Emiratisation Excellence Index: Benchmarking How Employers Build Emirati Careers
The Emiratisation Excellence Index is an independent StrongYes benchmark study of how UAE employers attract, hire, develop and retain Emirati talent and bring Emiratis into leadership. It covers all sectors in one Index, comparing small, mid-sized and large employers with their peers. It scores public evidence only, gives every employer a right of reply and costs nothing to be in. The launch will be announced on this page; no scores have been published yet.
Official targets measure how many Emiratis an employer hires. The Index looks at what happens next: whether those roles become careers. It is independent of government programmes and is not an official award. For official recognition, see government Emiratisation recognition.
What the Index measures
How we score
- Public evidence only. Annual and sustainability reports, official announcements, programme pages and published interviews. No paid submissions.
- A right of reply. Every employer sees its evidence summary before publication and can correct or add public evidence.
- Free to be in. Inclusion costs nothing, and anyone can put a programme forward by writing to partner@strongyes.co.
- Firewall. Payment never affects inclusion or scores. Sponsors of the Index have no say in its method, its inclusion or its results.
Size bands and timeline
One Index covers every sector. Employers are compared with peers of a similar size:
| Size band | Employees |
|---|---|
| Small | Under 500 |
| Mid-sized | 500 to 999 |
| Large | 1,000 or more |
The first Emiratisation Excellence List will be announced on this page. Scores appear only after the evidence has been verified. Until then, this page sets out the method.
To put a programme forward, write to partner@strongyes.co.
Frequently asked questions
01What is the Emiratisation Excellence Index?
An independent StrongYes benchmark study of how UAE employers attract, hire, develop and retain Emirati talent, scored on public evidence across six pillars.
02Is the Index an official government award?
No. It is an independent editorial benchmark. Official recognition, such as the Emiratisation Partners Club and the Nafis Award, is explained on our recognition pages.
03Does it cost anything to be included?
No. Inclusion is free, and payment never affects inclusion or scores.
04Is the Index sector-specific?
No. It is one Index for all sectors, comparing small (under 500 employees), mid-sized (500 to 999) and large (1,000+) employers with their peers.
05When will the first results be published?
The launch will be announced on this page. The first Emiratisation Excellence List will cover all sectors, grouped by company size.
This page explains UAE Emiratisation rules for general information. It is not legal advice. Rules change, so confirm against the official MoHRE, Nafis or Central Bank source linked above before acting. StrongYes is an independent publication and is not affiliated with MoHRE, Nafis, the Emirati Talent Competitiveness Council or any UAE government body. Full disclaimer.