Health experts have called on the UAE government to boost nurses’ salaries and reduce their hours as part of a wider effort to recruit more Emirati staff.
Senior hospital officials said much more needed to be done to change attitudes and encourage greater numbers of men and women into the profession.
Currently, Emiratis make up less than three per cent of nursing staff at Abu Dhabi Health Services Company (Seha), a leading government healthcare provider.
But medical staff claimed a combination of improving hours, broadening responsibilities and increasing wages could help drive up recruitment figures.
“We need to change the way people look at nurses,” said Dr Anwar Sallam, chief medical and clinical affairs officer at Seha.
“In the past they were perceived as doctor’s assistants but now that’s different. Today they’re on the front line and triage my patients.
“They know a lot about the management of patients and diseases and can help address patient and family concerns and questions.
“But we have a problem because as it stands the nursing profession here is not attractive.
“Let’s make it attractive be adjusting working hours and allowing nurses to work like other government employees.”
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Read more:
Abu Dhabi campaigns for young Emiratis to pursue medical careers
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Dr Anwar Sallam spoke out at the International Council of Nurses (ICN) conference held in Abu Dhabi.
The event was staged in collaboration with the Emirates Nursing Association (ENA) and Seha, which operates six major hospitals in the emirate as well as additional clinics and family medical centres.
Speaking to The National, Dr Sallam said Seha was committed to hiring 100 Emirati nurses a year.
His comments came after reports revealed that during the first day of a well-advertised nursing recruitment campaign last year, no Emiratis at all had applied.
Instead, officials had received thousands of applicants from Far East and Asia, including the Philippines and India.
Dr Ali Al Obaidli, chief clinical officer at Seha, said one area in urgent need of redress was to broaden the responsibilities of nursing staff in the Emirates.
He argued that by offering differing specialties within the profession, hospitals would be better able to encourage those considering a career in nursing to come forward.
“This is an area that we are working hard to develop,” he said. “Increasing the specialties for nurses will help us develop different career paths for them.
“Some might want to work with the elderly or in pediatrics or in behavioural sciences. Specialisations must be developed.”
According to recent figures, just under 7,900 nurses currently work in Seha-run hospitals. Of these, only 180 are Emirati - around three percent.
Experts said one of the factors behind such a low ratio was pay. Another leading cause was working hours.
Today, Emirati nurses working in government-run hospitals receive between Dh10,000 to Dh25,000 a month, as well as housing and education allowances.
By contrast, foreign nationals who work as nurses typically receive much less – between Dh4,000 and Dh15,000 a month.
Lord Crisp KCB, co-chair of Nursing Now, a global campaign group aiming to raise the profile of nursing around the world, agreed more need to be done to expand the role of nursing in the medical profession.
He said many countries treated nurses like “handmaidens” simply because of their sex.
“Nurses can do a lot more than they are allowed to do,” he said. “Too often they’re not able to work to their full capability.
“In many countries nurses prescribe drugs and you see nurse practitioners being the first responders in an emergency. They shouldn’t just be handmaidens of doctors.
“We want people to think about what nurses are capable of because in the long run they can have a bigger impact than doctors.
“You empower 23 million nurses (the current global figure) and that is the single biggest thing you can do improve health globally.”
As the law stands now, however, nurses working in the UAE are prevented from taking on greater responsibility.
Samah Mahmoud, chair of international nursing, midwifery and allied health conference (SINMAC) said: “We need the support of legislation.
“Currently the law does not allow nurses to prescribe medication or to be more than caregivers. They are not given a license.”
She said allowing nurses to prescribe and operate at independent clinics would boost interest in the profession and help drive recruitment.
Dr Sallem added: “The system needs to convince families that nursing is an excellent option for their children.
“Once we do that then it will be easy for families to buy in to and the image of nursing will change.”
Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026
1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years
If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.
2. E-invoicing in the UAE
Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption.
3. More tax audits
Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks.
4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime
Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.
5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit
There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.
6. Further transfer pricing enforcement
Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes.
7. Limited time periods for audits
Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion.
8. Pillar 2 implementation
Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.
9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services
Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations.
10. Substance and CbC reporting focus
Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity.
Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer
Votes
Total votes: 1.8 million
Ashraf Ghani: 923,592 votes
Abdullah Abdullah: 720,841 votes
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The President's Cake
Director: Hasan Hadi
Starring: Baneen Ahmad Nayyef, Waheed Thabet Khreibat, Sajad Mohamad Qasem
Rating: 4/5
What the law says
Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.
“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.
“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”
If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.
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Essentials
The flights
Emirates and Etihad fly direct from the UAE to Geneva from Dh2,845 return, including taxes. The flight takes 6 hours.
The package
Clinique La Prairie offers a variety of programmes. A six-night Master Detox costs from 14,900 Swiss francs (Dh57,655), including all food, accommodation and a set schedule of medical consultations and spa treatments.
THE CARD
2pm: Maiden Dh 60,000 (Dirt) 1,400m
2.30pm: Handicap Dh 76,000 (D) 1,400m
3pm: Handicap Dh 64,000 (D) 1,200m
3.30pm: Shadwell Farm Conditions Dh 100,000 (D) 1,000m
4pm: Maiden Dh 60,000 (D) 1,000m
4.30pm: Handicap 64,000 (D) 1,950m
