The Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE) has amended the Emiratisation rules governing private healthcare facilities, requiring that the mandated annual 2 per cent growth in Emirati hiring be split equally between specialised healthcare roles and other skilled positions. The change was coordinated with the Ministry of Health and Prevention (MoHAP).
Previously, the 2 per cent annual target applied broadly to skilled jobs within a facility. Under the new requirement, healthcare establishments must ensure that half of each year’s Emiratisation growth comes specifically from clinical and health-profession roles.
The existing mechanism, whereby half of the annual target must be met in the first half of the year and the remainder in the second, stays in place.
Farida Al Ali, Assistant Undersecretary of National Talents at MoHRE, said the amendment followed a comprehensive evaluation of private healthcare jobs conducted with sector partners.
The new measure aims to support and empower national talents and enhance their presence in health jobs, which serves to improve the quality of private healthcare services and ensure their sustainability, she said, citing Emirati healthcare professionals’ interest in stability, job security, and professional development.
Al Ali urged facilities that have already met the first-half requirement of 1 per cent growth in skilled jobs to now focus on achieving a parallel 1 per cent gain in specialised healthcare roles before year-end. She also encouraged facilities to list vacancies on the Nafis platform to reach the national talent pool registered there.
Abdullah Ahli, Acting Assistant Undersecretary for Support Services at the Ministry of Health and Prevention, described the move as part of a broader strategy to expand Emirati participation across the healthcare workforce, creating what he called access to high-value career opportunities in a sector defined by stability and growth.
MoHRE will begin assessing compliance with the new split requirement at the start of 2027. Facilities that fall short will face financial contributions.
By the end of 2025, more than 8,800 Emiratis were employed in the private healthcare sector. Women accounted for 82 per cent of that total.
