Dubai Land Department's 'Real Estate Empowerment Programme' Creates Over 2,100 Emirati Jobs

The Dubai Land Department (DLD) has reported significant success in its 'Real Estate Empowerment Programme', which has generated more than 2,100 jobs for Emiratis within the real estate sector over the last three and a half years. This initiative, launched in 2023, aims to bolster Emiratisation goals and support Dubai's broader economic strategy.

The programme was specifically designed to attract and integrate Emiratis into real estate companies by offering a comprehensive pathway. This includes career awareness, job matching services, practical training, and continuous professional development support within participating firms. The DLD emphasised that the programme also played a crucial role in improving retention rates by establishing clearer career trajectories and opportunities for growth.

Collaborative Effort for Emiratisation

The 'Real Estate Empowerment Programme' is a collaborative endeavour, spearheaded by the DLD alongside the Emirati Human Resources Development Council in Dubai, the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation, and the Nafis programme. This joint approach ensures alignment with the UAE's national Emiratisation ecosystem, using policy frameworks from the Ministry and incentives provided by Nafis.

This integrated strategy has fostered a more conducive environment for attracting UAE nationals to private sector roles, while also strengthening long-term retention and facilitating professional advancement. The DLD highlighted that these efforts have expanded the sector's capacity to draw national talent and offer diverse career options across various real estate disciplines.

Supporting Economic Growth

The programme's achievements coincide with the continued expansion of Dubai's real estate market. The sector saw a 3.1 per cent year-on-year growth during the first quarter of 2026, as reported by the Dubai Media Office in July. During this period, the real estate sector contributed approximately AED 26 billion in gross value-added and accounted for 11.2 per cent of Dubai's overall Gross Domestic Product (GDP), with total GDP growing by 2.4 per cent.