Recruitment in the UAE healthcare sector has seen one of the fastest growth rates in the last 5 years, with salary increases and incentives to match, according to industry sources. The jobs getting filled extend to all categories, with sizable demand for specialists in mental health services. A lot of upcoming hospitals and facilities opening over the next 2 years, have started hiring, with preferences for those who have experience working in the UAE or Gulf.
“Nurses’ salaries appear to have risen above market rates. Those in mental health and counselling services can command much better packages than what they could.” Said Nikhil Nanda, Director of the HR consultancy Innovations Group. The requests for new staff vary in size and come from established long-term clients and new facilities preparing to open. It can range from one or two nurses to 100 doctors at any given time.
Since 2020, the healthcare sector needs have transformed, with the pandemic being the main catalyst. At the time, it was believed that the UAE had enough clinics, hospitals, and specialized facilities to take care of population.
New hospitals had opened in 2022 and 2023, which meant there had to be new recruitments. According to Dr. Raza Siddiqui, Executive Director at RAK Hospital, the UAE will require another 1,500-2,000 hospital beds over the next 2-3 years. “As better healthcare infrastructure and cost efficiencies are being developed, the UAE could attract more of the 6,000 patients who currently transit through Dubai airport daily en route to other destinations.” He remarked
