Covid-19 has done irreparable damage both, in our personal lives, and to the world’s economy. It forced us to lock ourselves inside our homes for more than two years which led to the shutting down of economies across the world. Apart from the mental stress of being locked into your homes, people had to deal with additional stress of losing their jobs.

For frontline workers, the situation seemed to be even more serious especially for the medical professionals who saw an increase in their demands, according to data published in OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development). This meant longer working hours, more patients to deal with and an unimaginable emotional toll of watching so many people lose their lives.

It isn’t surprising then, that many nurses saw a desire to leave the profession altogether. According to McKinsey research, more than 32% of the surveyed registered nurses expressed a desire to leave their direct patient care roles. The research further elaborated on factors acting as the main driving force behind this decision. Insufficient staffing levels, inadequate compensation, a lack of support in the workplace and the emotional toil of the job are some of the major ones.  

Check out our previous blog to learn more about nursing staff shortages and how it negatively impacts both patients and nurses!

Evidently, the pandemic crisis has led to extreme levels of burnout among medical employees. Combined with blockages in existing supply pipelines of nursing staff, this has exacerbated the nursing staff shortages.

These shortages have been felt worldwide. And unfortunately, the Middle East has not been able to escape the impact of it.

Thus, taking a proactive approach to address the issue of nursing shortages, UAE has enacted new visa reforms to attract more skilled professionals, especially in the healthcare industry, to their job market. These reforms are specifically aimed at filling the vast pool of job opportunities that exist in the UAE. 

Green Visa

Green Visa, announced back in September 2021, allows the holder to sponsor himself (previously, it was the employer or host that had to sponsor the holder) to work inside UAE for 5 years. The holder can also sponsor his family members that includes spouse, sons till the age of 25, and unmarried daughters, regardless of their age. The list also includes “children of determination” meaning children with disabilities or special needs.

Skilled workers, Freelancers and Self-employed persons are eligible for this visa.

To be qualified as a skilled worker, the worker must hold a valid employment contract and should be classified in the first, second or third occupational level as per the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation. The individual must hold a bachelor’s degree or equivalent and have a salary of more than AED 15,000.

Golden Visa

Amendments to the Golden Visa have made it much more flexible and expansive.

Now, a golden visa holder can sponsor himself for 10 years to work, live or own property inside UAE. The individual can sponsor his family including his spouse and children with no age restrictions, unlike Green Visa. Additionally, any number of domestic labourers can be also sponsored.

Investors, entrepreneurs, exceptional talents, scientists and professionals, outstanding students and graduates, humanitarian pioneers and frontline heroes are the people that UAE is hoping to attract with these new amendments.

Amendments have introduced expansions in the category of skilled workers which now includes professionals in the field of medicine. UAE wants to attract highly skilled medical professionals through its golden visa amendments. Thus, an atmosphere of opportunity and growth exists in UAE for all medical professionals.

The medical professional looking to apply for the visa must fulfil some basic requirements, i.e., holding a valid employment contract and classified in the first or second occupational level of Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation classification.

Golden visa also allows family members to hold residency till the time of its expiration in case of original holder’s death.  

Job Exploration Visa

Job Exploration Visa is aimed to attract job seekers and fresh graduates from world-renowned top universities to look for career opportunities in UAE. The individual can sponsor himself without requiring a host. They must hold a bachelor’s degree or equivalent.

All those classified in the first, second or third skill level as per the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation, and graduates from world’s top 500 universities are eligible for the job exploration visa.

How Fast Track Solutions is leading the charge in creating employment opportunities for medical professionals in the UAE?

FTS is a healthcare employee recruitment agency which has been instrumental in connecting highly skilled professionals with more than 300 medical institutions across 4 continents.

We are aware of the COVID induced crisis of nursing staff shortages. Therefore, we have partnered with hospitals in countries like UAE, Taiwan, Kenya, Mexico, India etc. to help combat these challenges.

Especially in the UAE, we conduct regular recruitment drives for nurses from across the country. These drives take place in Dubai and Abi Dhabi which have become, not only national, but global centres of opportunity and business.

As demonstrated in our previous blog, a higher patient to nurse ratio adversely impacts both patients and nurses. Thus, it is our aim to lower this ratio as much as possible, especially in countries where healthcare systems are not able to fill the gaps.

If your institution is struggling to find competent nurses, then look no further than FTS. Visit our website to get in touch with us today.