The UAE's Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE) has slammed over 1,300 companies with fines exceeding AED 34 million. These firms were caught between January and June for faking job records and breaking labour laws. The main crime? Creating fake jobs and hiring UAE citizens only on paper to cheat the Emiratisation system and claim Nafis program funds illegally. Two major offences stood out: 1. Ghost Firms: Licensed companies that do not really operate but hold employee permits illegally. 2. The Nafis Scam: Firms that put UAE citizens on payrolls just to meet quotas and fraudulently get government money. “These were fake jobs designed to cheat the system and public funds,” said MoHRE. Penalties hit hard. Fines range from AED 20,000 to AED 100,000 for each fake Emirati employee. MoHRE has also referred these cases to Public Prosecution as criminal fraud. Company owners face bans from registering new businesses, and all work permits tied to these firms are frozen immediately. So far, the Ministry recovered AED 2.3 million wrongly paid to 107 UAE nationals involved in the scam. MoHRE stressed its zero tolerance for fraud, relying on smart monitoring and inspections. The Ministry urges companies to check and update their payrolls and licenses to avoid fines and bans. Workers suspecting fake employment can verify their visa and contracts through MoHRE’s call centre or app and report suspicious records. The Emiratisation drive is now tighter and tougher against fraud, protecting real jobs for UAE citizens.