Leadership, Competencies, and System Readiness: A Comprehensive Assessment of Public Health Workforce Reform in Abu Dhabi
1
Institute of Public Health, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, AlAin, United Arab Emirates
2
Group Director of Academics and Emiratisation., Burjeel, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
3
Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, Escola Nacional de Saúde Pública, Lisbon, Portugal
4
1) Department of International Health, WHO Collaborating Centre for Public Health Leadership and Workforce Development, Care and Public Health Research Institute, FHML,, Maastricht University,, Maastricht,, Netherlands
5
2) Department of Health Policy Management, Institute of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences,, Jagiellonian University,, Krakow, Poland
Popul. Med. 2026;8(Supplement Supplement 1):A3539
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
Abu Dhabi has advanced public health workforce professionalization through Version 3 of the Department of Health Professional Qualification Requirements (PQR). However, gaps in role clarity, skills mix, public health intelligence, and structured career pathways may constrain prevention, health protection, and population health management. This research benchmarked Abu Dhabi against mature public health workforce systems, elicited reform priorities from senior stakeholders, and identified “no-regrets” actions under plausible future scenarios (1-3).
METHODS:
A sequential mixed-methods design was used. A first study compared six systems (Abu Dhabi, United Kingdom, United States, Canada, Singapore, and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia) across governance, credentialing, workforce composition, and reform trajectories. A second study integrated a structured survey, in-depth interviews, and document review to identify priorities across regulation, service delivery, and higher education. A third study applied horizon scanning, scenario development, and implications mapping through a multi-stakeholder foresight workshop. The WHO–ASPHER roadmap and the Public Health Skills and Knowledge Framework were the analysis context.
RESULTS:
Benchmarking indicated that competency-based training, defined career ladders, and mandated continuing professional development (CPD) strengthen workforce deployment and surge capacity. Stakeholders prioritized: clarifying public health role identity within PQR titles; strengthening academia–practice pathways through supervised placements; implementing licence-linked CPD; improving workforce data and intelligence; enhancing governance coherence; and advancing Emiratization through structured mentoring and progression. Foresight outputs emphasized deeper integration across academia, policy, and practice to build future-ready capabilities.
CONCLUSIONS:
Recommended actions include publishing competency descriptors for each PQR title; establishing a joint academy to deliver licence-linked CPD; introducing residency-style rotations for Emirati graduates; developing a public health workforce intelligence platform; and convening a Public Health Workforce Council. Together, these measures can complete professionalization and align Abu Dhabi with international best practice.
Abu Dhabi has advanced public health workforce professionalization through Version 3 of the Department of Health Professional Qualification Requirements (PQR). However, gaps in role clarity, skills mix, public health intelligence, and structured career pathways may constrain prevention, health protection, and population health management. This research benchmarked Abu Dhabi against mature public health workforce systems, elicited reform priorities from senior stakeholders, and identified “no-regrets” actions under plausible future scenarios (1-3).
METHODS:
A sequential mixed-methods design was used. A first study compared six systems (Abu Dhabi, United Kingdom, United States, Canada, Singapore, and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia) across governance, credentialing, workforce composition, and reform trajectories. A second study integrated a structured survey, in-depth interviews, and document review to identify priorities across regulation, service delivery, and higher education. A third study applied horizon scanning, scenario development, and implications mapping through a multi-stakeholder foresight workshop. The WHO–ASPHER roadmap and the Public Health Skills and Knowledge Framework were the analysis context.
RESULTS:
Benchmarking indicated that competency-based training, defined career ladders, and mandated continuing professional development (CPD) strengthen workforce deployment and surge capacity. Stakeholders prioritized: clarifying public health role identity within PQR titles; strengthening academia–practice pathways through supervised placements; implementing licence-linked CPD; improving workforce data and intelligence; enhancing governance coherence; and advancing Emiratization through structured mentoring and progression. Foresight outputs emphasized deeper integration across academia, policy, and practice to build future-ready capabilities.
CONCLUSIONS:
Recommended actions include publishing competency descriptors for each PQR title; establishing a joint academy to deliver licence-linked CPD; introducing residency-style rotations for Emirati graduates; developing a public health workforce intelligence platform; and convening a Public Health Workforce Council. Together, these measures can complete professionalization and align Abu Dhabi with international best practice.
| eISSN: | 2654-1459 |
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