Emiratisation in Technology: AI, Cyber and Data Careers for Emiratis
Quick answer
Information and communications is one of the 14 sectors where companies with 20 to 49 employees must employ Emiratis, and larger tech employers follow the standard skilled-role target. Programmes such as Microsoft's Tomoh (with MoHRE) and The Technologists at Emirates Group train Emiratis for software, cloud, cyber security and data roles.
Programmes
| Programme | What participants get |
|---|---|
| Microsoft Tomoh (with MoHRE) | Training and certification, on-the-job experience, internships, mentoring and bootcamps in AI, cloud and data science |
| The Technologists (Emirates Group) | Software engineering, cyber security and solutions design for recent school graduates |
| National Expert Programme AI track (NEP-AI) | Leadership track for experienced Emirati AI specialists |
Careers in technology
| Role | Typical entry |
|---|---|
| Software Engineer | Computer science or software engineering |
| Cybersecurity Analyst | Computer science or cyber security; Security+ |
| Cloud Engineer | IT or computer science; AWS or Azure |
| Data Analyst | Any quantitative degree; SQL, Power BI |
| AI Engineer | Computer science or engineering |
| Data Engineer | Computer science, IT or engineering |
Sources
- Microsoft announces Tomoh to accelerate employability among Emiratis. Microsoft, June 2020.
- Emirates Group: programmes for UAE nationals. Emirates Group.
- UAE launches NEP-AI leadership track as 32 Emirati experts begin. StrongYes, 30 July 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.