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The Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation announced that registered nurses, assistant nurses, medical laboratory technicians, laboratory technologists, respiratory care technicians and healthcare assistants no longer need six months of post-graduation experience to secure a professional license. The exemption covers graduates from both domestic and international institutions, according to the ministry, and seeks to hasten their integration into clinical roles without lowering professional standards. Other allied health fields will undergo continued assessment, with the ministry prepared to consider exemptions on an individual basis where appropriate.
This adjustment forms part of the ministry’s wider initiative to streamline healthcare licensing procedures and reinforce compliance across the sector. The Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation, together with the Ministry of Health and Prevention and the Ministry of Higher Education, has also authorised academic staff from universities and medical colleges to deliver services inside healthcare facilities. Such cooperation expands the pool of qualified practitioners available to support patient care and training activities.
The UAE National Strategy for Nursing and Midwifery from the Ministry of Health and Prevention identifies nurses and midwives as 47 percent of the national healthcare workforce. Earlier Ministry of Health and Prevention data placed the nurse-to-population ratio at 5.68 per 1,000 residents in 2017, a level academic reviews describe as below that of many Western countries. A sector overview placed the total UAE healthcare workforce above 181,000 professionals including doctors, nurses and allied health staff.
The World Health Organization estimates a global shortfall of 11 million health workers by 2030, with nursing consistently cited among professions under pressure. Within the UAE, a 2025 academic analysis highlighted persistent nursing shortages driven by population growth, rising chronic disease burdens and heavy dependence on expatriate staff. High turnover rates and associated cultural and linguistic barriers have compounded the challenge of building a more stable domestic workforce.
By removing the experience barrier for these six categories the ministry aims to deploy new graduates more rapidly into areas of established demand. The policy change arrives against a backdrop of sustained growth in healthcare infrastructure and services across the federation. Implementation guidance is expected to help employers and educational institutions align onboarding processes with the updated licensing framework.
