The Ministry of Health has announced that its Human Resources and Nursing Departments is participating in the Healthcare Recruitment and Training Fair at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre to attract highly qualified UAE medical staff and show support for the profession. Leading institutions from the government and private sectors in the UAE and the rest of the Arab region are taking part in the prestigious regional recruitment and training exhibition organized to offer promising employment opportunities to Emiratis, especially for nursing and midwifery graduates.  

H.E. Awad Al Ketbi, Assistant Undersecretary for Support Services, said: “Our objectives are to strengthen the medical workforce and apply the objectives of the UAE’s Emiratisation policy to the medical sector. We are taking the opportunity to highlight key employment prospects and other career benefits in the field to encourage new graduates, especially from the nursing and midwifery professions, to provide high-quality healthcare to the community. Additionally, the event will provide us with an ideal platform to recruit qualified UAE Nationals in our bid to address the growing manpower needs of the healthcare sector.”  

Adnan Al Riyami, Director of Human Resources Management, emphasized the exhibition’s role in attracting highly qualified citizens and showcasing job prospects in the sector. The Ministry has been offering many incentives and training programs to boost the medical profession, especially for nurses and midwives. It also aims to meet its manpower requirements in various specialties such as intensive care, dialysis treatment, diabetes education and management, cardiac catheterization,  emergency nursing, neonatal intensive care, and endoscopy nursing.  There is also a growing need for pharmacists, psychologists, public health and laboratory technicians, radiology technicians, and health educators.

Dr. Sumaya Al Balushi, Director of the Nursing Department, said: “We are taking the advantage of the exhibition to attract qualified UAE nurses in our bid to increase the current small percentage of locals engaged in the profession. At present, they only account for nine per cent of the total nurses employed by the Ministry and a measly 4 per cent in the entire UAE. Specifically, we require more nursing staff for our gastrointestinal endoscopy and intensive care units.” 

“Our representatives are on hand to receive the applications, collect information and explain the benefits of the nursing career. Moreover, we offer scholarships to high school students who are pursuing a Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing. Under the program, our scholars receive monthly salaries, bonuses and housing and transportation allowances,” added Dr. Al Balushi. 

The Ministry of Health aims to hire specialists and consultants who are seeking career development and better employment opportunities. The Ministry is also bridging the manpower gap by establishing mechanisms for coordination between academic institutions and the labor market.