Sharjah recruited 1,524 Emirati citizens during the first seven months of 2026 and expects to exceed 3,000 government hires by year-end.

Sharjah on track to exceed 3,000 Emirati government hires in 2026

Kavya Pillai
By
Kavya Pillai
Kavya Pillai is a subeditor and journalist at StrongYes Media, covering UAE HR news, corporate leadership movements, and the region’s leadership pulse. Trusted to run a...
2 Min Read

Emirate recruits 1,524 citizens in first seven months as public sector Emiratisation gains pace

Sharjah is on course to exceed its target of employing 3,000 Emirati citizens across government entities in 2026 after recruiting 1,524 nationals during the first seven months of the year.

The appointments took place between January 5 and July 30 under the directives of His Highness Dr Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah. The initiative reflects the emirate’s continued focus on expanding employment opportunities for Emirati talent and strengthening Emiratisation in the public sector.

According to the Sharjah Department of Human Resources, the new recruits include 831 men and 693 women. Among them, 871 joined central government entities, while 653 secured positions in decentralised government bodies.

Recruitment drive to continue throughout 2026

Abdullah Ibrahim Al Zaabi, Chairman of the Sharjah Department of Human Resources, said the government will continue processing registered applications to complete its 2026 employment plan.

“The number of Emirati citizens employed by Sharjah government entities this year is expected to exceed 3,000,” Al Zaabi said.

He added that the recruitment programme demonstrates Sharjah’s ongoing commitment to creating sustainable employment opportunities for UAE nationals while supporting long-term workforce development across the government sector.

Emiratisation remains a strategic priority

Sharjah has steadily expanded employment opportunities for Emirati citizens through regular government recruitment initiatives. Therefore, surpassing the 3,000-hire target would mark another milestone in the emirate’s wider Emiratisation strategy.

Moreover, the continued recruitment drive aligns with national efforts to strengthen local talent participation across public institutions. As government entities process additional applications, more Emirati professionals are expected to join the workforce before the end of 2026.

The latest figures highlight Sharjah’s sustained investment in workforce planning and national talent development, reinforcing its role in supporting the UAE’s long-term employment objectives.

Share This Article
Follow:
Kavya Pillai is a subeditor and journalist at StrongYes Media, covering UAE HR news, corporate leadership movements, and the region’s leadership pulse. Trusted to run a beat end-to-end, she helps shape the editorial lens StrongYes brings to the Emirates’ business and workplace landscape. Trained as a physiotherapist, she brings a diagnostic instinct to reporting, separating signal from noise with clarity under pressure.