Reflecting the Ministry's Commitment to a Safe, Stable and Sustainable Working Environment

UAE records outstanding accomplishments in Social Protection System for workers, enhancing their wellbeing and safeguarding their entitlements during the first half of 2026

GOVERNMENT

ME-HR & Learning

8/31/20263 min read

Around 800,000 workers participated in celebratory activities in more than 60 locations across the UAE.

Over 44,000 workers have benefitted from the Workers Protection Programme, with more than AED 320 million paid in compensation.

Over AED 512 million in compensation provided through the Unemployment Insurance Scheme from the beginning of 2024 through the end of the first half of 2026.

Nearly 2 million workers enjoy the highest standards of comfort in labour accommodations.

Over 1.3 million of targeted workers completed mandatory awareness and guidance programmes.

The Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation -MoHRE- has recorded remarkable results delivered through its Social Protection System for workers during the first half of 2026, strengthening the protection of workers' financial entitlements and enhancing their awareness.

Her Excellency Dalal Alshehhi, Assistant Undersecretary for Labour Protection at the Ministry, affirmed that: "The positive results recorded in the first half of 2026 reflect our commitment at the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation to fostering a safe, stable, and sustainable work environment. We aim to ensure an advanced quality of life and wellbeing for workers, while protecting their interests and striking a balance between their rights and those of their employers, which, in turn, serves to support ongoing efforts to achieve the UAE's national strategies and fulfil the ‘We the UAE 2031' vision."

"The successes that have been achieved in the first half of 2026 confirm the effectiveness of the comprehensive strategy that the Ministry is implementing in the labour market, which centres on building sustainable partnerships with federal and local government entities, as well as the private sector, as a means to support efforts to implement legislation and enhance compliance," H.E. Alshehhi explained, noting that the impressive results also help ensure the optimal execution of initiatives and programmes aimed at reinforcing the UAE's position as a pioneer and role model in protecting workers' rights.

Elaborating on the results, MoHRE announced that around 800,000 workers participated in the celebrations it had organised in more than 60 locations nationwide during the first half of 2026, in collaboration with its partners in the federal and local governments, as well as the private sector, in an effort to engage workers in national occasions and holidays, enhance their social inclusion and wellbeing, and offer them gifts and valuable prizes.

The figures reveal that over 44,000 workers have benefitted from the Workers Protection Programme, each of whom were paid an average amount of approximately AED7,000. By the end of the first half of this year, the programme had disbursed a total value of more than AED 320 million. Furthermore, the Unemployment Insurance Scheme reported more than AED 512 million in total compensation provided to workers who lost their jobs since the launch of the Scheme at the beginning of 2024 until the end of the first half of 2026.

Regarding the Ministry's awareness programmes, which are provided in 17 languages, 100% of targeted workers completed their mandatory guidance courses, while over 1.3 million workers benefited from specialised awareness programmes.

Overall, the results demonstrated the effectiveness of MoHRE's strategy to build partnerships with the private sector, and its role in promoting a sense of social responsibility and enhancing compliance with protection standards and initiatives among establishments. Figures also highlighted the efficiency of the Ministry's digital and field inspection system, which enabled the seamless implementation of the Occupational Heat Stress Prevention Policy from 15 June to 15 September, and the plan to allocate more than 12,000 rest stations for delivery riders throughout the period during which the policy was being implemented.

On the labour accommodation front, the number of accommodation facilities registered in the Labour Accommodation System exceeded 2,800 by the end of the first half of 2026, providing the highest standards of comfort, health, and safety for around 2 million workers.