help more Emiratis work in the private sector.

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The company had issued work permits and registered these fake employees, trying to trick the system and avoid meeting the Emiratisation targets set by the government.

After the investigation, the case was taken to court. The court found the company guilty and imposed the AED10 million fine.

The UAE Emiratisation drive is a key initiative aimed at increasing the employment of Emirati citizens in the private sector. This programme, known as “Nafis,” seeks to boost the participation of UAE nationals in various industries by setting targets and encouraging companies to hire and train local talent. By focusing on skills development and providing incentives for businesses to employ Emiratis, the drive aims to reduce reliance on foreign workers and ensure that more UAE citizens have opportunities for meaningful careers. The initiative also aligns with the country’s broader economic goals of diversifying the workforce and supporting sustainable growth within the national economy.

-Agencies