Who Is Eligible for Nafis? Conditions and Salary Bands
Nafis supports UAE nationals employed in the private sector. From September 2026, salary support needs a monthly salary of at least AED 6,000 and no more than AED 20,000; the child allowance applies up to AED 50,000. Your qualification sets how much salary support you receive, not whether you qualify.
The three tests
- You are a UAE national. Nafis is a citizen programme.
- You work in the private sector. Including many free zone employers.
- Your salary is in the band. AED 6,000 to AED 20,000 a month for salary support; AED 6,000 to AED 50,000 a month for the child allowance.
What your qualification decides
Not whether you qualify, but how much: up to AED 6,000 (bachelor's), AED 5,000 (diploma), AED 4,000 (secondary), and AED 3,000 or 4,000 below secondary depending on family circumstances. See salary support.
Family schemes
| Scheme | Key conditions |
|---|---|
| Child allowance | AED 600 per child a month, no limit on the number of children; salary AED 6,000 to AED 50,000 a month |
| Children of Emirati mothers | Salary AED 6,000 to 20,000 and an accredited bachelor's degree |
| Women married to Emirati men (from September 2026) | up to AED 3,000 a month (salary AED 6,000 to 15,000); accredited bachelor's degree; at least two children |
Fresh graduates and free zone employees
Fresh graduates qualify once they hold a private-sector job in the salary band; a degree is not required to qualify. Free zone employees are not automatically excluded.
What interrupts support
- Salary paid outside the Wage Protection System.
- Salary crossing AED 20,000 (salary support).
- Changing employer without checking the effect first.
Frequently asked questions
01Who is eligible for Nafis?
UAE nationals in private-sector jobs with a salary of AED 6,000 to AED 20,000 for salary support, and up to AED 50,000 for the child allowance.
02Do I need a degree for Nafis?
No. Support reaches diploma, secondary and below-secondary levels; the qualification sets the amount.
03Can free zone employees get Nafis?
They are not automatically excluded. The salary band and wage protection conditions still apply.
Sources
- Explained: how to claim the Dh600 monthly Nafis child allowance. Gulf News, quoting ETCC, 21 August 2026.
- UAE Nafis update: what's changing. Morgan Lewis, June 2026.
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.