UAE, Syria expand emergency healthcare training programme

The UAE and Syria have launched the second phase of a joint medical training programme aimed at improving Syria’s ability to respond to emergencies and disasters.

The initiative, known as “Jaheziya Syria”, builds on an earlier phase that trained more than 400 frontline healthcare workers, including doctors, nurses and emergency responders.

Officials say the programme is designed to strengthen cooperation between the two countries’ healthcare systems while introducing international standards in medical training. It is supported by institutions and training centres from the UAE, Europe, North America and Australia.

The next phase aims to train up to 10,000 healthcare professionals over the next five years, across both public and private sectors in Syria. The training will focus on improving response times, coordination and hospital readiness in crisis situations.

A memorandum of understanding has been signed between Syria’s Ministry of Health and Jaheziya Academy, which will oversee the programme alongside a joint committee responsible for its implementation and long-term sustainability.

Programme officials say the initiative will also help bring international expertise into Syria’s healthcare system and strengthen partnerships between hospitals and medical institutions.

The UAE’s Jaheziya programme has already trained more than 20,000 healthcare workers domestically, and authorities say the expansion into Syria reflects a broader effort to share expertise and improve regional preparedness for emergencies.