Nafis Award: The UAE's Emiratisation Award for Employers and Emirati Talent
The Nafis Award is the Emirati Talent Competitiveness Council's award for private-sector and banking employers that excel in Emiratisation, and for Emirati professionals who succeed in those sectors. It has run three editions: 2023, May 2024 and the 2024 to 2025 cycle honoured in October 2025. Establishment categories are grouped by company size and sector; the individual category has ten subcategories.
What it recognises
The award honours establishments that support Emiratisation and Emirati professionals who succeed in the private and banking sectors. It is supervised by the Emirati Talent Competitiveness Council, which runs Nafis.
| Category | Who | Structure |
|---|---|---|
| Establishments | Companies registered with MoHRE or licensed by the Central Bank, across 14 sectors | Grouped by size: large (1,000+ employees), medium (500 to 999) and small (under 500); banking has its own categories |
| Individuals | Emiratis working in the private and banking sectors | Ten subcategories, such as strategic and policy roles and banking and financial jobs |
Editions so far
| Edition | Honoured | Highlights |
|---|---|---|
| First | 2023 | Majid Al Futtaim (large), Al Masar Recruitment Services (medium) and KPMG (small) won; 21 more companies were recognised |
| Second | 14 May 2024, Qasr Al Watan | 30 Emirati professionals won across ten individual subcategories; self-nominations rose 98% |
| Third (2024 to 2025 cycle) | October and November 2025 | ADIB won the Diamond category; National Bank of Fujairah placed second among medium-sized banking entities |
Full lists we have verified are on recent recipients.
How to take part
Individuals can nominate themselves, and establishments are assessed within their sector and size group. The exact criteria and nomination window for the next cycle are published by Nafis. Under verification Check the Nafis platform when the cycle opens.
How independent benchmarks differ
The Nafis Award is an official government award. The Emiratisation Excellence Index is an independent StrongYes benchmark study, scored on public evidence and free to be in.
Frequently asked questions
01What is the Nafis Award?
The Emirati Talent Competitiveness Council's award for employers that excel in Emiratisation and for Emirati professionals in the private and banking sectors.
02Who won the first Nafis Award?
Majid Al Futtaim (large companies), Al Masar Recruitment Services (medium) and KPMG (small), with 21 more companies recognised.
03Can individuals apply for the Nafis Award?
Yes. The individual category has ten subcategories, and self-nominations rose 98% in the second edition.
Sources
- Mansour bin Zayed honours winners of second Nafis Award. WAM, Emirates News Agency, 14 May 2024.
- Majid Al Futtaim, Al Masar and KPMG win Nafis Emiratisation awards. Consultancy-me.com, May 2023.
- Sheikh Mansour honours winners of second Nafis Award. Gulf Today, 14 May 2024.
- ADIB wins Diamond category at Nafis Award. Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank, 24 October 2025.
- National Bank of Fujairah honoured in Nafis Award. National Bank of Fujairah, 12 November 2025.
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.