Video: Tears and joy as Indian, Filipino, Arab nurses gifted SUVs at Abu Dhabi hospital

Abu Dhabi: Tears flowed, hands trembled, and cheers erupted as 10 unsuspecting nurses sat stunned under the spotlight after being handed the keys to brand-new Toyota RAV4s.
In the lead-up to International Nurses Day on May 12, Abu Dhabi-headquartered healthcare group Burjeel Holdings surprised its frontline caregivers during the Driving Force Award ceremony. These nursing heroes were selected after months of assessments across the group’s facilities, recognised for their stellar performance, community service, and impact on patients, and for going above and beyond, shift after shift.

While the nurses – six Indians, two Filipinos, and one each from Jordan and Egypt – had been invited under the pretext of sharing their heartwarming stories for a video shoot. They had no idea about the surprise, which triggered a wave of disbelief and emotion.

Watch the video below

‘Is it a matchbox?’
Mei Alegre, a Nurse Manager at Burjeel Hospital, Abu Dhabi, thought she was simply there to speak about her journey. When handed the box containing the car key, she wondered if it was a matchbox.
“Never in my life did I imagine something like this. I’ve always loved my job, but to be appreciated like this, it’s overwhelming.”

Alegre, a Filipino nurse with nine years of service, recalled how former patients still greet her in the hallways, remembering the care she once gave.

“In those moments, I feel proud that I made a lasting difference. That’s what matters to me.”

Everyday heroes

Nabil Mohamed Ikbal, a registered nurse at Lifecare Hospital, Baniyas, described the moment as “unreal.” With four years in the system, the Indian nurse saw the award as a meaningful symbol of validation. He recalled one of his proudest moments – leading the resuscitation of a patient who had been without a pulse or breath for over 20 minutes.

“We continued CPR for 50 minutes. Everyone thought there was no hope. But the patient came back. That’s the kind of team I have. That’s the kind of profession nursing is.”

The hospitals’ backbone

For Soher Mohammed Ahmed Ali, an Egyptian Nursing Educator at Medeor Hospital, Abu Dhabi, the recognition carried deep personal meaning. Having lost her father to cancer, she dedicated her life to supporting others.

“I couldn’t help my father, but maybe I can help others through what I do,” she said. “When patients or their families pray for me, when they say a quiet dua — that’s more than enough. That’s everything.”

The recognition, she says, felt deeply personal.

“Being a nurse is part of who I am. This award reminds me that our presence and our care truly matter.”

‘They don’t make headlines’
The other winners included Mohammed Hamid Taher from Jordan; Mark Darrel Manalo De La Cruz from the Philippines; and Ani M. Jose, Archanakumari Viswanatha Panicker, Priyankadevi Kaleeswaran, Sibi Mathew, and Vishnuprasad Sasthamkovil – all from India.

John Sunil, Group CEO of Burjeel Holdings, who handed over the keys alongside Group Co-CEO Safeer Ahamed, pointed out that the real stories of nursing don’t always make the headlines.

“These awards are our way of saying: we see you, we value you, and we’re deeply grateful.”
This week, in the run-up to International Nurses Day, another 100 exemplary nurses across Burjeel hospitals and medical centres will each receive a cash prize.