Dubai: These nurses are now eligible for UAE Golden Visa
Crown Prince’s directive rewards loyalty, dedication in public health sector
DUBAI: More than 1,400 nurses and midwives employed by Dubai Health have become eligible for the UAE’s prestigious 10-year Golden Visa, under a new directive from His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister, and Minister of Defence of the UAE.
The announcement, made on International Nurses Day (12 May), honours those who have served in Dubai’s public healthcare system for over 15 years. His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum had praised the role of nurses as vital pillars of the healthcare sector and key contributors to the emirate’s vision for a healthier society.
Dubai Health, the emirate’s public health body, has confirmed that this Golden Visa recognition applies to over 1,400 of its 4,400 nursing employees – roughly one-third of its nursing workforce.
On #InternationalNursesDay, His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister, and Minister of Defence of the UAE, has granted golden visas to more than 1,400 of our nurses in appreciation of over 15 years of dedicated… pic.twitter.com/ECHkFYwOi9
— Dubai Health (@DubaiHealthae) May 13, 2025
Who qualifies for the Golden Visa?
Dubai Health operates six hospitals, 26 health centres and 21 medical fitness facilities across the city, with a total workforce of 9,411. The new initiative recognises nursing staff – both nurses and midwives – who have served more than 15 years within these facilities.
The long-term residency visa not only offers job security and flexibility but also allows recipients to sponsor their family members. Introduced in 2019, the UAE Golden Visa is awarded to professionals who demonstrate exceptional dedication and talent.
Among those honoured is Suha Saleh Mustafa Trab, a Jordanian nurse and 2025 DAISY Award winner at Al Twar Primary Health Centre. “I’m so grateful to the leadership of Dubai for this recognition,” she told Gulf News. “It means a great deal to know that the work we do as nurses is recognised and valued.”
Are midwives included in the recognition?
Yes – long-serving midwives are also eligible. Vandana Vasudevan, an Indian midwife with 19 years of service at Latifa Hospital, described the recognition as deeply meaningful.
“I am truly humbled by the leadership of Dubai for granting me this Golden Visa,” she told Gulf News. “Working in Dubai has been more than just a job – it has been a journey of purpose, growth, and connection. I’m proud to be part of a healthcare system that feels like home.”
Filipino nurse Cyrus Vanz Galido from Rashid Hospital, also a DAISY Award recipient in 2025, echoed these feelings. “It is an honour to care for others in a place that so clearly values and supports its nurses,” he said.
How did Dubai celebrate its nurses?
Dubai Health also organised a large ceremony at the Grand Hyatt Dubai to honour the city’s 4,400-strong nursing workforce. The event was attended by over 1,500 nurses from various hospitals and health centres. Twelve DAISY Award winners were recognised for clinical excellence and compassionate care.
We were honored to have H.E. Lieutenant General Mohammed Ahmed Al Marri, Director General of the General Directorate of Identity and Foreigners Affairs of Dubai join our Nursing Day celebrations.
— Dubai Health (@DubaiHealthae) May 13, 2025
We also celebrated our nurses who received the DAISY Award, an international… pic.twitter.com/P72NtA7LC6
This year’s International Nurses Day carried the theme: “Our Nurses. Our Future. Caring for Nurses Strengthens the Economy”, a global call to support nursing through investment in education, leadership, and wellbeing.
The timing of the Golden Visa announcement coincided with the regional launch of the 2025 State of the World’s Nursing report, hosted by the UAE in collaboration with the World Health Organisation (WHO). The report highlights a projected global shortfall of 4.1 million nurses by 2030 – seventy percent of which is expected in Africa and the Eastern Mediterranean.
Incentives like the Golden Visa are seen as strategic tools to retain talent in the face of such challenges. His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum underlined the importance of supporting nurses with policies that reward commitment and strengthen resilience in the healthcare sector.