Challenges for UAE Policymakers
The immigration trend has posed several challenges for UAE policymakers. The biggest among them is possibly ensuring economic opportunities for UAE nationals.

The UAE government struggles to ensure employment opportunities and career advancement for its own (very small) high-skilled workforce. Emirati professionals face constraints in all public, private, and quasi-government sectors. Additionally, limited lateral mobility to move from public or quasi-government sectors to the private sector is a critical problem for these professionals. At worst, their previous public-sector work experience is either not recognized or overlooked when applying for private-sector jobs (roughly analogous to the problem of foreign diploma recognition). At best, they must take pay cuts and/or suffer from occupational downgrades after managing to make a successful lateral move.

Measures for Emiratisation
The UAE has been making significant progress in creating sustainable employment opportunities for its nationals. Emiratisation, the nationwide program launched nearly a decade ago to effectively assimilate the UAE workforce in the labour market, is a key priority for different government, semi-government and private sector organisations in the Emirates.

The Emirates expect to create more than 600,000 new jobs over the next decade, based on the forecast of 7% to 9% annual economic growth. The government aims to disseminate quality education and provide effective human resource development programmes to improve the ability of the educational system to prepare highly efficient human capital and stay on top of the demands of the job market. It also seeks to rectify the current imbalance between public and private sectors in employing UAE nationals.

Providing Career Opportunities for UAE Nationals in the Healthcare Sector
The UAE healthcare market is projected to reach $19.5 billion (Dh71.56 billion) by 2020, achieving an annual average growth of 12.7%, marginally higher than the GCC growth average. The healthcare market in each GCC country is anticipated to expand by 11% – 13% between 2015 and 2020 in terms of annual average growth rates.
The outpatient and inpatient markets are projected to reach $12.1 billion (Dh44.4 billion) and $7.5 billion (Dh27.5 billion), respectively, in 2020. The country is likely to see an increase in demand for hospital beds at nearly 3% every year to reach more than 13,800 beds by 2020, according to the Alpen Capital’s GCC Healthcare Industry report.
With its vision to develop world-class healthcare infrastructure, expertise, and services, the UAE government is extensively expanding and upgrading its healthcare systems to match international standards. UAE accounts for 26% of the total healthcare spend by GCC governments and the per capita healthcare spending in the UAE was at $1,569 in 2013, the second highest in the GCC.

Medical Coding and Billing Opportunities – UAE
Medical coding and billing has a wide range of career options to offer. Each option differs in its criteria for educational qualification and the opportunities are many in healthcare.

A lot of opportunities have opened for medical coding professional in GCC countries. Thousands of coding professionals are acquiring jobs and the main criterion is having reputable certified coding credentials from qualified professional bodies.

As of 2010, the population of UAE was estimated at 9,206,000 of Emirati nationals (19%).

There are approximately 104 hospitals throughout the seven Emirates.

In addition to medical coding in a hospital, professionals can take up more duties like billing, quality control and auditing.

Certifying UAE Nationals in Medical Coding and Billing – Healthsoft Middle East
Healthsoft Middle East can upskill and certify UAE Nationals by providing the requisite education and certification in medical coding and billing. Healthsoft also provides comprehensive business solutions to providers and facilities, including certified medical audits, ICD-10 training, revenue cycle improvement, practice management, and EMR support.

Medical coding standards have become increasingly complex. Regulations and requirements with the current healthcare delivery system are best met when medical coders, certified in speciality practice, provide medical coding. It is a mark of excellence requiring continued learning and skill development. These are just a few reasons why employers seek Healthsoft certified professionals.