Director - Emiratisation (EMIRATI)

Salt; Dubai; On-site; AED 600,000 - 1,000,000; Full time

Job summary

Salt in Dubai seeks a senior HR leader to drive Emiratisation across the organisation. You will build sustainable talent pipelines, aligning attraction, development, retention, succession and career progression into one long-term approach.

You will advise senior leaders on priorities, create data-driven actions, strengthen external partnerships, and lead governance for Emiratisation programmes while guiding workforce planning, leadership development, and internal mobility.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of progressive HR experience with Emiratisation exposure.
• Fluency in Arabic and English.
• Bachelor’s degree in HR, Business Administration, Organisational Development or related field; postgraduate qualifications advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Build a sustainable Emiratisation talent pipeline by connecting attraction, development, retention, succession, and career progression into one long-term approach.
• Advise senior leaders on workforce priorities, representation goals, capability gaps, and practical actions to strengthen Emiratisation outcomes.
• Strengthen external talent channels through partnerships with universities, government bodies, community organisations, and other networks.
• Use workforce analytics and talent insights to identify risks, track progress, and shape data-driven recommendations around hiring, development, retention, and leadership readiness.
• Oversee initiatives that improve the experience and progression of employees within Emiratisation programmes, including onboarding, development pathways, mentoring, performance support, and internal mobility.
• Lead the Emiratisation function with governance, team accountability, resource planning, and continuous improvement across programmes.

Skills

Emiratisation

Stakeholder management

Strategic leadership

Bilingual Arabic/English

Education

Bachelor’s degree in HR/Business/Organisational Development

Job description

We are hiring a – for a senior HR leadership opportunity in , .

This role is ideal for an experienced leader who can build a strong Emiratisation agenda, strengthen Emiratisation pipelines, and create sustainable pathways for development, retention, and future leadership.

• Build a sustainable Emiratisation talent pipeline by connecting attraction, development, retention, succession, and career progression into one long-term approach.
• Advise senior business leaders on workforce priorities, representation goals, capability gaps, and practical actions needed to strengthen Emiratisation outcomes across the organisation.
• Strengthen external talent channels through partnerships with universities, government bodies, community organisations, and other networks.
• Use workforce analytics and talent insights to identify risks, track progress, and shape data-driven recommendations around hiring, development, retention, and leadership readiness.
• Oversee initiatives that improve the experience and progression of employees within Emiratisation programmes, including onboarding, development pathways, mentoring, performance support, and internal mobility.
• Lead the Emiratisation function with clear governance, team accountability, resource planning, and continuous improvement across programmes.
• 10+ years of progressive HR experience, including significant exposure to Emiratisation, workforce planning, talent acquisition, talent development, or organisation development.
• Proven experience influencing senior stakeholders and leading organisation-wide initiatives related to Emiratisation, talent development, or workforce strategy.
• Strong understanding of UAE employment and Emiratisation requirements, combined with the ability to translate regulatory expectations into practical business solutions.
• Demonstrated success in building talent pipelines, improving retention, supporting succession planning, and developing future leadership capability.
• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Organisational Development, Public Administration, or a related field; postgraduate study or professional HR qualifications are advantageous.
• Fluency in Arabic and English, with strong analytical, communication, leadership, and stakeholder management skills.

This is an opportunity to lead a high-impact Emiratisation agenda, influence long-term workforce strategy, and help build a strong pipeline of future leaders.

If you are an experienced Emiratisation leader with a strong track record in talent strategy, development, and succession, we would love to hear from you.

***Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted***