If you live in the UAE, the extension of the Nafis programme to 2040 is more than just a policy headline. It represents a significant shift in how private companies hire, how Emirati careers develop outside government roles, and how the labor market evolves over the next 15 years. The extension was announced by Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister, and Chairman of the Presidential Court, indicating that Emiratization support will remain in place for the foreseeable future.
The Nafis programme was extended until 2040 as part of a wider package of family-focused measures designed to strengthen social stability while accelerating Emiratisation in the private sector.
The Short Version
- Nafis, the federal Emiratization support package, has been extended until 2040, as announced by Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
- The goal is to increase the Emirati workforce in private companies and make private sector jobs for Emiratis more attractive and sustainable.
- The longer timeline gives employers and jobseekers more certainty that incentives and support will not disappear after a short cycle.
- The extension includes a focus on Nafis support for Emirati mothers private sector, aimed at improving participation and retention.
Programme Overview
If you are looking for information on what Nafis UAE is, here is a straightforward explanation. Nafis is a federal Emiratization program that assists UAE nationals in securing private sector jobs and aids employers in hiring and retaining Emirati talent. It is part of a broader public-private workforce strategy that seeks to balance the traditional appeal of public-sector roles with increased private-sector involvement.
In everyday terms, the Emiratization Nafis initiative aims to reduce the challenges that can make private employment less appealing for Emiratis, such as pay expectations, benefits, or long-term career stability. It also encourages companies to approach Emiratization as a strategic talent plan rather than a last-minute HR effort.
What This Extension Means
A program extending to 2040 influences behavior. Emirati jobseekers can plan their careers with greater confidence, knowing that support will remain available as they progress from entry-level roles to specialist tracks and management. Families can make more informed long-term decisions regarding income stability, training, and career advancement.
For the broader labour market, Emiratization in the UAE extends beyond headcount. It impacts workplace culture, leadership development, and the sectors that achieve greater Emirati representation. Over time, this can affect roles that interact with customers and senior decision-making in major industries.
Private Sector Impact
For businesses, this is where the extension has the greatest impact. A longer Nafis runway encourages multi-year hiring plans, graduate programs, and internal training academies. It can also motivate companies to enhance their employee value proposition for Emirati talent by offering clearer promotion paths, improved mentoring, and more flexible working arrangements where roles permit.
It directly connects to UAE labor market policy. Employers who plan ahead spend less time dealing with crises and more time developing cohesive teams. This approach benefits productivity and human capital development in the UAE, particularly in sectors requiring specialized skills and continuity.
Support for Emirati Mothers
One of the clearest signals in the Sheikh Mansour Nafis 2040 announcement is the focus on Emirati mothers working in the private sector. The practical goal is retention.
Emirati mothers receiving workplace support helps retain skilled talent during crucial career years. This can gradually increase the number of Emirati women advancing into mid-to-senior roles in private companies, which in turn enhances mentoring, leadership depth, and representation.
Quick reference
| Item | What was announced | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Programme | Nafis (federal Emiratization initiative) | Supports Emirati workforce growth in private companies |
| Timeline | Extended until 2040 | Gives long-term certainty for jobseekers and employers |
| Announced by | Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Chairman of the Presidential Court | Signals high-level backing and policy continuity |
| Focus area | Support for Emirati mothers in the private sector | Improves participation and retention over time |
Next steps for residents and employers
- If you are Emirati and job hunting, shortlist private sector roles with clear training and progression, then ask directly what Nafis-linked support is available through your employer pathway.
- If you are an Emirati mother considering a move to the private sector, focus on roles with predictable scheduling options and documented HR policies on flexibility and return-to-work support.
- If you are an employer, treat 2040 as your planning horizon. Build a pipeline that starts with internships and graduate intake, then map training, mentoring, and promotion tracks so Emiratization is tied to retention, not just recruitment.
- If you are an expat manager, expect more Emirati colleagues across functions. The best teams will be the ones that invest early in onboarding, coaching, and fair performance pathways.
What this clearly indicates
The extended Nafis package introduced uncapped child allowances, expanding family support alongside employment incentives to make private-sector careers more sustainable for Emirati households.
The extension of Nafis to 2040 represents a long-term commitment to creating private sector jobs for Emiratis, supported at the highest level. It provides employers with greater certainty to invest in their workforce and offers Emirati families a clearer understanding of how private-sector careers can develop over decades rather than just a single contract cycle. For the UAE labor market, this is another step toward achieving a workforce where Emirati participation in private companies is normal, expected, and supported.
UAE travel ban check: Quick online guide
How to Check Your UAE Travel Ban Status Online
Last Updated: July 6, 2026
Dubai Police provides an official “Circulars and Travel Bans” e-service that allows individuals to check whether they have a travel ban or circular registered in Dubai.
In Abu Dhabi, individuals can check travel-ban and case-related status through the Estafser service, an official Abu Dhabi government channel for inquiries.
UAE residents and visitors who need to confirm whether a travel ban or case exists can use the official channels listed below. By following the steps, you’ll instantly know if you’re cleared to travel.
Check Travel Ban Online
- Open a web browser and go to icp.gov.ae.
- Click Inquiries, then select Travel Ban Inquiry.
- Enter your passport number or UAE ID and submit the query.
- For a faster update in Dubai, open the Dubai Police App and use its travel‑ban status feature.
Dubai airports smart travel system speeds DXB flow
AI‑powered ‘red carpet corridor’ speeds immigration at Dubai International Airport
Dubai International Airport’s main terminal saw a surge of efficiency as Dubai Airports rolled out its AI‑enabled smart travel system.
Faster immigration clears the way for travelers
The system processed 9.4 million passengers over a six‑month span, letting travelers move through immigration without pulling out passports. Its “red carpet corridor” uses biometric AI to reduce processing times to as little as six seconds, lifting overall passenger flow and satisfaction.
Biometric technology is fully integrated across Dubai International Airport’s smart corridors, enabling passengers to move through key touchpoints with minimal document checks.
This boost aligns with Dubai’s broader push to embed smart technologies in public services, keeping the emirate’s transport hubs among the world’s most advanced.
Etihad Rail Dubai station opening date set for Sept 30
Jumeirah Golf Estates rail hub to launch end‑September, slashing Abu Dhabi‑Dubai commute
Etihad Rail’s Dubai passenger station at Jumeirah Golf Estates is scheduled to open on September 30, 2026, as the Dubai node of the UAE’s expanding national passenger rail network, and turning the quiet estate into a gateway for inter‑city travel.
Shorter Abu Dhabi‑Dubai trips for JGE commuters
The new stop will let riders zip between Abu Dhabi and Dubai in roughly 57 minutes, a big cut from the current road‑time. Etihad Rail highlighted the “standard” service, meaning the timetable will apply to most daily travelers, not just peak‑hour specials.
A direct footbridge links the rail platform to the adjacent JGE Metro station on the Red Line, so commuters can hop off a train and board a metro without stepping into traffic. The RTA confirmed the interchange is already built and ready for use when the rail station opens.
Looking ahead, Etihad Rail and the RTA have signed an agreement to accept Nol cards for ticketing at the new hub. That means a single smart card will cover both the train ride and any subsequent metro leg, and the station is also slated to join the future Dubai Metro Gold Line when it launches in 2032.
The UAE’s national passenger rail network is planned to be completed by March 30, 2027, according to the published rollout timeline for the expansion.
The project dovetails with the UAE’s wider push to weave national rail into the city’s public‑transport fabric, creating a seamless, multimodal network across the emirates.
OPEC+ August oil quotas up 188,000 bpd as Hormuz shipping resumes
OPEC+ raises August output by 188,000 bpd amid Hormuz shipping rebound
OPEC+ approved an increase of 188,000 barrels per day in August oil output targets at a virtual meeting on Sunday, July 5, 2026. The move impacts OPEC+ members including Saudi Arabia, Russia, Iraq, Kuwait, Kazakhstan, Algeria and Oman.
The hike extends a sequence of monthly quota increases begun in April as Gulf shipments resume through the Strait of Hormuz, pushing Brent crude toward $72 a barrel and WTI below $69.
The 188,000‑bpd boost adds to global supply, helping ease Brent crude to about $72 per barrel and WTI to stay under $69.
OPEC+ said the decision reflects a controlled restoration of supply now that shipping lanes in the Strait of Hormuz are partially reopened and that crude prices have retreated from wartime peaks. The group also noted that the increase continues a gradual unwinding of the voluntary output cuts that were introduced in 2023.
Members will implement the additional output in August while monitoring market signals. OPEC+ retained the flexibility to pause or reverse the upward trend if price weakness re‑emerges, underscoring a cautious approach despite the current easing.
The virtual session also confirmed that the monthly adjustments will proceed through the remainder of the year, subject to ongoing assessment of demand and price dynamics.
This follows April’s initial OPEC+ decision to lift output, which marked the start of the current upward trend.
Etihad Rail ticket prices: 50% child discount, senior deals
Kids get 50% off as Etihad Rail rolls out new fare rules
At the newly opened Etihad Rail stations that dot the UAE’s rail corridor, families are already feeling the difference in their wallets. The operator’s passenger charter, posted on its website this week, spells out exactly how much less a trip will cost for a child or a senior.
Family‑friendly fares take centre stage Etihad Rail announced that children under 17 travel for half the standard adult fare. Seniors aged 60 and above receive a 20 % reduction. Meanwhile, every adult ticket between ages 18 and 59 is being sold at a 50 % launch discount, a promotion that helped push ticket sales past the 10,000 mark before the service even began.
The discount structure is laid out in a simple table that commuters can check at any ticket vending machine:
| Age group | Discount |
|---|---|
| Under 17 | 50 % off standard fare |
| 18‑59 (launch period) | 50 % off standard fare |
| 60 + | 20 % off standard fare |
If plans change, passengers aren’t left stranded. Etihad Rail’s charter says tickets can be cancelled through the call‑centre or at any station’s ticket vending machine, with refunds issued according to the class of ticket purchased. The flexibility varies, premium‑class tickets allow more changes, while the basic fare is stricter, but the option to get money back is built into every fare tier.
These pricing moves dovetail with the UAE’s broader push to shift commuters onto public transport. By making rail travel affordable for families and retirees, the operator supports the national vision of diversifying mobility options and easing road congestion across the Emirates.
