What Counts as a Skilled Role for Emiratisation?
Under the UAE Government's definition, a skilled worker is at professional levels 1 to 5, holds a certificate higher than secondary school that is attested by the competent authorities, and earns at least AED 4,000 a month excluding commission. Skilled roles are the denominator of your Emiratisation target, whatever the nationality of the person in them.
Your Emiratisation target is a percentage of skilled roles, so the definition of "skilled" decides how many Emiratis you need.
The four tests
All four must hold for a role to count as skilled:
- Professional level 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 in MoHRE's classification.
- A certificate higher than the secondary certificate, or an equivalent.
- The certificate is attested by the competent authorities.
- A monthly salary of at least AED 4,000, excluding commission.
The nine professional levels
| Level | Description | Skilled? |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Legislators, managers and business executives | Yes, if the other tests are met |
| 2 | Professionals in scientific, technical and human fields | Yes, if the other tests are met |
| 3 | Technicians in scientific, technical and humanitarian fields | Yes, if the other tests are met |
| 4 | Writing (clerical) professionals | Yes, if the other tests are met |
| 5 | Service and sales occupations | Yes, if the other tests are met |
| 6 | Skilled workers in agriculture, fisheries and animal husbandry | No |
| 7 | Craftsmen in construction, mining and other trades | No |
| 8 | Operators and assemblers of machinery and equipment | No |
| 9 | Simple professions | No |
The threshold that is not this one
| Skilled classification | Counting toward your target | |
|---|---|---|
| Salary test | AED 4,000 excluding commission | AED 6,000 |
| Applies to | Any employee | Emirati employees only |
| Decides | Your denominator | Your numerator |
An Emirati on AED 4,500 in a skilled role stays in your denominator but, since 1 July 2026, does not count toward the target, so the rate goes down, not up.
Why it matters most for large manual workforces
A construction or logistics company with 400 employees, 60 of them skilled, is in scope because of the 400 and calculates on the 60. The obligation is often smaller than feared.
Where the published guidance stops
- Basic or total salary. The skilled definition says "excluding commission". The AED 6,000 Emirati minimum is described only as "minimum salary". MoHRE has not published which salary component is tested. Under verification
- Part-time employees and probation. No published MoHRE guidance confirms how either is counted. Claims that part-timers count as half an employee are not sourced to MoHRE.
Getting it right
Classifying by job title. The registered occupation and the attested certificate decide, not the title on the business card.
Forgetting expatriate skilled roles. They are part of the denominator.
Missing attestation. A degree that is not attested does not meet the certificate test.
Frequently asked questions
01What are the Emiratisation skill levels?
MoHRE classifies jobs into nine professional levels. Levels 1 to 5 (managers, professionals, technicians, clerical, and service and sales roles) can be skilled; levels 6 to 9 are not.
02What qualification makes a role skilled?
A certificate higher than secondary school, or an equivalent, attested by the competent authorities.
03What salary makes a role skilled?
At least AED 4,000 a month, excluding commission.
04Does an Emirati on AED 5,000 count toward the target?
Not since 1 July 2026. The role may still be skilled, but an Emirati must be paid at least AED 6,000 to count.
Sources
- Professional levels of jobs in the UAE. UAE Government portal.
- Minimum wage for Emiratis, AED 6,000. Access Financial, citing u.ae.
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.