The Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE) announced that 37 private healthcare companies have signed employment contracts with 95 Emirati students as part of the Studying Citizen Employment Contract.

The Studying Citizen Employment Contract was recently introduced by the Ministry in cooperation with the Emirati Talent Competitiveness Council (Nafis). The contract is signed between the employer and the Emirati students enrolled in one of the programmes supported and approved by Nafis (in this case, Nafis’ Healthcare Programme).The Studying Citizen Employment Contract was recently introduced by the Ministry in cooperation with the Emirati Talent Competitiveness Council (Nafis). The contract is signed between the employer and the Emirati students enrolled in one of the programmes supported and approved by Nafis (in this case, Nafis’ Healthcare Programme).

The contract offers students a monthly allowance of at least AED4,000 with the requirement of registering them in an authorised pension fund in the UAE.

The Ministry held eight recruitment open days over the past three months with the support of Nafis and the participation of 100 private healthcare companies. The open days aimed to encourage the private sector to attract Emirati talent through the Studying Citizen Employment Contract, contributing to the success of Emiratisation efforts across various sectors.

The healthcare companies that have signed the Studying Citizen Employment Contract with Emirati students are expected to amend these contracts after their graduation into Full-Time Employment of UAE Nationals Contract, using MoHRE-approved forms. The amendment will include adjusting their salaries in accordance with companies’ internal regulations, provided that the contract period after modification should not be less than the duration the student spent studying during their Studying Citizen Employment Contract, as companies are required to enroll them in professions within their field of specialisations.

The professions in which the nationals who have signed the contracts will receive training include nursing, pharmacy, radiography, medical laboratories, and physiotherapy. They will work in the same professions at the healthcare companies they have signed with, including prominent ones such as NMC Royal Hospital, Burjeel Hospital, HMS Mirdif Hospital, and Amana Healthcare Village.

Her Excellency Ayesha Belharfia, Undersecretary of Emiratisation Affairs at MoHRE, praised the companies that have signed the contracts, and urged the private healthcare sector to “utilise the benefits provided by these contracts, especially in terms of helping companies with reaching their annual Emiratisation targets.”

“This contract helps attract Emirati talents by granting them job opportunities in their academic specialisations and supports their skill development and practical experience.”

His Excellency Ghannam Al Mazrouei, Secretary General of the UAE Talent Competitiveness Council thanked MoHRE on “the great strategic partnership with Nafis, as well the private healthcare companies that signed this contract.”

He added: “This contract helps joiners of Nafis’ Healthcare Programme get practical experience while studying, and then amending their contracts after graduation to work in full-time jobs in their specialisations, which is a great step to enhance the healthcare sector in the UAE with national cadres.”

Those signing the Studying Citizen Employment Contract of Nafis’ Healthcare Programme undergo specialised trainings in nursing, emergency medicine, health information management, medical laboratory sciences, medical diagnostic imaging, pharmacy, physiotherapy, anesthesia, medical laboratory sciences, and dental assistant, in prestigious academic institutions including Higher Colleges of Technology, Fatima College of Health Sciences, University of Fujairah, Ajman University, Gulf Medical University, University of Sharjah, RAK Medical and Health Sciences University, Abu Dhabi University, and Liwa College.