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Dubai Health reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the nursing profession through initiatives focused on academic qualification, professional development, talent attraction, and creating an environment that promotes learning and discovery, recognizing nurses as a key pillar in advancing healthcare.
This was highlighted during a ceremony organized by Dubai Health to celebrate its nursing workforce on International Nurses Day, observed annually on May 12. The event recognized the dedication of nurses and their contribution to delivering compassionate care.
Held at Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences (MBRU), the ceremony was attended by His Excellency Dr. Amer Sharif, CEO of Dubai Health and President of MBRU, and Dr. Hanan Al Suwaidi, Deputy CEO and Chief Academic Officer and Provost of MBRU.
Continuous growth
The nursing workforce at Dubai Health has witnessed significant growth in recent years, with the total number of nurses reaching 4,436. The number of Emirati nurses has reached 130 as of this year, marking more than 200% increase compared to 2021.
Efforts continue to attract and empower Emirati nursing professionals in line with the highest international professional standards, supporting their readiness and contributing to the continued progress of the healthcare sector.
Frontline caregivers
H.E. Dr. Amer Sharif said: “We appreciate the dedication of our nursing teams at Dubai Health, who represent the first line of care in the healthcare sector, and their vital role in advancing health for humanity and upholding our Patient First promise.”
He added: “We remain committed to empowering our nursing workforce through a supportive environment that fosters professional development and continuous learning. We also continue to nurture national talent, reinforcing Dubai’s position as a global healthcare hub.”
Development Programs and Initiatives
Dr. Hanan Al Suwaidi, said: “At MBRU’s Hind Bint Maktoum College of Nursing and Midwifery, we continue to develop specialized programs and initiatives that encourage Emiratis to pursue the nursing profession, in line with broader efforts to strengthen the role of national talent within the healthcare sector.”
She explained that student enrollment in nursing programs at the college has increased by 125% since 2020, with Emiratis accounting for 43% of enrolled students. The college offers full and partial scholarships for Emirati students, alongside awareness programs and field visits for secondary school students to introduce them to the nursing profession. The college also organizes open days and clinical simulation experiences that help foster students’ interest in this vital field.
Recognition
During the ceremony, 11 recipients of the international DAISY Award were honored in recognition of their dedication and contributions to patient care. Additionally, 25 newly graduated nurses from the second cohort of the Transition to Practice Program were celebrated. The program supports newly graduated nurses joining Dubai Health hospitals and centers by helping them transition into clinical practice with greater confidence.
Dubai Health and Queensland University of Technology (QUT), in collaboration with Siemens Healthineers and ArmHub, have successfully concluded “Healthcare Innovation and Sustainability Week”, bringing together healthcare professionals, academics, students, and industry leaders from Brisbane and Dubai, reflecting a shared commitment to advancing sustainability in academic health systems through applied innovation and international knowledge exchange.
Over two weeks, participants explored how technology-enabled care models, digital health, design thinking, and sustainability principles can be embedded into clinical practice.
The first week in Brisbane immersed Dubai Health professionals in Australia's academic healthcare ecosystem through symposium sessions and site visits to leading innovation facilities, including the Translational Research Institute (TRI), the Wesley Hospital, and the Gold Coast Health and Knowledge Precinct. As the industry partner for the Australia component, the ARM Hub demonstrated how robotics, automation, AI, and advanced manufacturing capabilities can support more sustainable healthcare delivery models.
The second week in Dubai shifted focus to collaborative solution development through two parallel streams. As program co-designers, Siemens Healthineers co-led the workshops, contributing specialist expertise in healthcare technology and sustainability leveraging both local and global expetise. The co-designed program between Dubai Health and Siemens Healthineers guided teams through hands-on prototyping and refinement, ensuring that ideas were grounded in practical, scalable applications.
Professor Cori Stewart, Founder and CEO of the Advanced Robotics for Manufacturing (ARM) Hub, Queensland University of Technology, said, “With Dubai Health, we shared how we’re getting science out of the lab and into hospitals—using robotics, automation and AI to improve care and reduce bed pressure. Brisbane company “Microbio” was a great example showcased: by integrating data and AI, they’ve cut sepsis detection time from 24 hours to just 3.”
Healthcare professionals worked on advancing sustainable approaches within academic health systems using design-led methodologies. Simultaneously, students from four UAE universities; Rochester Institute of Technology Dubai, Dubai Institute of Design and Innovation, American University of Sharjah, and Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences, the learning and discovery arm of Dubai Health, took part in the Design4Change Bootcamp to develop sustainable, patient-centered solutions.
Dr. Yacine Hadjiat, Director of The Center for Innovation and Technology at Dubai Health, emphasized the importance of cross-sector collaboration: "We are extremely grateful to Queensland University of Technology, ARM Hub, and our program co-designer Siemens Healthineers for their partnership and commitment throughout this program. By connecting clinicians, academics, students, and industry around shared priorities, we create a stronger pathway for innovations to be refined, tested, and scaled. This program demonstrates the value of international academic health system collaboration in creating a pipeline of sustainably focused solutions that strengthen care quality and deliver meaningful impact for patients and their families."
Eng. Razan Daoud, Enterprise Services Europe, Middle East and Africa, Business Development Manager at Siemens Healthineers, reflected on the company's deep engagement: "As an end to end healthcare solutions company, innovation is at the heart of Siemens Healthineers, and it is grounded in our purpose: 'We pioneer breakthroughs in healthcare. For everyone. Everywhere. Sustainably.'
She added: “This bootcamp is a powerful example of what becomes possible when an Integrated Academic Health System, a leading university, and industry come together to co-create. We are proud to support the growth of Dubai Health by helping turn bold ideas into practical, scalable solutions advancing technology-enabled care models, strengthening sustainability, and ultimately improving outcomes and experiences for patients and healthcare professionals. Most importantly, our participation reflects a long-term commitment: to keep building, with Dubai Health, a pipeline of breakthrough innovation that benefits communities today and strengthens healthcare for generations to come."
Dubai Health Authority (DHA) and Dubai Health, represented by Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences (MBRU), have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to advance the Emiratization of healthcare professions by supporting Emirati students enrolled in bachelor’s and master’s degree programs across various medical specializations at MBRU.
The MoU marks a significant step forward in a shared commitment to developing national healthcare talent. The signing ceremony was witnessed by His Excellency Dr. Alawi AlSheikh-Ali, Director General of Dubai Health Authority, and Dr. Amer Sharif, Chief Executive Officer of Dubai Health and President of MBRU.
Under the agreement, Dubai Health Authority will cover the tuition fees of a number of Emirati students enrolled in bachelor’s and master’s degree programs across various medical specializations at Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences (MBRU), the learning and discovery arm of Dubai Health, including programs offered by the Hind Bint Maktoum College of Nursing and Midwifery.
The MoU was signed by Dr. Asma Al Sharif, Acting CEO of the Health Regulation Sector at DHA, and Dr. Hanan Al Suwaidi, Deputy CEO and Chief Academic Officer of Dubai Health and Provost of MBRU, during World Health Expo Dubai 2026.
Dr. Asma Al Sharif said: “The MoU provides significant momentum to our shared efforts to advance the Emiratization of healthcare professions and equip the health sector with highly qualified national talent capable of achieving the strategic goals of Dubai’s health system.”
Dr. Hanan Al Suwaidi said: “This MoU reflects our commitment, together with Dubai Health Authority, to cultivating highly qualified national medical talent to lead the future of Dubai’s healthcare sector. By empowering Emirati students academically and professionally in vital specializations, including nursing, we strengthen the integration of our academic health system.”
She added: “The program will support students enrolled in the Medicine and Surgery programs, as well as those of the Hind Bint Maktoum College of Nursing and Midwifery at MBRU, reinforcing essential healthcare career pathways.”
Dubai Health has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the non-profit research and development organization Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi) at World Health Expo Dubai (WHX).
The agreement was signed by 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, and Dr. Luis Pizarro, Executive Director of the Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi), in the presence of His Excellency Nicolas Niemtchinow, Ambassador of France to the UAE, and Thi Hanh Cao, Director of External Relations at DNDi.
The partnership establishes a framework for collaboration in medical education, research, and clinical training, with a shared goal of improving health outcomes for underserved populations affected by neglected infectious diseases. It brings together DNDi’s global expertise in needs‑driven drug discovery and development and Dubai Health’s integrated academic health system to support research and capacity‑building across priority global health areas.
Under the agreement, students from Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences (MBRU), the learning and discovery arm of Dubai Health will take part in DNDi‑led programs, including fieldwork and clinical research activities in Africa and Asia. These programs provide hands‑on exposure to patients affected by neglected diseases and to the full spectrum of drug discovery, development and public health delivery. DNDi experts will also contribute to MBRU academic programs, supporting two‑way academic and professional exchange.
The collaboration will begin with joint research scoping to identify priority projects. It will involve active faculty engagement through guest lectures, curriculum development, student co‑supervision, joint grant applications, and collaborative research publications.
The partnership will also encompass collaboration in drug discovery, clinical trials, regulatory science, and public health policy, with a particular focus on viral diseases, pandemic preparedness, and fungal infections. In addition, it will support joint initiatives in the application of artificial intelligence to health research, as well as the co‑organization of scientific conferences and workshops and the dissemination of knowledge on key global health challenges.
Dr. Luis Pizarro, said: “Neglected diseases disproportionately affect the world’s most vulnerable populations and are often overlooked by traditional research models. Through this partnership with Dubai Health, we aim to advance scientific progress while helping train the next generation of global health leaders to deliver more equitable health solutions.”
Dr. Hanan AlSuwaidi, said: “This partnership represents a meaningful step forward in how we prepare our students and researchers to engage with the world’s most pressing and complex health challenges. By partnering with DNDi, we are giving our learners direct access to real-world drug development, clinical research, and global health practice. It reflects our commitment to advancing health for humanity by ensuring that care, learning, discovery, and giving are driven by purpose and real-world impact.”