Society
5.14.2020
The UAE awards Golden Visas to 212 nurses

Nurses around the world have worked tirelessly in the shadows of medical staff, with long hours and little credit. Now, placed on the frontlines against COVID-19, their consecutive 12 hour shifts and disengagement of self-preservation instincts for the wellbeing of our society, are starting to be rightly recognized and rewarded. The Vice President and Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates, Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, has decided to show support for the nurses working in his nation by granting 212 of them, whom are non-nationals, Golden Visas, which are valid for a decade.
Despite the intensified physical and psychological strains, a growing anxiety for them and their families and infection rates rising among medical staff members, nurses perdure as the backbone in the fight against the epidemic. On Tuesday, the world celebrated International Nurse Day and on that same day the ruler of Dubai, Sheikh Maktoum, went the extra mile to thank those who serve in his nation’s hospitals through a bureaucratic push of ten year visas, amid a broader online campaign to recognize their efforts.
The Golden Visa
This move stands out, as the UAE does not typically grant long term visas to its residents. The aforementioned Golden Visa was introduced by the government early last year to invite more keen individuals into the Emirates. This highly prized document, valid for ten years, was, until now reserved mainly for investors, entrepreneurs, professional talents, researchers or particularly outstanding students. Now nurses join the ranks, for placing the lives of strangers in front of their own in a particularly alarming medical atmosphere.
As we celebrate World Nurses Day, we salute our frontline that faces the pandemic bravely. We pay tribute to them here in the UAE and the world. Their role is essential, and the sacrifice is great. They are truly the embodiment of mercy and compassion.
— محمد بن زايد (@MohamedBinZayed) May 12, 2020
Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, took to Twitter to further strength this push for recognition. “As we celebrate World Nurses Day, we salute our frontline that faces the pandemic bravely. We pay tribute to them here in the UAE and the world. Their role is essential, and the sacrifice is great. They are truly the embodiment of mercy and compassion,” he posted.
حمدة الدوبي … ممرضة إماراتية .. ضمن خط الدفاع الأول .. خريجة كلية فاطمة للعلوم الصحية ..
تحية لها .. تحية للشيخة فاطمة التي رعت كليتها .. تحية لوطن يخرج نماذج جديدة من الأبطال كل يوم .. pic.twitter.com/iCTNjqQ0Rb— HH Sheikh Mohammed (@HHShkMohd) April 27, 2020
Expressing gratitude
Now more than ever, civilians and government officials understand the vital efforts of nurses, showing far more appreciation, gratitude, and respect for medical for those exposing themselves continuously to a highly infectious disease that we have yet to find a cure for.
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