In recent a long time, the United Arab Emirates has been a world pioneer in innovation—not only in innovation, foundation, and tourism, but in strategically building its human capital. Recognizing that maintainable advancement depends on its individuals, the UAE government has started a range of visionary activities to create national talent. Central to this revolution is NAFIS, the Emirati Talent Competitiveness Program, a groundbreaking step to rethink the elements of private sector employment.
But policy cannot propel change alone. It needs the backing of strong HR frameworks and intelligent technologies. That’s where Zimyo, a future-ready Human Resource Management System (HRMS), comes in to connect policy with practice.
What is NAFIS ?
At its essence, NAFIS is a federal program initiated under the “Projects of the 50” banner—an ambitious masterplan to develop a prosperous knowledge-based economy. NAFIS was created to raise Emirati involvement in the private sector, improve the competitiveness of domestic talent, and lower over-reliance on government work.
To achieve this, NAFIS provides a variety of career and financial incentives to UAE nationals, including:
- Salary assistance that exiles for 5 years
- Subsidies on pension contributions to employers
- Child allowance of up to AED 800 per child is offered
- Training initiatives in collaboration with the best institutions
- Job guidance and career matching services
- Unemployment allowances to facilitate career switches
These steps present a strong argument for Emiratis and private-sector employers alike to accept the vision of an expanded, citizen-based workforce.
But though the initiative is well-conceived, its success will hinge on how effectively HR departments adjust their strategy, policy, and infrastructure to meet the program’s demands.
HR's New Challenge: Not Just Hiring, But Integrating
HR in the UAE has advanced at a faster pace. It’s not around filling gaps anymore—it’s around making an impact. For organizations, it is two-pronged:
- Meeting localization needs as imposed by NAFIS and other Emiratization initiatives.
- Developing a meaningful employment experience for Emirati employees—building growth, retention, and engagement.
Practically speaking:
- Refurbishing job descriptions to make them accessible
- Tailoring onboarding journeys that resonate with cultural awareness
- Establishing career paths to leadership positions
- Encouraging work-life balance by benefits in line with national norms
- Reporting KPI and impact metrics to stakeholders and regulators
Without digital HR systems, this is not just time-intensive but open to errors that can lead to penalties for non-compliance, staff discontent, or foregone funding.
Enter Smart HR Tech
That’s where Zimyo is more than an HR platform—becomes a strategic enabler. As an end-to-end HRMS specifically for the GCC region, Zimyo is capable of handling the entire employee lifecycle while complying with localization regulations such as NAFIS.
Let’s dissect how Zimyo empowers HR teams to turn the NAFIS vision into a reality:
1. Compliance, Automated
Remaining compliant with Emiratization quotas and NAFIS requirements can be overwhelming, particularly for large organizations. Zimyo assists HR teams in automating compliance by:
- Monitoring Emirati headcount against quota
- Handling pension contributions and salary support eligibility
- Creating reports in accordance with MoHRE and NAFIS guidelines
- Sending reminders for audits, benefit renewals, and policy updates
2. Analytics That Drive Emiratization
NAFIS success is not just about hiring—it’s about tracking outcomes. Zimyo’s real-time dashboards provide insights into:
- Emirati employee turnover rates
- Training completion metrics
- Departmental Emiratization ratios
- Gender and generational diversity metrics
- Performance and promotion trends among national employees
With this information, HR leaders can make in-flight strategy changes, provide inclusivity, and demonstrate improvement to both internal and external parties.
3. Streamlined Onboarding Experience
Zimyo streamlines onboarding, particularly for new Emirati employees, by providing:
- Electronic document gathering and e-signatures
- Culturally adapted onboarding materials
- Pre-boarding access to employee policies and training
- Customized onboarding checklists
This facilitates greater participation from day one and helps create a feeling of belonging, which is the key to retention.
4. In-Built Learning and Development (L&D)
NAFIS encourages upskilling through professional training programs, and Zimyo’s in-built LMS makes that simple. HR can:
- Allocate courses on the basis of job functions
- Monitor learning progress and certification
- Integrate training modules
- Calculate ROI on training initiatives
5. Payroll and Benefits Administration with Precision
Payroll management can become intricate when you add government subsidies, allowances, and pension dues to the mix. Zimyo streamlines this by:
- Seamless integration with UAE payroll laws
- Handling NAFIS-tied salary support disbursements
- Auto-processing child allowances and pension deductions
- Providing pay slip transparency to staff
This eliminates payroll mistakes, enhances trust, and keeps you compliant at all levels.
6. Better Data Security and Localization
- Arabic language interface for improved accessibility
- GCC-based localized support teams
- Role-based information access controls to secure sensitive worker information
- This maintains trust, privacy, and simplicity for HR professionals and Emirati employees.
7. Role-Based Learning Pathways for Nationals
With its LMS, Zimyo enables HR to create role-specific learning pathways to ensure:
- Entry-level Emiratis are given onboarding and foundation training
- Mid-level staff are mentored for development
- High-potential nationals are prepared for leadership through specialized learning streams
- This enables career movement and long-term engagement.
8. AI-Powered Talent Matching
- Suggest internal positions for promotion or mobility
- Anticipate attrition risks and recommend retention interventions
- This enhances data-driven talent decisions and mitigates hiring biases
Real-World Example: Zimyo in Action
Let’s look at a medium-sized technology company in Abu Dhabi. With 150 staff and a target to achieve the 4% Emiratization target by 2026, the company uses Zimyo to assist in its HR transformation. Here’s how:
- Zimyo pinpoints functions where UAE candidates can be hired
- It assists in hiring and onboarding three UAE nationals within 60 days
- Via the LMS, the firm deploys a 90-day skill building program
- Salary support is automatically integrated with payroll
- The HR staff tracks training ROI and participation with real-time dashboards
Outcome: The firm achieves its Emiratization goal ahead of schedule, captures government incentives in the form of support, and keeps all three new employees past year one.
Why This Matters: HR as a partner growth
What we’re witnessing is a fundamental redefinition of HR’s role. HR teams are no longer administrative functions—they are national enablers, directly contributing to GDP, localization, and social equity.
By aligning organizational policies with government initiatives like NAFIS, and leveraging platforms like Zimyo, HR leaders can:
- Create more meaningful careers for Emiratis
- Support sustainable economic development
- Minimize dependence on the public sector for jobs
- Improve brand image as an inclusive employer
Firms that adopt this model are more likely to attract best talent, win government contracts, and earn public confidence.
The Bigger Picture: Shaping the UAE's Future Workforce
The UAE has continuously overachieved in terms of global association tables—and much of this has got to do with its individuals. To sustain growth over the long term, though, it has to tap its local talent pool.
Policy activities like NAFIS are clearing the way, but stages like Zimyo that cater to HR needs are the infrastructure making usage reasonable.
From training and compliance to onboarding and engagement, Zimyo gives HR teams the clarity, control, and certainty they require to flourish in this modern age.
Last Considerations: Turning Vision into Activity
In a world where change is the only certainty, the greatest businesses are the ones that move fearlessly and leap at change. NAFIS is not just a government initiative—it’s a national movement. Zimyo is not just HR software—it’s a growth engine for the UAE’s future workforce.
Together, they create a union that can transform what’s possible for Emirati professionals and private-sector employers alike.
So, if you’re an HR leader in the UAE, don’t delay. Let NAFIS frame your vision, and let schedule a demo with Zimyo to drive your journey. The future of work is local, digital, and inclusive—and it begins today.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
NAFIS (Emirati Talent Competitiveness Program) is a UAE federal government initiative set up under the “Projects of the 50” aimed at raising the number of Emirati citizens working in the private sector.
To gain an advantage from NAFIS programs, one must:
- Be an Emirati national (UAE citizen)
- Be employed in the private sector or be seeking employment within it
- Possess a valid Emirates ID and be registered with MoHRE
- Meet the eligibility requirements for individual benefits (e.g., minimum salary, job designation, etc.)
- Periodic salary support for up to 5 years
- Contribution of pension subsidy funded partly by the government
- Child allowance (up to AED 800 per child, capped)
- Unemployment benefits for a short period following job loss
- Training and upskilling initiatives
- Career guidance and job matching services
- Pension cost savings through government subsidies
- Access to government-funded salary support for Emirati recruits
- Assistance in talent matching and onboarding
- Compliance with Emiratization targets (avoiding fines and earning incentives)
- Enhanced brand image as a localization-compliant employer
Employers are required to:
- Register on the NAFIS portal or through the MoHRE platform
- Provide company and employee information
- Have HR systems monitor and report applicable data (e.g., salaries, positions, Emirati count)
- Be current on NAFIS rules and changes
- Zimyo assists in automating the whole process.
NAFIS is also a part of the overall UAE Emiratization effort, but it’s not exactly the same. Emiratization is a policy objective aimed at expanding the UAE nationals working in the private sector, while NAFIS is a program used to achieve and facilitate that aim.
