Community Development Authority licenses 38 new specialists in the third batch of 2026, boosting social, psychological, and educational sectors.
DUBAI, July 13, 2026 – The Dubai Community Development Authority (CDA) has officially licensed 38 new social professionals in its third batch of 2026, bringing the total number of accredited specialists in the emirate to 1,144. The professionals took their official oath at the Al Warqa Majlis in Dubai, marking a crucial step in the emirate’s continuous expansion of its social support infrastructure. This regulatory milestone directly aligns with the objectives of the ‘Dubai Social Agenda 33’, aimed at establishing an integrated, sustainable, and world-class social ecosystem.
The graduation and professional oath-taking ceremony underscores Dubai’s strategic focus on regulating social care sectors. The newly licensed cohort comprises psychologists, social workers, educational counselors, special education teachers, behavior analysts, and learning support specialists. A significant number of Indian expatriate professionals, particularly from Kerala, successfully completed the rigorous academic and professional compliance checks to secure their practice licenses in this batch.
During the ceremony, Hessa bint Essa Buhumaid, Director General of the Dubai Community Development Authority, administered the legal oath to the practitioners. The licensing framework operates in strict accordance with Law No. 12 of 2026 concerning the Community Development Authority, alongside the executive regulations of Executive Council Resolution No. 20 of 2011. These statutes mandate a professional oath to guarantee that high academic qualifications are paired with binding ethical practices.
Statistical data released by the CDA indicates a major acceleration in the recruitment and licensing of social sector experts over the past two years. At the beginning of 2024, Dubai had only 450 licensed social professionals. By the conclusion of 2025, that number rose to 991. With 115 professionals certified in the first half of 2026 and 38 added in the latest third batch, the workforce has grown more than two and a half times in less than 30 months.
“Investing in the qualifications and licensing of social professionals is a direct investment in human capital and quality of life,” said Hessa bint Essa Buhumaid, Director General of the CDA. “By cultivating experts who uphold the highest academic, professional, and ethical standards, Dubai is building a highly efficient and sustainable social service system capable of addressing shifting community needs.”
Buhumaid emphasized that the professional oath serves as a legally binding commitment to public trust, integrity, and accountability. The regulatory push forms part of the broader directive issued by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to position the family and community at the center of the emirate’s global development templates.
The licensed professionals will now be deployed across public and private entities, including schools, clinical counseling centers, special needs facilities, and community welfare organizations across Dubai.
