The UAE has announced a major change to salaries in the private sector, setting a new minimum wage of Dh6,000 for all Emiratis employed by private companies.

The update was published on the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE) smart app and later confirmed in an official statement on X. The new minimum wage came into effect on January 1, 2026, requiring employers across the country to adjust eligible salaries to meet the new threshold.

According to MoHRE, the Dh6,000 minimum wage will apply to all services related to issuing, renewing or amending citizen work permits. Employers will no longer be able to print or submit any citizen work permit application if the registered salary is below the mandated amount.

Companies have been given a grace period to comply. MoHRE said establishments have until June 30, 2026, to adjust salaries, with enforcement measures set to begin from July 1, 2026, for those that fail to comply.

If salaries remain below Dh6,000 after the deadline, several penalties may be imposed. These include excluding the Emirati employee from counting towards Emiratisation targets and placing restrictions on the company that prevent the issuance of new work permits until salaries are corrected.

Previously, the minimum wage for Emiratis in the private sector was set at Dh5,000, making this a Dh1,000 increase aimed at strengthening job security and improving income levels for UAE nationals. MoHRE clarified that the revised wage applies only to citizen work permits with a two-year validity, whether newly issued, renewed or amended.

The ministry said employers will receive automated alerts via the MoHRE smart app and official service channels, reminding them of the updated requirement. The notification sent to companies clearly states that any application involving a salary below Dh6,000 will be blocked after January 1, 2026.

While the UAE has now set a minimum wage for Emiratis in the private sector, there is still no legally defined minimum wage for non-Emirati workers. However, the UAE labour law stipulates that wages must be sufficient to meet employees’ basic needs.

The move is seen as part of wider efforts to strengthen Emiratisation, support nationals in the private sector and encourage long-term workforce stability across key industries.

The UAE has officially lowered the age of majority from 21 to 18 under a sweeping new Civil Transactions Law, a move that significantly reshapes how young people engage with contracts, finances and legal responsibilities across the country.

Under the updated law, anyone aged 18 is now considered a legal adult, aligning the UAE with international standards and removing long-standing practical challenges linked to age-based legal capacity. Previously, individuals were only considered legally competent at 21 lunar years.

The change is part of the largest federal legislative update in the UAE, designed to modernise civil law, simplify legal references and eliminate overlap with newer special laws.

More control for younger residents

One of the most notable updates empowers younger individuals to manage their own financial affairs earlier. While minors previously needed to be 18 to seek court authorisation to manage assets, the new law lowers that threshold to 15, provided judicial approval is granted.

The shift is intended to support youth entrepreneurship, early financial literacy and responsible asset management, especially for young people involved in business, inheritance matters or investments.

Why the law matters

The Civil Transactions Law serves as the backbone of most federal legislation in the UAE. It governs contracts, obligations, legal acts and civil rights between individuals and entities, making these changes far-reaching for residents, families and businesses alike.

The new framework adopts clearer legal language, practical interpretations and unified time references by moving fully to the Gregorian calendar, replacing lunar-year calculations that often caused confusion.

Stronger protections, clearer contracts

Beyond age-related changes, the law introduces provisions that strengthen legal certainty and reduce disputes. These include clearer rules on contracts, pre-contractual negotiations and disclosure obligations, requiring parties to share essential information before agreements are signed.

Judges are also granted broader discretion when applying Sharia principles, allowing greater flexibility in achieving justice rather than being confined to a single school of jurisprudence.

Compensation, companies and insurance updates

The law allows courts to combine blood money or assessed compensation with additional damages where material or moral harm is not fully covered. It also establishes updated legal frameworks for nonprofit and professional companies, supporting sustainable development and modern business practices.

Insurance regulations, including takaful, have been refined, while rules governing real estate sales, disputed rights and works contracts have been updated to better balance interests and reflect real-world transactions.

Lowering the age of majority to 18 signals a major shift in how the UAE views youth, marking a new chapter for the country’s next generation.

The UAE has announced a new minimum wage of Dh6,000 for Emirati employees working in the private sector, effective January 1, 2026, the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (Mohre) has confirmed.

The update applies to all services related to issuing, renewing, or amending citizen work permits. From the effective date, employers will not be able to process any Emirati work permit if the registered salary is below Dh6,000 per month. Applications will be blocked until salaries are adjusted to meet the new threshold.

Mohre said employers will receive alerts through official service channels and the Mohre smart app to ensure compliance ahead of the deadline.

If salaries are not corrected by June 30, 2026, enforcement measures will take effect on July 1, 2026. These include excluding the affected Emirati employee from Emiratisation quota calculations and placing restrictions on the establishment, preventing it from issuing new work permits.

The ministry clarified that the rule applies only to citizen work permits with a two-year validity, whether newly issued, renewed, or amended, and does not affect permits with different durations.

The move is part of wider efforts to strengthen Emiratisation, improve wage standards, and enhance private sector participation among UAE nationals.