Nafis salary support is a monthly government top-up paid directly to eligible Emirati employees in the private sector. From September 2026 the maximum is AED 6,000 a month for bachelor’s degree holders, tiered down by qualification, for employees earning between AED 6,000 and AED 20,000.
Source: Emirati Talent Competitiveness Council · Checked August 2026
Part of the full Emiratisation compliance guide.
How much salary support does Nafis pay?
| Qualification | Maximum monthly support |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | AED 6,000 |
| Diploma | AED 5,000 |
| Secondary school certificate | AED 4,000 |
| Below secondary, married or with dependants | AED 4,000 |
| Below secondary, single, no dependants | AED 3,000 |
Salary band for eligibility: at least AED 6,000, no more than AED 20,000 a month. Above AED 20,000, salary support does not apply. See Nafis eligibility.
It is paid to the employee, not the employer
This is the most consequential thing to understand about the scheme.
It is not a rebate. It does not reduce your contractual salary obligation and it does not appear as a credit in your payroll. It changes what the person receives.
An Emirati employee on AED 14,000 from you, with a bachelor’s degree, may receive up to AED 6,000 more from Nafis. A total position of AED 20,000, at an employer cost of AED 14,000.
That is the mechanism by which private-sector roles compete with public-sector packages, and it only works if you explain the total position when making an offer.
The figures that are out of date
AED 7,000 and AED 8,000 for bachelor’s degree holders appear across a great deal of guidance, including material published after the April 2026 announcement. Those are pre-reset tiers. See our fact check.
When the new figures apply to you
New beneficiaries, the framework takes effect September 2026.
Existing beneficiaries, the transition is phased over up to three years. If you already receive support at a previous rate, you do not move immediately. The month-by-month schedule for individual beneficiaries is not published (unconfirmed at the time of writing).
The change that lands on employers
Separately from the tiers, from September 2026 employers take on more of the pension cost for Nafis-enrolled Emirati employees.
Under the legacy framework the employer’s statutory share is 15%, with the government contributing 2.5% in support of Emiratisation, leaving employers funding 12.5%. That support is being withdrawn for the relevant cohort. See Nafis pension contribution changes.
The arithmetic against the contribution
| Monthly | |
|---|---|
| Unfilled skilled position from 1 July 2026 | AED 10,000 contribution, produces nothing |
| Bachelor’s-degree Emirati hire | Employer pays salary; employee receives up to AED 6,000 support |
Conditions worth knowing
Salary below AED 6,000. Support does not apply. For private-sector employees outside MOHRE and Central Bank scope, including some free zone employees. A gradual adjustment mechanism applies. See minimum salary for Emirati employees.
Salary paid outside WPS. Puts eligibility at risk regardless of amount.
Read next: Who is eligible for Nafis. The conditions that decide most people’s actual position.
Last checked August 2026 · Sources: official platforms
