Midwife Elizabeth left London for Dubai

Elizabeth DriverWhen Elizabeth Driver left the UK to work as a midwife in 1983 for the emirate of Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), she did so for the opportunity to live what she hoped would be a better way of life.

Her career in the Gulf States has taken her from Sharjah to Dubai as she has progressed from charge nurse to supervisor to assistant nursing director, then deputy director and finally director of nursing. Life in the Gulf States has provided Elizabeth with good career opportunities “without any doubt”, she says.

Like the majority of foreign workers to the Gulf States, Elizabeth was recruited directly, after responding to an ad in the Journal of Midwifery. Her visas and residency application were completed by her new employer, and the whole process was completed within three months. “It was all easy,” she recalls.

While Elizabeth believes her job skills transferred well from the UK to the UAE, she does note that to date midwifery is not recognised to its full extent, as it is in the UK. “My biggest adjustment was just accepting that midwifery practice is not at the same level as in the West. But I decided to stay to try to help move it forward, and was selected to be a team member working toward the recognition of midwifery practice with the Ministry of Health. This we achieved, and today midwifery licences are accepted.”

Elizabeth’s many years in the Gulf States have given her the chance to offer a lot of personal advice to others looking to make a similar move. Most importantly, she says:

  • Learn all you can about living in the UAE (or other GCC country) before you accept a position. It can be a wonderful opportunity, but personal lifestyle expectations must be realistic.
  • Always check and fully understand contract terms, and seek help to understand UAE (or other GCC country) labour laws.
  • Learn all you can about Arabic culture. Places like Dubai are very Westernised, but are still Muslim centric, with cultures and laws that must be respected.
  • Do not expect life to come to you; you have to go out and make an effort to make friends.
  • Understand the Professional Licensing process (which is different for each emirate and GCC country). You must have professional documents/certificates approved prior to arrival in the UAE. Understand and complete the process in full.
  • Do not expect to practice in the UAE as you would in the UK! There will be some frustrations, but these are better viewed as challenges that when overcome could improve care for patients in the long run.
  • Be positive – you will succeed and achieve.

While many foreign workers choose work in the Gulf States as temporary opportunities, Elizabeth has enjoyed it so much that she has chosen to remain permanently. She misses only family from the UK, but says “this can be overcome more easily these days with so many options for communication”.