UAE not facing nursing shortage, says top health official
This assurance was reaffirmed on the sidelines of the launch of the State of the World's Nursing Report 2025, coinciding with International Nurses Day on May 12.
"The UAE does not face a shortage of nurses, as demonstrated by the strength of our healthcare system and the proactive services we provide. The country ranked first in the most recent WHO report on universal health coverage, which further highlights the robustness of our healthcare infrastructure," said Dr Sumaya Al Blooshi, head of the National Committee for Nursing and Midwifery in the UAE and Director of the Nursing Department at Emirates Health Services (EHS).
Speaking to Khaleej Times, on the sidelines of the event, Dr Sumaya added, "While there is currently no shortage, we continue to invest in developing our national health workforce. These indicators confirm that the country is on the right track, particularly in its strategic investment in nursing and overall healthcare excellence.'
One graduate for every 10 workers
The latest World Health Organisation (WHO) report, released Monday, indicates a slight global improvement in nursing numbers. The estimated shortage dropped from 15.4 million in 2020 to 14.7 million in 2023. However, the projected shortfall by 2030 has been revised upward to 11.1 million, highlighting slower-than-expected progress and persistent regional disparities.
In 2020, approximately 2.2 million medical and nursing graduates entered the global workforce, equating to one new graduate for every 19 existing health workers. But to meet growing health demands — particularly in countries with expanding populations and ageing health workforces — the report suggests that output must increase to one graduate for every 10 workers.
Dr Hanan Balkhy, regional director World Health Organisation Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean (WHO/EMRO) said, 'Alarmingly, we are projected to account for nearly one quarter of the global nursing shortfall by 2030. We face tough realities, deteriorating working condition, gaps in education and training, weak regulation, deep inequities and the immigration of nurses to make matters worse.'
Despite these global challenges, the UAE is taking proactive steps to use insights from the report to enhance workforce planning and ensure alignment with international benchmarks.
'The report serves as a call to action aligned with Sustainable Development Goal 3, which is Health…emphasising the need for greater investment in nursing and midwifery. In the UAE, we have taken proactive steps in response to the initial report by developing our Nursing and Midwifery Strategy for 2022–2026. This strategy involved making our workforce sustainable, fit for future, and able to serve our community in much better way,' Al Blooshi added.
"Education is the cornerstone"
She also outlined the foundational pillars of the national strategy, emphasising education and workforce planning.
The first pillar focuses on delivering innovative education and continuous professional development. It includes defining clear career pathways, establishing competency frameworks and regulatory standards, and reinforcing governance within the profession.
'Education is the cornerstone — with clear career pathways and regulatory frameworks, we can ensure nurses grow with confidence and competence,' she said.
The second pillar addresses workforce planning, calling for a balance between supply and demand, increased nursing student enrollment, and alignment between workforce growth and healthcare system needs. 'While we're encouraged by the steady rise in student numbers each year, further investment and effort are essential to meet future demands.
She emphasised while there are a good number of nursing colleges, and universities, in the country but there is still a growing need for more.
'The real challenge lies not only in attracting individuals to the nursing profession but also in retaining them after graduation. We're still in the early stages of addressing these issues — working to draw more people into the field and, just as importantly, investing in their long-term future within the profession.
'We are proud to report that our Emirati workforce within Emirates Health Services (EHS) has reached approximately 14%. Additionally, we are working towards implementing a unique Transition to Practice program within EHS. This initiative aims to foster the growth and development of nurses, providing them with enhanced training opportunities,' Al Blooshi added.
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