UAE Central Bank Reports Gains in Emiratisation Across Financial Sector

The Central Bank of the UAE says it has achieved significant progress in Emiratisation, the national policy of increasing the share of Emirati citizens employed across the banking, financial and insurance sectors. The push is part of a wider federal strategy to build a skilled local workforce and reduce reliance on expatriate labour in strategically important industries, with financial services a priority given its central role in the economy. Raising the proportion of UAE nationals in banks, insurers and other licensed institutions is intended to develop domestic talent, embed local expertise in senior and technical roles, and strengthen the long-term resilience of the sector. The central bank has combined targets with training, development and incentive programmes to encourage institutions to recruit, retain and promote Emirati staff, and to move beyond entry-level hiring toward leadership pipelines. The progress reported comes as the UAE modernises its financial rulebook under a landmark central bank law that consolidates oversight of banking and insurance and expands the regulator's remit over fintech and emerging technologies. Workforce nationalisation sits alongside these reforms as authorities seek to ensure the sector's growth also delivers broad-based benefits for UAE nationals and supports the country's economic diversification agenda.