Thousands of Sharjah residents just got some genuinely good financial news. A wave of decisions announced this month is putting more money into the pockets of government employees, retirees, and social-support beneficiaries across the emirate. And it’s not just salaries getting a bump, there’s a fresh part-time employment scheme aimed specifically at senior citizens, plus a hard push to hire more Emiratis before the year runs out.
All of it approved by Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah. Here’s what actually changed.
The New Dh20,000 Standard
On September 3, Sharjah raised its decent-living benchmark to Dh20,000 per month. Effective immediately, starting that same September.
This isn’t a small tweak affecting a handful of people. It covers 6,652 families receiving government social support, costing roughly Dh195.13 million annually. Then there’s 2,251 Sharjah Government retirees, another Dh113.06 million a year. Add 5,300 citizens who retired from entities outside the Sharjah Government but still receive supplementary grants, Dh159 million there. And finally, 17,776 current government employees, costing more than Dh720 million annually on their own.
Total price tag for this single decision? Over Dh1.187 billion. Sheikh Sultan didn’t mince words about the intent behind it, saying during a call to the Direct Line programme: “We approved these increases immediately after they were prepared, and there will be no employee whose salary does not increase, including those with high salaries.”
That last part matters. This wasn’t designed to help only lower-income brackets while leaving higher earners untouched.
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More Raises Followed Days Later
Four days after that first announcement, on September 7, another round landed. This time, 3,270 government employees across Grade 3, Grade 2, Grade 1, Special A and Special B received salary increases, costing over Dh160 million annually. Professional systems got adjusted too, engineers, doctors, veterinarians, pharmacists, medical technicians, all included under the revised structure.
Under the general job system specifically, every grade now sees a net monthly increase of Dh3,375, calculated after insurance deductions. That’s effective from September as well.
And it’s not limited to a narrow slice of government departments, either. Sheikh Dr Sultan directed that these increases apply across both centralised and decentralised Sharjah Government entities, universities included.
Retirees And Social Support Beneficiaries See Increases Too
The September 7 package didn’t stop at active employees. Pension payments went up for 1,470 Sharjah Government retirees, with the increase calculated according to grade. That change alone will cost more than Dh37 million a year.
A further 1,473 social-services beneficiaries will each see an increase of Dh3,375, adding up to nearly Dh60 million annually.
Combine both rounds of social-support increases, and the total number of people covered reaches 8,125. That’s a substantial chunk of the emirate’s population feeling this shift in one form or another.
Part-Time Work For Seniors, How It’s Actually Structured
This is the part that stands out most, honestly. Sharjah has rolled out a part-time employment system across government departments, aimed at bringing 1,000 senior citizens into the workforce. Not just retirees themselves, but their spouses too, anyone in that stage of life who might not have the stamina for full-time work anymore.
Sheikh Dr Sultan was direct about who this is really for: “This programme isn’t aimed at employing retirees who are still able to handle full-time work, it is aimed at the older person who spends his days at home, with little left to look forward to.”
That’s a genuinely thoughtful framing, and it shapes how the roles themselves are structured.
Two working arrangements exist. Either one to two hours a day, adjusted to the individual’s ability, or three non-consecutive days a week, with a rest day built in after each working day. Nothing physically demanding, Sheikh Dr Sultan gave the example of checking visitor tickets while seated at the entrance of a Sharjah museum. Simple, seated, manageable.
Transport is even covered. Employees get picked up and dropped off in a vehicle provided by the workplace itself.
Beyond the paycheck, there’s a bigger goal here. The Ruler framed it as a way to pull senior citizens out of isolation, get them involved in community life again, and give them a genuine sense of contribution alongside the income.
It’s a small gesture on paper, but the kind of thing that could make a real difference in someone’s daily routine.
Pushing Harder On Emirati Employment
Alongside all of this, Sharjah Government entities have been told to speed up hiring, specifically targeting 1,200 Emirati men and women before 2026 wraps up.
This isn’t a standalone target, either. It completes the emirate’s broader goal of 3,000 government jobs for citizens within the year.
Progress so far looks solid. Between January 5 and September 3, Sharjah hired 1,800 Emiratis, 996 men, 804 women. Training continues for the remaining appointments still to come, according to the official announcement.
Put it all together, and this month’s decisions touch nearly every corner of Sharjah’s government workforce, salaries, pensions, social support, senior employment, and Emiratisation targets, all moving at once.
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FAQs
Who is eligible for the new Dh20,000 decent-living standard in Sharjah?
The Dh20,000 benchmark covers 6,652 families receiving Sharjah Government social support, 2,251 Sharjah Government retirees, 5,300 citizens who retired from entities outside the Sharjah Government but receive supplementary grants, and 17,776 Sharjah Government employees.
How much is the salary increase for government employees under the general job system?
Each grade under the general job system receives a net monthly increase of Dh3,375 after insurance deductions, effective from September.
Who qualifies for the part-time work programme for seniors?
The programme is designed for senior citizens, their spouses, and retirees who may not be able to manage full-time work, rather than retirees who are still capable of full-time employment.
What kind of roles will be offered under the part-time senior employment scheme?
Roles are designed to be non-physically demanding, such as checking visitor tickets at a museum entrance. Employees can choose between one to two hours daily or three non-consecutive days a week, with transport provided.
How many Emiratis has Sharjah hired so far in 2026?
Between January 5 and September 3, 2026, Sharjah Government entities hired 1,800 Emiratis, 996 men and 804 women, as part of a broader target of 3,000 government jobs for citizens this year.
