The Central Bank of the UAE announced that the total number of UAE nationals employed across the banking, financial and insurance sectors reached 23,364 by the end of December 2025. According to the bank’s statement, this figure corresponded to an Emiratisation rate of 31 percent in those industries. The data further indicated that hiring during the year significantly outpaced requirements, with cumulative targets for the 2022-2027 period also met ahead of schedule.
CBUAE figures show that 2,901 UAE nationals joined the sectors in 2025 against an annual target of 1,816, equating to roughly 160 percent achievement. The statement noted that employment objectives set for the multi-year span were exceeded with 10,780 positions filled compared with a planned 10,300. Compliance levels among financial institutions stood at 97 percent, the Central Bank of the UAE reported.
Targeted initiatives formed a key element of the drive, the CBUAE statement said. The Al Ain Initiative, developed in cooperation with federal and local entities, had achieved 60 percent of its 2025-2026 employment goals by placing 1,016 nationals. Such programmes aim to expand opportunities for citizens in regional financial hubs.
Training and development efforts have supported the quantitative gains, according to the Central Bank of the UAE. Collaboration with the Emirates Institute of Finance has delivered academic and technical programmes aligned with international standards to prepare nationals for strategic roles. Over 17,000 Emiratis have benefited from upskilling initiatives tied to the Ethraa programme, the statement added.
Broader Emiratisation policy has expanded in the private sector, according to UAE government information. Establishments with 20 to 49 workers in 14 specified sectors, including financial and insurance activities, must now hire at least one additional national by the end of 2025 following similar requirements in 2024. The Cabinet has also raised annual Emiratisation rates to 2 percent for skilled positions in larger companies to reach an overall 10 percent increase by 2026.
A PwC Middle East survey of Emirati job seekers found that two-thirds believed government policies had made it easier to secure private sector employment compared with the public sector. The financial sector’s performance contributes to national objectives of building a skilled citizen workforce amid strong sector growth, with banking assets exceeding $896 billion by late 2024, Central Bank of the UAE data shows. The regulator continues to enforce penalties for non-compliance while promoting sustainable talent development.
