Dubai’s social services sector now includes 1,144 officially licensed and accredited social professionals working across social, psychological and educational specialisms, including 500 psychologists, according to Hessa bint Essa Buhumaid, Director General of the Community Development Authority in Dubai.
The figure was announced during the graduation ceremony for the third cohort of social professionals in 2026, which included 38 specialists. Buhumaid told Emarat Al Youm that licences are renewed every two years and that renewal requires completion of at least 40 accredited training hours during that period, helping to ensure continuous professional development and maintain the quality of social services provided in Dubai.
Maintaining professional standards
She said the social professional licensing system ensures practice in line with the highest professional standards and gives academically qualified specialists who meet licensing conditions the right to practise in Dubai. Buhumaid explained that social work involves dealing with individuals, families, adolescents and older people, as well as cases facing social pressures and challenges, which requires highly capable staff with strong academic preparation, specialised training and practical experience to deliver services that meet Dubai’s aspirations.
وقالت بوحميد: «نؤمن بأن الاستثمار في تأهيل وترخيص المهنيين الاجتماعيين هو استثمار في الإنسان وجودة الحياة، فمن خلال إعداد كوادر مؤهلة وفق أعلى المعايير المهنية والأخلاقية، نرسخ قطاعاً اجتماعياً أكثر كفاءة واستدامة، وقادراً على مواكبة احتياجات المجتمع وتعزيز جودة الخدمات المقدمة للأفراد والأسر».
وأضافت: «يمثل أداء القسم المهني التزاماً أخلاقياً ومهنياً يكرس قيم المسؤولية والنزاهة ويعزز ثقة المجتمع بممارسي المهن الاجتماعية، وسنواصل في هيئة تنمية المجتمع تطوير منظومة الترخيص المهني والارتقاء بكفاءة الكوادر الوطنية والمقيمة، بما ينسجم مع مستهدفات (أجندة دبي الاجتماعية 33)، ويعزز مكانة دبي نموذجاً عالمياً في تطوير الخدمات الاجتماعية وجودة الحياة»، مشيرةً إلى أن ما يتحقق اليوم من إنجازات يجسد نهج دبي في تحويل الرؤى إلى إنجازات ملموسة، ويؤكد أن الإنسان والأسرة والمجتمع سيظلون دائماً في صدارة أولوياتها.
Psychologists form the largest licensed group
For his part, head of the Licensing Department at the Community Development Authority, Ali Ibrahim Mubarak, said the profession of psychologist is the largest among the licensed social professions in Dubai, with around 500 licensed psychologists in the emirate. He said the authority works to develop the skills of licensed social professionals by enrolling them in advanced training and educational programmes in cooperation with its partners, with the aim of raising efficiency and enhancing the quality of social services in Dubai. He added that these programmes keep pace with social changes and the latest specialised studies and practices in the field.
Professionals speak about the value of licensing
Social worker Alya Al Falasi said obtaining a licence motivates her to work according to scientific and professional methodologies that keep pace with developments in social sciences. She noted that working with families requires specialised skills in providing consultations and implementing programmes and events that help support family stability. She added that she hopes to design and deliver innovative social programmes that serve Emirati families and align with the UAE’s vision of building cohesive and stable families, stressing that families always need a qualified “social support” figure with sufficient knowledge and experience in social sciences to create initiatives and solutions that strengthen family cohesion. She said professional licensing will open new horizons for her to provide more professional and innovative social services.
Meanwhile, psychology graduate and assistant psychologist at the Community Development Authority in Dubai, Maryam Samir, said professional licensing is an important step in the careers of those working in the social sector, particularly specialists who deal with people of determination. She said that obtaining a professional licence requires the scientific and professional knowledge needed, as well as completion of training courses and fulfilment of official requirements.
She explained that the licensing process includes attending a 20-hour training programme, in addition to submitting the required documents and papers. She added that working with people of determination requires a high level of honesty, patience and confidentiality because of the sensitivity of cases and the nature of the responsibility carried by specialists.
Special education specialist at the Ministry of Education, Dr Amer Jamal, said professional licensing opens wide opportunities to serve the community and helps regulate the profession and improve its practice, making it possible to reach a broader segment of society.
He added that he aims to raise families’ awareness of issues related to people of determination and provide parents with the knowledge they need about the best ways to deal with their children, while also strengthening their ability to address behavioural problems, which in turn positively affects quality of life and the support provided to this group.
Hessa Buhumaid:
• Preparing and licensing social professionals is an investment in people and quality of life.