Dubai Health boosts Emirati nursing workforce by 150% with 25 new hires

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, in collaboration with Community Development Authority, and Dubai Health Authority, has announced the launch of the ‘Itma’en’ service, which means ‘rest assured’, making mental health support freely accessible to citizens, residents, and visitors. This joint initiative reinforces Dubai’s vision of placing health and wellbeing at the heart of its priorities and reflects its commitment to developing an integrated mental health system that elevates quality of life across the community.
The service is part of ongoing efforts to expand access to mental wellbeing services and foster a healthier community.   
The ‘Itma’en’ service offers confidential mental wellbeing guidance through a dedicated hotline (800506), providing a safe and welcoming space for individuals to consult experts and seek reassurance whenever they need it. A team of specialists is available to listen, provide professional guidance, and help foster greater awareness and understanding of mental wellbeing across the community.
This initiative embodies Dubai’s approach to developing integrated human-centred services that advance quality of life through a broad network of health and community programmes rooted in the belief that human wellbeing is the foundation of a thriving society. It also supports the objectives of Dubai Social Agenda 33, which aims to strengthen a comprehensive social framework that provides protection, care, and empowerment for all members of society, while advancing a healthcare system in line with global best practices.
Her Excellency Hessa bint Essa Buhumaid, Director General of Community Development Authority (CDA) in Dubai, affirmed that the launch of the mental wellbeing support hotline reflects the Authority’s commitment, together with its partners, to strengthening Dubai’s social care system. The initiative aims to provide specialised support channels that assist families and individuals in dealing with various emotional challenges, contributing to community stability and improved quality of life.
Her Excellency said: “Promoting mental wellness of individuals and families is a fundamental priority within Dubai’s social development framework, given its direct impact on community wellbeing and quality of life. Through this hotline, delivered in collaboration with our partners in the health sector, we aim to provide a safe space for every member of society to express their feelings and receive the professional support they need, strengthening social cohesion and fostering a culture of seeking help when needed.”


Proactive healthcare framework
His Excellency Dr. Alawi Alsheikh-Ali, Director General of Dubai Health Authority, emphasised that the initiative reflects Dubai’s unwavering commitment to advancing community health and wellbeing. He noted that it also embodies the city’s approach to building a flexible and proactive healthcare system that places people at its centre, while ensuring access to mental health guidance and counselling as a key pillar of public health and quality of life.
He explained that the initiative also reflects the Dubai Government’s approach to integrating efforts and collaboration among government entities to strengthen mental health services. By enabling community members to access timely guidance and care, the initiative contributes to building a healthier and happier society.
Dr. Amer Sharif, CEO of Dubai Health and President of Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences (MBRU), said: “Guided by the vision of our leadership, the 
Itma’en service reflects Dubai’s renewed commitment to ensuring that mental wellbeing is supported by the same care and attention as physical health. By working together with government entities, we are creating accessible channels for individuals to seek guidance with confidence and privacy, helping build healthier communities.” 
He added: “I extend my sincere appreciation to our partners at the Community Development Authority (CDA) in Dubai and the Dubai Health Authority for their collaboration in launching this initiative. At Dubai Health, we remain committed to advancing health for humanity and strengthening community wellbeing through specialised digital and community programmes in line with our ‘Patient First’ promise.”


Comprehensive services
The Itma’en service targets all age groups and is provided free of charge in Arabic and English, operating daily from 9:00 am to midnight. Callers can speak directly with specialised counsellors to receive  guidance and reassurance, while cases requiring medical follow-up are referred to the appropriate specialised teams for evaluation and further care.
 

Dubai Health has announced the launch of the ‘Unified Health Screening’ initiative, which combines medical fitness examinations for both residency and occupational health into a single application and unified journey, representing a significant step in streamlining procedures and simplifying the customer experience.

The initiative is implemented in collaboration with several government entities, including Dubai Health Authority, the General Directorate of Identity and Foreigners Affairs-Dubai, Dubai Municipality, the Supreme Legislation Committee, and Department of Finance. The project is part of the ‘City Makers’ initiative of the General Secretariat of The Executive Council of Dubai, which aims to foster greater cooperation between government entities and deliver an exceptional experience across joint government services, in line with Dubai’s Social Agenda 33 and the Dubai Economic Agenda, D33.

The service enables professionals from various sectors to apply for health screenings through a smart digital platform. This integrated process combines medical fitness and occupational health screenings into a single, automated application based on the selected profession’s data, allowing all required examinations to be completed on a single visit. Following this, residency is issued automatically once the medical results are finalised.

This step further links databases across relevant authorities, ensuring faster and more accurate procedures.

His Excellency Dr. Alawi Alsheikh-Ali, Director General of Dubai Health Authority (DHA) said that the launch of the Unified Health Screening reflects Dubai’s commitment to strengthening joint government work through a single digital pathway that streamlines medical fitness examinations for residency and occupational health.

He emphasised the importance of this initiative and its role in automating processes and standardising and accelerating data exchange between entities, thereby supporting preventive planning and keeping pace with the growing demands arising from the city’s population and economic growth.

For his part, His Excellency Lieutenant General Mohammed Ahmed Al Marri, Director General of the General Directorate of Identity and Foreigners Affairs – Dubai, stated that the ‘Unified Medical Screening’ service embodies Dubai’s integrated government model, founded on institutional connectivity and seamless system integration among the concerned entities.

His Excellency affirmed that GDRFA Dubai’s role centers on linking databases and enabling automated and secure information exchange with strategic partners, ensuring the availability of accurate data across all entities involved in delivering the service. This contributes to accelerating procedures and issuing residency permits smoothly upon completion of requirements, directly enhancing the customer experience and the overall efficiency of the government ecosystem.

He added that this level of integration strengthens data reliability and reduces duplication of procedures, thereby improving performance efficiency and harnessing advanced technologies to serve people first. It also reflects GDRFA Dubai’s commitment to supporting joint initiatives that elevate the customer journey and align with the Emirate’s aspirations for smarter and more proactive services.

His Excellency Eng. Marwan Ahmed bin Ghalita, Director General of Dubai Municipality, affirmed that the launch of the Unified Health Screening represents a strategic step in strengthening Dubai’s inspection and regulatory framework. He noted that the initiative reflects the commitment of Dubai’s government entities to delivering innovative government services that support the city’s global competitiveness, keep pace with economic and population growth, and ensure a safe and healthy working environment aligned with international best practices, as well as reinforcing Dubai’s position as the world’s best city to live and work.

His Excellency added: “The service marks a qualitative leap in advancing integration between government systems through unified processes and smartly connected databases. This enables Dubai Municipality’s inspection teams to access accurate, real-time information during inspection operations, ensuring compliance with occupational health and safety standards, strengthening proactive prevention, and enhancing response readiness in emergency situations.

His Excellency Dr. Amer Sharif, Chief Executive Officer of Dubai Health and President of Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences (MBRU), said: “The Unified Health Screening service marks a qualitative leap in the development of joint government services by unifying procedures and integrating systems of relevant entities. This contributes to simplifying the customer journey and elevating the quality of services.”

Dr. Sharif added: “This service reflects collaboration between government entities under the ‘City Makers’ initiative and aligns with Dubai’s vision to deliver smart and proactive services. It contributes to strengthening the readiness of the healthcare system and reinforces Dubai’s position as a leading model in the development of integrated government services.”
 

Service centres
The ‘Unified Health Screening’ service will be available at Dubai Health medical fitness centres, including the Garhoud Centre, Al Nahda Centre, Al Karama Centre, Al Yalayis Centre, Bur Dubai Centre, Jebel Ali Free Zone Centre, Zabeel Centre, and Smart Salem Centres.
The number of centres offering the service will be expanded in the coming phase, alongside increasing capacity at existing centres to accommodate growing demand and ensure a seamless customer experience.
 

About City Makers
The City Makers initiative was launched by His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defence, and Chairman of The Executive Council of Dubai in 2014. The initiative aims to enhance cooperation among government entities and supports the creation of task forces from across government to design exceptional shared government services.