Aster DM Healthcare has opened applications for the sixth Aster Guardians Global Nursing Award. Eligible nurses in the UAE and worldwide can compete for the $250,000 prize, equivalent to AED918,125.

The award recognises nurses’ outstanding achievements in patient care, healthcare innovation and community service.

Applicants can submit accounts of their professional experience and work, demonstrating their role in improving patient outcomes, strengthening health systems and driving positive change in communities.

Applications for the 2027 edition will remain open through the award’s official website until December 31, 2026, with submissions accepted in multiple languages.

Nurses worldwide can enter across five specialist categories

The Aster Guardians Global Nursing Award was launched in 2021 by Dr Azad Moopen, founder and chairman of Aster DM Healthcare.

The initiative aims to raise awareness of nurses’ role in the healthcare system and recognise contributions that extend beyond direct patient care.

Nurses can submit their professional experience and achievements in five main categories: patient care; nursing education; social or community service and public health; research, innovation and entrepreneurship in healthcare; and nursing leadership and management.

Under the official rules for the 2027 edition, applicants must be at least 18 years old, have a minimum of two years’ experience as a licensed nurse and hold valid professional credentials. They must also meet all other eligibility and professional registration requirements.

Recognising nurses’ impact beyond hospitals

Dr Azad Moopen said the award was established to honour nurses not only for the care they provide but also for their broader role in advancing healthcare services and improving communities.

He said: “When we established the Aster Guardians Global Nursing Award, our aim was to create a platform to recognise nurses not only for the care they provide, but also for the ideas they advance, the systems they strengthen and the communities they transform.”

Moopen added that the response to the previous five editions showed that nurses play a vital role across different areas of healthcare, although much of their work receives limited recognition.

He said the organisers would continue to highlight nurses’ outstanding achievements in the sixth edition to ensure their contributions receive the recognition and support they deserve.

More than 134,000 applications from 214 countries and territories in previous edition

Over the years, the Aster Guardians Global Nursing Award has become an international platform for showcasing and recognising nurses’ professional achievements.

According to published figures, the award’s 2026 edition received more than 134,000 applications from 214 countries and territories, reflecting the event’s broad global reach.

10 finalists to compete for $250,000 prize

The assessment and selection process will be independently managed by Ernst & Young (EY), while an international panel of prominent healthcare figures will oversee the judging process.

Following several rounds of assessment, 10 finalists will be selected to compete for the $250,000 grand prize.

The global awards ceremony is scheduled for May 2027, coinciding with International Nurses Day.

Previous award winners

The inaugural edition was held in Dubai in 2022, with Kenyan nurse Anna Qabale Duba named the winner.

In 2023, Margaret Helen Shepherd of the UK won the second edition, while Maria Victoria Juan of the Philippines received the award in the third edition.

In May 2025, Ghanaian nurse Naomi Oyoe Ohene Oti was named the winner of the fourth edition.

The fifth edition was held in Kochi, India, in 2026, with the award presented to Dr Aigimol Pradeep of the UK, a senior transplant co-ordinator at King’s College Hospital and an honorary senior lecturer at the University of Salford.

Her work to reduce health inequalities includes helping to establish the Upahaar initiative, one of her most notable achievements. The initiative has registered more than 10,000 stem cell donors to date.

The achievement demonstrates how nurses can make an impact beyond hospital settings and play a direct role in improving community health.

Applications open until December 31, 2026

Eligible nurses in the UAE and other countries who wish to enter the sixth Aster Guardians Global Nursing Award can submit their applications and professional records online by December 31, 2026.

Entry is free, and applicants must provide the required documents and information in accordance with the criteria listed on the official website.

Application website: https://apply.asterguardians.com⁠