Dubai Health has announced that seven Emirati scholars have secured residency training positions at leading medical institutions in the United States and Canada for the year 2026-2027, reinforcing its commitment to developing highly skilled national medical talent and supporting the future needs of the healthcare sector.

The initiative is part of the Academic Mentorship Program, led by the Deanship of Graduate Medical Education at Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences (MBRU), the heart of Dubai Health, which enables learning and discovery to advance health for humanity. 

The program offers access to advanced clinical training and specialization pathways at internationally renowned institutions. Since its launch three years ago, it has supported more than 30 scholars undertaking training at leading international institutions across a range of priority medical specialties. This has doubled the number of scholars undertaking specialty training in North America. 

Looking ahead, Dubai Health aims to support around 100 Emirati scholars in pursuing residency and fellowship training at leading international institutions over the next 10 years, helping to build a highly skilled medical workforce and meet Dubai’s evolving healthcare needs.

Specialty Training Programs
The third cohort will pursue residency training in neurology, urology, and internal medicine, as well as fellowships in behavioral neurology and pediatric emergency medicine. The training program will span between three and five years, depending on the specialty. 

Shaping Future Medical Leaders 
Dr. Hanan Al Suwaidi, Deputy CEO and Chief Academic Officer of Dubai Health and Provost of Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences, said: “Through the Academic Mentorship Program, a 10-year initiative launched by Dubai Health three years ago, we are creating pathways for Emirati medical professionals to pursue advanced training and specialization at leading academic and healthcare institutions around the world. By equipping them with advanced knowledge and expertise, we are fostering national talent capable of driving clinical, academic, and research excellence across priority specialties that support the future of healthcare."
She added: “We congratulate the new cohort on securing places in these specialized programs, a testament to their hard work, academic excellence, and professional potential. We look forward to their continued success and their contributions to advancing Dubai’s healthcare system.”

Comprehensive Evaluation Process
Dr. Rasha Buhumaid, Dean of the College of Medicine and Dean of Graduate Medical Education at MBRU, said the candidates are selected through a comprehensive evaluation process based on academic performance, research achievements, training experience, and the relevance of each applicant’s background to their chosen specialty, with particular emphasis placed on specialties that align with workforce needs.

She added: “The program supports scholars throughout their residency and fellowship training, helping them build the knowledge, skills, and experience needed to excel in their chosen fields. It also prepares them to pursue advanced training opportunities internationally and work towards board certification in the United States and Canada, supporting their long-term professional growth.”
 

Dubai Health has launched its youth programs to inspire the next generation of healthcare changemakers. Engaging students from school age to university level, the ‘Dream-It, Dubai-it’ and Summer Training program reflect Dubai Health’s commitment to youth development, aligning with the National Youth Agenda 2031 and the UAE’s wider commitment to youth empowerment.

The programs were launched at Emirates Towers, in the presence of His Excellency Abdulla Al Basti, Secretary General of The Executive Council of Dubai, His Excellency Saeed Mohammed Al Eter, Assistant Minister of Cabinet Affairs for Strategic Projects, Chairman of the UAE Government Media Office, and Director General of The Executive Office of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum; His Excellency Saeed Al Nazari, CEO of The Development Office, Dr. Amer Sharif, CEO of Dubai Health and President of Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences (MBRU), and other senior executives from Dubai Health. 

Inspired by the Dubai-It initiative, Dubai Health’s ‘Dream it, Dubai-it’ program welcomes children aged 10 to 13 into a two-week summer experience of medical robotics, artificial intelligence, 3D printing, virtual reality, creative workshops, and site visits that inspire them to create solutions that can shape the future of health.  This summer, 50 children representing 10 nationalities will take part.

Dr. Amer Sharif, said, “Guided by our leadership’s vision to empower youth to become changemakers, Dubai Health is committed to providing impactful initiatives that open new avenues for learning and hands-on experience, enabling young people to develop their skills and gain first-hand insight into our integrated academic health system”.

He added, “By providing them with opportunities to explore various disciplines and emerging technologies, we continue to contribute to developing a new generation of talent capable of driving innovation and advancing health for humanity”.

The Summer Training program is a four-week immersive experience designed for students from Grade 11 and above, including those enrolled at university. It provides participants with hands-on exposure across Dubai Health's facilities and departments, fostering professional, interpersonal, and communication skills through supervised projects and direct engagement with healthcare operations.

Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences (MBRU), the heart of Dubai Health, which enables learning and discovery to advance health for humanity, has been designated as an Accredited Provider by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME). This milestone places MBRU among leading international centers that adhere to the global gold standard for educational quality.

As an accredited provider, MBRU can now independently award AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™, the leading measure of accredited continuing medical education accepted in over 40 countries and recognized with European CME credits (ECMEC). Through MBRU’s CME courses and workshops, healthcare professional at Dubai Health will earn CME credits that meet international standards.

Dr. Hanan Alsuwaidi, Deputy CEO and Chief Academic Officer of Dubai Health, and Provost of MBRU, said: “At Dubai Health, we are building a workforce that is continuously learning and responsive to the changing needs of our health system. This accreditation strengthens our integrated academic health system and our ability to embed structured, practice-relevant learning across our clinical environment, ensuring our physicians are equipped to deliver safe, high-quality care today and into the future.”

Dr. Dima Abdelmannan, Director of New Programs and Accreditation at MBRU, said: “Achieving ACCME accreditation formalizes MBRU's capacity to deliver high-quality, independent medical education that meets the highest international standards. It also opens new opportunities for collaboration with healthcare institutions to develop and deliver joint accredited educational activities that meet global quality standards and benchmarks.”

Professor Nabil Zary, Senior Director of the Institute of Learning at MBRU, said: "This accreditation marks a significant step in MBRU's evolution as a university that serves not only future healthcare professionals but also those already in practice. Our ambition is for MBRU to become a recognized center of excellence for lifelong professional development in the region, and ACCME accreditation provides the international framework to deliver on that vision."