Two major healthcare groups in the UAE, Aster DM Healthcare and Life Healthcare Group, have unveiled ambitious expansion plans, creating a substantial number of job openings for healthcare professionals. The announcements were made during the ongoing Arab Health 2024 exhibition in Dubai.
Aster DM Healthcare is actively recruiting for its expansion efforts, with plans to hire doctors, nurses, paramedics, administrative staff, and support personnel in the UAE. The group is set to open the Medcare Royal Hospital in Dubai’s Al Twar in the first quarter of this year, creating approximately 650 jobs. The hospital will focus on providing advanced quaternary care services such as transplants, cancer treatment, and robotic surgery.
Dr. Azad Moopen, founder and chairman of Aster DM Healthcare, stated in a Khaleej Times report, “We have committed to partner with the Dubai Health Authority to make Dubai a destination for medical value travel.”
Additionally, Aster plans to rebrand and expand its clinics in premium areas of Dubai, offering a broader range of services, including comprehensive diagnostics and aesthetic treatments.
Aster’s expansion goes beyond the UAE, with the group planning to open 250 pharmacies in Saudi Arabia over the next three years, aiming to add 50 to 100 pharmacies annually. This expansion effort is expected to create a minimum of 1,200 job opportunities in the pharmacy sector in Saudi Arabia. The group is also exploring opportunities in hospitals and clinics in the Kingdom.
Life Healthcare Group, the largest pharmacy chain in the UAE with around 450 pharmacies, has revealed plans to double its workforce in the country over the next three years, increasing from 4,500 to approximately 9,000 employees. The group plans to open 25 polyclinics and achieve a significant milestone of 1,000 pharmacies in the UAE in the next two years. They also aim to expand their Life Health and Glow outlets, focusing on beauty and wellness.
Furthermore, the Life Healthcare Group is eyeing expansion beyond the UAE, targeting Saudi Arabia and Qatar. The group intends to expand its pharmacy chain in these countries, with operational plans scheduled for Q3 of 2024. While specific hiring numbers for these countries were not disclosed, recruitment plans will depend on the nature of the ventures, whether greenfield investments or acquisitions of existing businesses.