Emirati-owned hiring platform Dawlati reaches 20,000+ Emiratis

Dawlati, an Emirati-owned hiring platform, has surpassed 20,000 Emirati professionals registered on its service, the company announced. The UAE-built talent platform uses AI-powered matching to connect UAE Nationals with private-sector employers and says the milestone strengthens its role as a national talent ecosystem supporting Emiratisation efforts.

"Reaching 20,000 Emiratis is a milestone we are incredibly proud of, but for us, the number represents something much bigger. It represents over 20,000 individuals with their own ambitions, skills and potential to contribute to the future of the UAE," said Zakaria Doleh, Co-Founder of Dawlati.

Dawlati was founded in the UAE to address recruitment frictions between Emirati jobseekers and private-sector employers. The platform deploys AI-powered technology to help employers discover, assess and shortlist relevant Emirati candidates against specific hiring requirements, while providing UAE Nationals with visibility of opportunities matched to their skills, experience and career ambitions.

The company frames the 20,000+ registration milestone as more than a numeric target: it is positioned as evidence of an expanding national talent community and a tool for encouraging stronger Emirati participation across private-sector roles. Doleh emphasised that Emiratisation should focus on "creating meaningful career opportunities for UAE Nationals and helping companies recognise the depth of talent that already exists within our country."

How the platform works

• AI-powered matching: Dawlati claims its technology enables more efficient discovery and shortlisting of Emirati professionals for employers.
• Employer tools: Companies can access a growing pool of candidates and build role-specific shortlists to reduce traditionally time-consuming recruitment processes.
• Career visibility: UAE Nationals receive targeted opportunities aligned with their skills and ambitions, including roles across different career stages.

The announcement comes as private-sector Emiratisation remains a strategic workforce consideration for many UAE companies, which are moving beyond simple compliance to longer-term approaches for attracting, developing and retaining national talent. Dawlati positions itself as a bridge between employers and Emirati candidates, aiming to shorten time-to-hire and improve the quality of matches through data-driven insights.

Doleh outlined broader ambitions for the platform: "Our ambition has always been bigger than building another recruitment platform. We want Dawlati to become an institution that supports Emirati careers, helps businesses build stronger national workforces and contributes meaningfully to the UAE's long-term economic development." The firm intends to deepen relationships with employers across the UAE and expand opportunities available to Emiratis at various stages of their careers.

Outlook

• Dawlati will focus on scaling its national talent community beyond the 20,000 mark while enhancing employer engagement tools.
• The platform aims to contribute to workforce development by enabling private-sector firms to source and retain Emirati talent more effectively.
• Media enquiries for Dawlati are handled by Lucie Krepelkova at lucie@solved6.com.