Burjeel Holdings secures NIHS accreditation for nursing residency

UAE— Burjeel Holdings, a leading super-specialty healthcare services provider in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, ha secured accreditation from the National Institute for Health Specialties (NIHS) for its Adult Critical Care Nursing Residency Program.

This achievement marks a historic first for the UAE and the broader region, as it represents the country’s first officially recognized and nationally accredited nursing residency program.

Dr. Shamsheer Vayalil, Chairman and CEO of Burjeel Holdings, emphasized that the accreditation demonstrates the organization’s dedication to advancing healthcare education while building sustainable national capabilities.

He stressed that investing in structured, accredited training programs, particularly in critical care nursing, plays a vital role in strengthening healthcare quality, resilience, and patient safety throughout the UAE and the wider region.

Dr. Mohamed Al Houqani, Secretary General of NIHS, described the accreditation as an important milestone in regulated nursing education across the UAE.

He explained that this achievement reflects NIHS’s commitment to strengthening specialty-based training while elevating professional practice standards.

The initiative supports the development of a sustainable, highly skilled healthcare workforce that meets both national priorities and international benchmarks.

The residency program prepares nurses for advanced clinical practice in Adult Critical Care through a curriculum that aligns with national regulatory requirements and international best practices.

Graduates receive NIHS accreditation in the specialty of Adult Critical Care Nursing, which enables them to practice at the highest standards of clinical excellence in their field.

Beyond its significance as an accreditation milestone, this program represents a fundamental transformation in the nursing practice model throughout the UAE.

The initiative transitions nurses from traditional task-based roles to structured, competency-based, residency-trained practice.

This evolution strengthens clinical decision-making capabilities, enhances professional accountability, and improves interdisciplinary collaboration among healthcare teams.

The approach directly contributes to better patient outcomes, elevated quality of care, and safer critical care environments across healthcare facilities.

Dr. Tahani Al Qadiri, Director of Emiratization and Academic Affairs at Burjeel Holdings, highlighted that this program marks a pivotal moment in reshaping medical education within the UAE.

By embedding structured, nationally accredited residency training into nursing career pathways, the organization raises professional standards while strengthening quality and safety in critical care settings.

This investment builds a robust, sustainable nursing workforce equipped to meet the evolving demands of future healthcare delivery.

The program ensures long-term workforce sustainability by establishing clear professional career pathways for healthcare professionals.

It supports retention, specialization, and leadership development within the nursing profession.

Through nationally accredited residency training, the initiative reduces reliance on temporary upskilling models and creates a future-ready workforce aligned with the UAE’s broader healthcare transformation agenda.

This achievement builds upon Burjeel Holdings’ established leadership in medical education, which includes multiple NIHS accreditations across various residency and fellowship programs.

The organization has previously secured accreditations for internal medicine, general surgery, orthopedic, and hematology-oncology programs.

Through these initiatives, Burjeel Holdings has established structured competency-based training pathways and expanded accredited education opportunities within the private healthcare sector.

The organization continues to set new benchmarks in healthcare education while reinforcing its leadership in clinical excellence, accredited training, quality improvement, and national workforce sustainability.