Aster DM Healthcare plans to hire between 1,300 and 2,500 employees annually as it expands its healthcare network across UAE.
The group currently employs around 18,500 people in the region. Its recruitment plans include 1,000 to 2,000 employees for new hospitals and another 300 to 500 for clinics and pharmacies.
Alisha Moopen, managing director and group CEO of Aster DM Healthcare, said the group expects to remain one of the region’s largest employers of skilled healthcare workers.
Each new hospital typically creates 1,000 to 1,500 jobs, mainly for doctors and nurses. Meanwhile, Aster adds around one or two hospitals every year.
The group also plans to add five to 10 clinics and 30 to 40 pharmacies annually.
“We continue to automate whatever we need to, but healthcare is still very high-touch and requires that human intervention,” Moopen told Khaleej Times.
Aster expands UAE healthcare network with Dh1 billion investment
Aster’s latest project is Medcare Royal Hills Hospital, a Dh350 million development in the UAE.
The group has appointed engineering firm Menasco to build the 144-bed, multi-specialty tertiary-care hospital. It expects the facility to begin operations by 2029.
The hospital will become Medcare’s seventh facility and Aster’s 12th hospital in the UAE.
Moopen said the project will add radiation therapy to Medcare’s services. The group currently does not offer this treatment within its Medcare network.
She said the new facility will help the group provide more comprehensive care, including oncology services.
The building project is valued at Dh350 million. However, the total investment could reach nearly Dh500 million when medical equipment costs are included.
The project forms part of Aster’s plan to invest more than Dh1 billion in the UAE over five years. Its 150-bed expansion of Aster Qusais Hospital and the new Royal Hills facility account for 60% to 65% of that investment.
Together, the two projects will add almost 300 beds.
Saudi Arabia expansion adds to regional growth
Aster is also expanding its healthcare capacity in Saudi Arabia.
The group acquired a 100-bed facility in Dammam a few months ago. It plans to double the hospital’s capacity to 200 beds.
In the UAE, Aster is combining new hospital projects with selective acquisitions. Last month, it added 110 beds through the acquisition of IMH Hospital.
Moopen said acquisitions in the UAE can be challenging because relatively few healthcare assets are available. Therefore, the group is pursuing both new developments and acquisitions.
She added that Aster’s market share had increased during the year, despite regional political unrest.
AI and robotics will support healthcare staff, says CEO
Aster continues to invest in artificial intelligence and robotics, particularly in surgery.
However, Moopen does not expect these technologies to reduce the group’s headcount directly.
Instead, she expects technology to support healthcare professionals and improve the delivery of patient care.
“We’re still far away from a point where robots are leading care,” she said.
Moopen added that patients and their families need a human presence when making decisions that involve more than technical considerations.
She expects healthcare to develop through collaboration between people and machines, rather than fully automated care.
Aster keeps IPO option open as expansion continues
Aster plans to finance its expansion through a combination of equity and long-term debt.
The group is also keeping the option of an initial public offering (IPO) open. However, it has not decided when it might proceed.
“We are watching the market closely. We are preparing ourselves for the IPO,” Moopen said.
She added that the timing would depend on wider economic conditions and the group’s internal readiness.
For now, Aster’s regional expansion remains a key source of recruitment demand. Its hospital, clinic and pharmacy plans are expected to create further opportunities for skilled healthcare professionals.
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