When you want more information about employment trends, policies or anything related to the UAE’s labour market, there’s no need to guess. Just head to the Labour Market Observatory.

What is the UAE Labour Market Observatory?

A government-led initiative, the Labour Market Observatory delivers accurate, timely and comprehensive insights into the country’s labour market.

Visit the website: observatory.mohre.gov.ae

The platform, which was launched by the UAE Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE), supports evidence-based data analysis. Researchers at the Observatory collect and analyse reliable data on employment trends, workforce development, and business activities in the UAE, and then present it through interactive dashboards. Through this platform, policymakers, businesses and the public can access detailed reports and analyses, and get real-time, detailed insight into the UAE labour market.

UAE Labour Market priorities

You can explore four distinct channels at the Observatory to gain a comprehensive understanding of the labour mùarket:

1. Holistic view

Click on the UAE Labour Market Priorities tab at the top of the website, and head to the first page: Holistic view. Here, you will find everything you want to know about employment in the UAE, distilled in a user-friendly dashboard.

Statistics overview: The first section of this page features the latest data in the categories of:

Workforce
Companies
Female Workforce
Emiratisation

Toggle the filters to view one category at a time, or all of them simultaneously. Every statistic mentioned has a ‘Review date’ time stamp, allowing you to verify when the numbers were collated.

You can find up-to-date statistical information in this section, like the percentage of female workers in leadership positions, or the total number of UAE nationals working in the private sector.

Labour market growth: The second section has information on the growth of the labour market, represented in bar graphs. The Observatory analyses the following growth areas:

Labour market growth overview: A general picture of the state of the labour market.
Establishment overview: A general overview of the number of companies added, year by year, under MOHRE’s umbrella.
Skilled labour overview: An assessment of the growth in skilled labour over the years.
Skilled female employment overview: A more focused graph showcasing the growth of skilled female employment, as a percentage of total skilled employment.
UAE nationals overview: An annual snapshot of growth in the number of Emiratis working in the private sector.

Companies distribution: The final section in the holistic view page features information about how companies are distributed in the UAE labour market, based on their economic activities. The Observatory lists the following industries:

Wholesale and retail
Construction
Administrative and support services activities
Manufacturing
Accommodation and food services
Professional, scientific and technical activities
Other service activities
Transportation and storage
Information and communication
Real estate activities
Other activities

2. Social protection and well-being assurance

The second priority for the Observatory – social protection and well-being assurance – features information pertaining to workers’ rights and well-being in the UAE. The Observatory offers a comprehensive look into the following programmes and initiatives:

Comprehensive healthcare system: Workers in the UAE, whether employed in the private sector or as domestic workers, benefit from a high-quality healthcare system that provides them access to a range of medical services. Employers are required to purchase a health insurance policy for all their employees, as this policy is a mandatory requirement for issuing and renewing residency permits.

Unemployment Insurance Scheme: In 2022, the UAE launched the Unemployment Insurance Scheme, an initiative aimed at providing a social protection safety net that ensures a dignified standard of living for Emirati and resident employees. The scheme offers temporary financial support to eligible individuals during periods of involuntary unemployment. You can click on the ‘View PDF’ button to learn more about the scheme.

Heat stress prevention policy: As part of its comprehensive framework to provide a safe working environment, in line with best practices and occupational health and safety standards, the UAE implements an annual heat stress prevention policy for workers. The policy mandates a daily midday work break, and prohibits work under direct sunlight and in outdoor areas from June 15 to September 15 every year. This policy helps ensure workers are safeguarded from injuries and risks associated with high temperatures during the summer months. According to the Observatory, approximately 99% of companies comply with the policy.

Savings Scheme: The Savings Scheme enables the investment of funds allocated for end-of-service benefits for employees working in companies that choose to participate in the programme. Implemented through government-approved investment funds, the scheme aims to grow employees’ savings and deliver sustainable investment returns.

Workers Protection Programme: As part of the UAE’s efforts to strengthen the protection of workers’ rights, the Workers Protection Programme stands as one of its key initiatives. The programme aims to secure all financial entitlements for private-sector employees, including unpaid wages, and provides an effective safety net that covers around 99% of the workforce across various economic sectors.

3. Cutting-edge inspection and monitoring solutions

The third priority of the Observatory is ensuring that UAE workers are registered and being paid through the Wage Protection System (WPS). The MOHRE, in collaboration with the UAE Central Bank, enforced the WPS in accordance with Ministerial Decree 788 of 2009.

The WPS is an electronic wages transfer system that oversees the payment of workers’ salaries in the UAE. It ensures that employees are paid their due wages or salaries (as registered on their employment contracts), in a timely manner. According to the Observatory, 99% of workers are registered in the WPS.

The Cutting-edge inspection and monitoring solutions page offers complete documentation on crucial legislations related to employee/employer rights and wages protection. Scroll down the page to read about:

Labour Relations Law
WPS decree
General information about the WPS

The page ends with a statistical overview of key related areas:

Inspection and monitoring
Emiratisation
Employment and fake jobs
Fines and violations
Workplace injuries and safety standards

Toggle the filters to view one category at a time, or all of them simultaneously.

Progressive workforce interaction channels

The final priority of the Observatory is to provide enhanced digital tools and in-person services to employers and workers, with modern, accessible platforms for recruitment, training and compliance.

Effective complaints system: Key statistics by MOHRE outline the latest number of labour-related complaints registered and resolved.

Awareness training: The Observatory also introduces readers to Tawjeeh – a country-wide orientation programme for new workers that covers awareness of the UAE labour laws and regulations, including worker rights and responsibilities, general information on life in the UAE, and cultural considerations. In 2025, more than 9 million workers completed the Tawjeeh orientation program.

Communication channels statistics: Further insight on which communication method (call centre, app, email, chat, or website) received the most complaints, as well as other channel-specific insights.

Range of communication channels: The Observatory highlights the following ways to get in touch for any labour-related enquiries:

Website: mohre.gov.ae
Landline: 600590000
WhatsApp: 600590000
Email: ask@mohre.gov.ae
International Call Centre: 00971-68034000
Toll-free labour claims and legal advisory channel: 80084

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