What Is the Minimum Salary Required to Qualify for UAE Nafis Program Monthly Benefits?

The UAE Nafis Program is among the flagship programs of the UAE government to increase Emiratization in the private sector. The program’s implementation will incentivize UAE nationals to enter the private sector with salary allowances, child allowances and other incentives.

The UAE’s comprehensive Emiratisation scheme includes the updated eligibility and salary requirements for 2026. It’s important to be aware of these requisites before Emirati employees take advantage of the program and private-sector employers do the same.

New Minimum Salary Requirement 2026

Starting September 1, 2026, the UAE set up a framework to offer Emirati workers the minimum wage of AED 6,000 per month in the private sector. The salary limit is the base for people to qualify for the Nafis Program.

Employers have until June 30, 2026, to revise payroll systems such as to comply with the new minimum wage requirement for employees who were hired before 2026. The invoked deadline could put AED 6,000 or less monthly earners in Emirati at risk of losing their access to Nafis monthly support benefits.

The Minimum Salary provision does not just serve as a criterion in employment. It directly influences if an employee will be eligible to enjoy salary supplements, and different monetary rewards, from the Government that are available through the programme.

Who is eligible for the Salary Support Scheme?

The main beneficiaries of the Nafis Salary Support Scheme are Emiratis who are being employed and working in free zones and obtain an income ranging from AED 6,000 to AED 20,000 monthly. In this bracket, a worker can be offered huge financial support monthly, solely on the basis of their schooling.

Government salary support up to AED 6,000 per month is offered to the Bachelor’s degree holders. The diploma holders would be eligible for up to AED 5,000 per month while the secondary school holders would be eligible for up to AED 4,000 per month.

Educational support is still provided for Emiratis who have not received a secondary school education. The theory is that married couples or those with a dependent can receive up to AED 4,000 per month, while a single person with no dependents can receive up to AED 3,000 per month.

These supports are intended to facilitate the private sector employment pathway and are intended to help remedy income disparities.

What Happens If Your Salary Exceeds AED 20,000?

Nafis salary support continues to apply to employees, but the amount is less for those earning between AED 20,000 and AED 30,000 monthly.

For instance, a bachelor who works in the UAE may get less financial support per child than a person with less income of around AED20,000. This graduated approach to the support allows the help to be given to those who require more aid and yet retains incentives for the higher earning individuals.

An employee will no longer qualify for the Salary Support Scheme once his salary per month reaches AED 30,000.

Child Allowance Benefits Under Nafis

In addition to the salary support, Emirati families can avail an additional Child Allowance Scheme at Nafis. This perk is offered to staff members with monthly pay that falls within AED 6,000 to 50,000.

Each eligible child is rewarded with AED 800 monthly. The biggest change in relation to the scheme is the taking out of the four-child limit previously in place. This now gives support to larger Emirati families for all children who are eligible for them, without a cap.

The increased child allowance is to promote family stability and increase participation in the private workforce.

Why the AED 6,000 Threshold Matters?

As part of the revised Nafis eligibility criteria, a minimum salary of AED 6,000 has been established as the benchmark of eligibility for Nafis. It guarantees that Emirati workers are not taken advantage of financially and will still be eligible for any relevant government assistance programs.

Compliance is key as well for employers. Failure to adhere to the minimum wage standards could create problems with marketisation goals and compliance with standards of workforce.

With the UAE continuing to promote the private sector as a fundamental pillar of employment, the Nafis Program will continue to contribute to the country’s economic engagement and career development of Emirati nationals.

FAQs

What’s the lowest salary you can earn to benefit from that of Nafis?

The lowest salary to receive monthly benefits from most of the companies of NAFIS varies from AED 6,000 per month.

If my income is more than AED 20 000 am I eligible for Nafis support?

Yes. However, individuals between AED 20,000 to AED 30,000 will still be eligible for salary support but the benefit will be less.

What is Nafis’ child allowance?

The Child Allowance Scheme offers employees of the UAE, who meet criteria, payment of AED 800 per child per month.

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