ENA-UAE Celebrated IND 2025 with the Launch of WHO’s Global Nursing Report

enaeditor
6 days ago
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Updated: 5 days ago

WHO’s State of the World’s Nursing 2025 Report

Dubai, United Arab Emirates – 12 June 2025 – In a significant step forward for the nursing profession, the Emirates Nursing Association (ENA) and the Emirates Health Services (EHS), in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and Prevention (MOHAP) and the World Health Organization (WHO), co-hosted the UAE’s official celebration of International Nurses Day 2025. The Ministry of Health and Prevention (MoHAP) and the Emirates Health Services (EHS) hosted the regional launch of the State of the World’s Nursing (SoWN) report in the Eastern Mediterranean region in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO).

This year’s celebration was distinguished by the national launch of the WHO’s State of the World’s Nursing 2025 Report, a landmark global publication that examines the status, challenges, and opportunities within the nursing workforce worldwide. The UAE is proud to be one of the key countries marking the release of this influential report.

Under the theme “Our Nurses. Our Future. The Economic Power of Care,” this occasion paid tribute to the more than 28 million nurses worldwide who are at the heart of healthcare delivery. It recognized their contributions not only in clinical care but also in leadership, education, advocacy, and crisis response from pandemics to humanitarian emergencies.

"Nurses are not only caregivers—they are educators, innovators, and leaders in health transformation," said Dr. Sumaya Alblooshi, President of the Emirates Nursing Association. "Through strategic investment in nursing, the UAE continues to set a regional example in advancing patient care and public health outcomes."

The UAE’s celebration brought together high-level stakeholders from government, international health bodies, academia, and frontline nursing teams. The event underscored the importance of empowering nurses through workforce planning, education, leadership pathways, and safe, supportive work environments—key pillars also echoed in the WHO’s 2025 report.

“This report reaffirms what we have long known: that investing in nurses is an investment in the health and resilience of nations,” said Dr. Fatima Alrifaei, WHO representative for the Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMRO) and Board Member-ENA. The Emirates Nursing Association, as a member of the International Council of Nurses (ICN), continues to align national efforts with global nursing strategies. ENA plays a vital role in shaping nursing policy, strengthening professional standards, and championing the voice of nurses across the UAE and the region.

As shared in the State of the World’s Nursing 2025 Report, countries that invest in their nursing workforce experience stronger health systems, improved health equity, and greater economic gains. The UAE has demonstrated this commitment by integrating nursing advancement into national development plans, including UAE Vision 2031 and the National Strategy for Nursing and Midwifery. This milestone celebration has been featured in national and international newsletters such as ENA Bulletin, Gulf Health Newsletter, WHO Weekly, ICN News, and Arab Health Digest, further amplifying the UAE’s leadership in elevating the nursing profession.

State of the world's nursing report 2025

"We commend the dedication of all nurses in the UAE who contribute tirelessly to national healthcare goals and the global mission to achieve health for all," said a spokesperson from the International Council of Nurses. “Your work saves lives, strengthens systems, and secures our shared future.”

As the world faces increasingly complex health challenges, the UAE continues to lead by example—recognizing nurses not only as essential healthcare providers but as agents of sustainable development, equity, and innovation.

The SoWN Report 2025 offers a comprehensive analysis of the nursing workforce and its role in promoting universal health coverage and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The report highlights significant challenges facing the sector, including a projected global shortage of 4.1 million nurses by 2030, with 70% of the shortage concentrated in Africa and the Eastern Mediterranean regions. It also points to a striking global disparity in the distribution of nurses, with 78% of nurses serving only 49% of the world’s population, widening the gap between wealthy and low-income countries by a factor of 10 in nursing intensity.

The report assesses countries’ progress in terms of the development of regulatory frameworks for the profession, noting that 92% of countries have such frameworks in place and 62% have developed advanced nursing roles to improve efficiency and expand access to care, particularly in underserved regions.

Happy International Nurses Day 2025....We celebrate our nurses....We support our future