EXCLUSIVE: The UAE has implemented a new policy to achieve more diversity in the workforce.
Inclusivity Quota Requirement
In an exclusive to Lovin Dubai, an employee who works in visa processing confirmed that companies now have to follow a 20% quota when it comes to hiring different nationalities.
The news holds significance to the majority Indian and Pakistani populations in the UAE, but there are exclusions.
Official Statement by MOHRE
Please note that establishments must diversify nationalities when hiring, ensuring that the first 20% of available quotas in the establishments are allocated to different nationalities. It is important to note that this procedure is linked to the demographic diversity of the establishments and is not associated with a specific nationality. Moreover, customers must follow the message in the system and try another nationality in case this message appears, and there is no need to register a technical support request for such cases.
Impact on Indian and Pakistani Residents
The policy implementation will have an impact on Indian and Pakistani residents in the UAE. According to the Global Media Insight population statistics for 2024, the total population is 10,322,593 in the UAE. The Indian and Pakistani populations are the first and second highest population ranges in the UAE (respectively).
| Nationality | Population | Percentage |
| India | 3.89 Million | 37.96% |
| Pakistan | 1.71 Million | 16.72% |
This means they also contribute to a larger share of the UAE workforce, thereby threatening their employment opportunities and visa renewals.
Visa Process Guidelines
The visa processing employee also shared the following screenshot of when they attempted to apply for an Indian visa. The message that pops up says, “Please achieve demographic diversity while employees hiring”.
Employment Considerations
This means you need to be extra careful when you are switching or applying for jobs. You will need to check and confirm with your new place of employment – Have they fulfilled the 20% quota for your nationality already? If yes, the company will not be able to sponsor your visa. If no, the company will be able to sponsor your visa.
Exclusions from the Policy
- Freezone workers
- New companies (although the exact time frame for describing a company as ‘new’ is unclear)
- Domestic labourers
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