Minimum Wage for Emiratis in Private Sector Raised to AED 6,000
Under the new rules, companies with existing contracts have a six-month grace period to adjust salaries and employment agreements to meet the new minimum.
The Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation has announced that the minimum wage for Emirati nationals employed in the private sector will be raised to AED 6,000 per month, effective this January.
Under the new rules, companies have a six-month grace period, until June 30, 2026, to adjust salaries for existing contracts and amend employment agreements. Starting July 1, 2026, companies that fail to comply will face penalties, including exclusion from Emiratisation targets and restrictions on issuing new work permits.
This update builds on a phased wage framework that the ministry has been rolling out over recent years. The minimum salary requirement for Emiratis in the private sector previously started at AED 4,000, before later being raised to AED 5,000 in January 2025.
