In the United Arab Emirates (UAE), expatriate professionals make up the majority of the teaching workforce in the public higher education sector and make up a larger percentage than Emiratis in the private higher education sector. Emirati nationals make up the minority in both sectors. This resulted in Emiratis being extremely underrepresented in this sector and contributed to high unemployment rates amongst nationals both male and female, with Emirati females making up the larger portion of the unemployment figures. The purpose of this research is to identify and understand the factors that prevent placement and retention of UAE nationals as teachers in institutes of higher education and recommend a sensible strategy for greater attraction, placement, and retention of UAE nationals into teaching positions at higher education providers. This research is designed to examine the role expatriates play in creating barriers for Emiratis to enter certain fields of employment, specifically the higher education sector by targeting the barriers to entry into higher education positions.