Latest: Employers must offer jobs with 'real career growth' to attract Emiratis, say recruiters
A series of major projects to boost the UAE's economy and development were revealed on Sunday.
At Qasr Al Watan, the Presidential Palace in Abu Dhabi, ministers set out the latest 13 items in the 'Projects of the 50' plan.
These relate to boosting the country's human capital and increasing the number of Emiratis employed in the private sector.
All private sector companies in the UAE should have a workforce that is at least 10 per cent Emirati in five years' time.
Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs, and Mohammed Al Gergawi, Minister of Cabinet Affairs, were present as the new projects were revealed.
Financial incentives for Emiratis in the private sector
One of the first to be announced was a plan to spend up to Dh24 billion ($6.53bn) on getting 75,000 Emiratis into private sector jobs, Mr Al Gergawi said.
UAE citizens will be offered a series of incentives to choose private sector work.
University graduates will be encouraged to take up jobs in the private sector, with the government offering to boost their salary to make the decision more attractive.
For example, the government will top up an Emirati graduate's private sector salary by Dh5,000 a month, and make support payments for his or her children.
A separate plan will allow federal government employees to take a sabbatical on 50 per cent of their salary to start a business. Another will provide financial grants to encourage Emiratis over the age of 50 who take early retirement to start a businesses.
The 13 latest projects
1) Emirati Talent Competitiveness Council: With Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed as chairman and Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation, as vice chairman, the council brings together representatives across federal government. It is tasked with strengthening private sector partnerships and implementing projects to provide 75,000 private sector jobs for Emiratis.
2) Emirati Salary Support Scheme: A grant contributing to the recruitment and training costs of Emirati graduates in the private sector, with a monthly top-up of up to Dh8,000 for graduates during the first year of training and a monthly top-up of up to Dh5,000 for five years after recruitment. Top-ups are conditional and based on a range of defined target salaries.
3) Merit Programme: A fixed monthly salary top-up of Dh5,000 to be provided for five years to Emirati workers in specialised fields, including nursing, accountancy and financial auditing, also lawyers, financial analysts and coders.
4) Pension Programme: A five-year subsidy against the pension plan contributions of Emirati staff earning less than Dh20,000 per month. And a government-paid contribution on behalf of the company against the cost of pension plans for Emirati staff in the first five years, which ensures zero contributions to the cost of Emiratis' pensions in the first year of private sector employment.
5) Child Allowance Scheme: A government child allowance payment will be made to Emirati staff working in the private sector of up to Dh800 per child, up to a maximum of Dh3,200 per month, to help with the costs of childcare. It will last up to the age of 21.
6) Talent Programme: An investment of Dh1.25 billion in developing specialised vocational skills for Emiratis, with internationally recognised certifications in property management, accounting, business management and technology skills.
7) Apprentice Programme: A train-to-hire initiative to build vocational training for Emiratis in private and semi-private companies with a range of financial awards across a number of business sectors.
8) Recruitment Targets: Every private sector company in UAE must ensure 10 per cent of its workforce is Emirati within five years. The figure should rise by 2 per cent each year until 10 per cent is reached, and the jobs given to UAE nationals should be in knowledge and skilled roles.
9) National Healthcare Programme: An educational grant programme targeting the development of 10,000 Emirati healthcare workers within the coming five years. This will involve rolling out a Graduate Healthcare Assistant Programme: a Higher Diploma in Emergency Medicine and a Bachelor's degree in Nursing. Supported and led by Fatima College of Health Sciences and ACTVET.
10) Unemployment Benefit: An unemployment benefit to be paid to Emiratis working in the private sector who lose their jobs because of circumstances beyond their control, giving them a six-month period to find another position.
11) Start-up Break: Beginning 2021, a subsidised career break of six-to-12 months for Emiratis in federal government positions to start a business. Employees would receive 50 per cent of their salary while away. Will be open to a limited number of staff each year with employer approval.
12) Early Retirement: An opportunity for Emiratis in federal government positions to take early retirement in order to explore business opportunities and start a private sector business. Will include financing of five years' salary payments or a lump sum golden handshake payment. Will be open to a limited number of staff each year, with employer approval.
13) Graduate Fund: A Dh1 billion fund, under the patronage of Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed, to provide micro-loans for university and fresh graduates to support their business projects, in collaboration with UAE universities.
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid: 'The future is in the private sector'
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, said: "Today, we have clear and supported targets for the percentage of citizens in the private sector. The future is in the private sector."
He said the private sector will be partners in the country's march forward, adding: "The next 50 [years] will be better and more beautiful."
In a tweet, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, said the plans would empower the country's young people.
"Consistent with our ambitions to empower our people and enhance the strength and sustainability of our economy, the UAE is launching a dedicated plan to boost the employment of UAE nationals in the private sector, which will play a vital role in our nation’s long-term development," he wrote.
The 50 national projects plan was unveiled before the UAE's 50th National Day, which will take place on December 2.
The first 13 initiatives included visas for freelancers, highly skilled professionals, investors, entrepreneurs, top students and graduates to sponsor themselves.
Flexible visas will allow people to sponsor their children into their mid-20s. There will be a visa residency grace period of up to 180 days if people lose or change their job, and new work permits will allow children aged 15 and over to get a part-time job.
These initiatives will be the cornerstone of growth as the country marks 50 years since unification.
50 Projects plan unveiled - in pictures
The first 13 initiatives announced last week included:
- Dh5bn from Emirates Development Bank for Project 5Bn to support Emirati initiatives in priority sectors, stimulate industry and contribute towards economic diversification.
- A green visa to enable highly skilled professionals, investors, entrepreneurs, top students and graduates to sponsor themselves.
- A freelancer's visa, the first federal visa for self-employed people.
- Dh5bn, also in partnership with Emirates Development Bank, for Tech Drive to support advanced technology adoption over five years.
- The 10x10 programme with the aim of achieving a 10 per cent annual increase in UAE exports to 10 global markets: China, the UK, Netherlands, Italy, Russia, Poland, Luxembourg, Australia, New Zealand and Indonesia.
- Invest.ae, a portal that unites investment-related local entities and 14 economic entities, presenting investment opportunities throughout the UAE. The website will provide resources for businesses and for opening bank accounts.
- The In-country Value programme to redirect 42 per cent of procurement of the federal government and major UAE companies to local products and services. It aims to increase the number of local suppliers from 5,000 to 7,300 and boost procurement value from Dh33bn to Dh55bn over four years.
- The Emirates Investment Summit, to be held next spring, to connect investment funds with the public and private sectors to create investment opportunities that attract Dh550bn of inward foreign direct investment to the UAE over the next nine years.
- The Fourth Industrial Revolution Network to grow 500 national companies through the application of advanced technology over five years.
- Under Global Economic Partnerships, the UAE will undertake comprehensive economic agreements with eight strategic global markets to achieve a Dh40bn annual increase in the current Dh257bn trade volume with these markets. A Higher Committee for Economic Agreements has also been established.
- The 100 Coders Every Day initiative to increase the number of coders from 64,000 to 100,000 in a year and support the establishment of programming companies through incentives and benefits.
- The UAE Data Law, the first federal law to be drafted in partnership with major technology companies. It will empower people to control how their personal data is used, stored and shared. The project is intended to protect privacy.
- The biggest programming summit in the Middle East, PyCon MEA, to be held next summer. The aim is to connect coders with the public and private sectors, and to develop digital talent and creative programming projects.
Timeline
2012-2015
The company offers payments/bribes to win key contracts in the Middle East
May 2017
The UK SFO officially opens investigation into Petrofac’s use of agents, corruption, and potential bribery to secure contracts
September 2021
Petrofac pleads guilty to seven counts of failing to prevent bribery under the UK Bribery Act
October 2021
Court fines Petrofac £77 million for bribery. Former executive receives a two-year suspended sentence
December 2024
Petrofac enters into comprehensive restructuring to strengthen the financial position of the group
May 2025
The High Court of England and Wales approves the company’s restructuring plan
July 2025
The Court of Appeal issues a judgment challenging parts of the restructuring plan
August 2025
Petrofac issues a business update to execute the restructuring and confirms it will appeal the Court of Appeal decision
October 2025
Petrofac loses a major TenneT offshore wind contract worth €13 billion. Holding company files for administration in the UK. Petrofac delisted from the London Stock Exchange
November 2025
180 Petrofac employees laid off in the UAE
Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026
1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years
If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.
2. E-invoicing in the UAE
Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption.
3. More tax audits
Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks.
4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime
Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.
5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit
There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.
6. Further transfer pricing enforcement
Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes.
7. Limited time periods for audits
Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion.
8. Pillar 2 implementation
Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.
9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services
Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations.
10. Substance and CbC reporting focus
Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity.
Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer
How to wear a kandura
Dos
- Wear the right fabric for the right season and occasion
- Always ask for the dress code if you don’t know
- Wear a white kandura, white ghutra / shemagh (headwear) and black shoes for work
- Wear 100 per cent cotton under the kandura as most fabrics are polyester
Don’ts
- Wear hamdania for work, always wear a ghutra and agal
- Buy a kandura only based on how it feels; ask questions about the fabric and understand what you are buying
What are the main cyber security threats?
Cyber crime - This includes fraud, impersonation, scams and deepfake technology, tactics that are increasingly targeting infrastructure and exploiting human vulnerabilities.
Cyber terrorism - Social media platforms are used to spread radical ideologies, misinformation and disinformation, often with the aim of disrupting critical infrastructure such as power grids.
Cyber warfare - Shaped by geopolitical tension, hostile actors seek to infiltrate and compromise national infrastructure, using one country’s systems as a springboard to launch attacks on others.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Tamkeen's offering
- Option 1: 70% in year 1, 50% in year 2, 30% in year 3
- Option 2: 50% across three years
- Option 3: 30% across five years
The National Archives, Abu Dhabi
Founded over 50 years ago, the National Archives collects valuable historical material relating to the UAE, and is the oldest and richest archive relating to the Arabian Gulf.
Much of the material can be viewed on line at the Arabian Gulf Digital Archive - https://www.agda.ae/en
South and West: From a Notebook
Joan Didion
Fourth Estate
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Greatest Royal Rumble results
John Cena pinned Triple H in a singles match
Cedric Alexander retained the WWE Cruiserweight title against Kalisto
Matt Hardy and Bray Wyatt win the Raw Tag Team titles against Cesaro and Sheamus
Jeff Hardy retained the United States title against Jinder Mahal
Bludgeon Brothers retain the SmackDown Tag Team titles against the Usos
Seth Rollins retains the Intercontinental title against The Miz, Finn Balor and Samoa Joe
AJ Styles remains WWE World Heavyweight champion after he and Shinsuke Nakamura are both counted out
The Undertaker beats Rusev in a casket match
Brock Lesnar retains the WWE Universal title against Roman Reigns in a steel cage match
Braun Strowman won the 50-man Royal Rumble by eliminating Big Cass last
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Sole survivors
- Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
- George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
- Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
- Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.
What is tokenisation?
Tokenisation refers to the issuance of a blockchain token, which represents a virtually tradable real, tangible asset. A tokenised asset is easily transferable, offers good liquidity, returns and is easily traded on the secondary markets.
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Sunday:
GP3 race: 12:10pm
Formula 2 race: 1:35pm
Formula 1 race: 5:10pm
Performance: Guns N' Roses
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MWTC
Tickets start from Dh100 for adults and are now on sale at www.ticketmaster.ae and Virgin Megastores across the UAE. Three-day and travel packages are also available at 20 per cent discount.
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How to volunteer
The UAE volunteers campaign can be reached at www.volunteers.ae , or by calling 800-VOLAE (80086523), or emailing info@volunteers.ae.
Cry Macho
Director: Clint Eastwood
Stars: Clint Eastwood, Dwight Yoakam
Rating:**
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cyl, 48V hybrid
Transmission: eight-speed automatic
Power: 325bhp
Torque: 450Nm
Price: Dh359,000
On sale: now
A new relationship with the old country
Treaty of Friendship between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United Arab Emirates
The United kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United Arab Emirates; Considering that the United Arab Emirates has assumed full responsibility as a sovereign and independent State; Determined that the long-standing and traditional relations of close friendship and cooperation between their peoples shall continue; Desiring to give expression to this intention in the form of a Treaty Friendship; Have agreed as follows:
ARTICLE 1 The relations between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United Arab Emirates shall be governed by a spirit of close friendship. In recognition of this, the Contracting Parties, conscious of their common interest in the peace and stability of the region, shall: (a) consult together on matters of mutual concern in time of need; (b) settle all their disputes by peaceful means in conformity with the provisions of the Charter of the United Nations.
ARTICLE 2 The Contracting Parties shall encourage education, scientific and cultural cooperation between the two States in accordance with arrangements to be agreed. Such arrangements shall cover among other things: (a) the promotion of mutual understanding of their respective cultures, civilisations and languages, the promotion of contacts among professional bodies, universities and cultural institutions; (c) the encouragement of technical, scientific and cultural exchanges.
ARTICLE 3 The Contracting Parties shall maintain the close relationship already existing between them in the field of trade and commerce. Representatives of the Contracting Parties shall meet from time to time to consider means by which such relations can be further developed and strengthened, including the possibility of concluding treaties or agreements on matters of mutual concern.
ARTICLE 4 This Treaty shall enter into force on today’s date and shall remain in force for a period of ten years. Unless twelve months before the expiry of the said period of ten years either Contracting Party shall have given notice to the other of its intention to terminate the Treaty, this Treaty shall remain in force thereafter until the expiry of twelve months from the date on which notice of such intention is given.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF the undersigned have signed this Treaty.
DONE in duplicate at Dubai the second day of December 1971AD, corresponding to the fifteenth day of Shawwal 1391H, in the English and Arabic languages, both texts being equally authoritative.
Signed
Geoffrey Arthur Sheikh Zayed
Tips from the expert
Dobromir Radichkov, chief data officer at dubizzle and Bayut, offers a few tips for UAE residents looking to earn some cash from pre-loved items.
- Sellers should focus on providing high-quality used goods at attractive prices to buyers.
- It’s important to use clear and appealing photos, with catchy titles and detailed descriptions to capture the attention of prospective buyers.
- Try to advertise a realistic price to attract buyers looking for good deals, especially in the current environment where consumers are significantly more price-sensitive.
- Be creative and look around your home for valuable items that you no longer need but might be useful to others.
Mobile phone packages comparison
Our legal columnist
Name: Yousef Al Bahar
Advocate at Al Bahar & Associate Advocates and Legal Consultants, established in 1994
Education: Mr Al Bahar was born in 1979 and graduated in 2008 from the Judicial Institute. He took after his father, who was one of the first Emirati lawyers
