Medical education in the United Arab Emirates: Challenges and opportunities

Abstract

Medical education (ME) in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has a relatively short history that begins with the inception of the UAE almost 50 years ago. The UAE has made great strides in widening access to ME through the rapid implementation of national agendas aimed at advancing healthcare and expanding higher education, in addition to the presence of a strong infrastructure for privatization and business development. While progress is being made at all levels of ME, complex challenges for both undergraduate and postgraduate ME remain. Going forward, issues of standardization, quality, sustainability of academic and healthcare workforces, and research must continue to be addressed.

Keywords:

• Medical education
• United Arab Emirates
• UAE

Disclosure statement

The authors have no conflicts of interest to report. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the article.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Hatem Alameri

Hatem Alameri, MD, FCCP, Adjunct Associate Professor of Medicine and Manager of Medical Education and Examination Department at the Department of Health Abu Dhabi, UAE. He is a member of several advisory national and international ME committees. More than 20 years’ experience in ME and health regulatory framework development; main focus on transformative ME strategies.

Hossam Hamdy

Hossam Hamdy, MBChB, FRCS, PhD, is the Chancellor and the Professor of Surgery and ME at Gulf Medical University, Ajman, UAE. He is a WHO Consultant, member of editorial boards of several ME journals with over 40-years’ experience and more than 70 publications in ME. He received several global awards for his commitment and contribution to ME.

Danica Sims

Danica Sims, BSc, BMedScHons, MScMed, PhD HSE, is a health sciences educationalist and researcher from Cape Town, South Africa. She works in various capacities in higher education, and currently works for the University of Cape Town and the University of the Western Cape. Her work focuses on curriculum, assessment and continued professional development.