Sector Updates

THE U.A.E.
HEALTHCARE
SECTOR
January 2024

January 2024

BUSINESS COUNCIL REPORT

The U.S.-U.A.E. Business Council
is the premier business organization dedicated to advancing bilateral commercial
relations. By leveraging its extensive networks in the U.S. and in the region, the
U.S.-U.A.E. Business Council provides unparalleled access to senior decision
makers in business and government with the aim of deepening bilateral trade and
investment.

U.S.-U.A.E. Business Council

2001 K Street NW
Suite 201 North
Washington D.C.
+202.863.7285
[email protected]

usuaebusiness.org

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The photo on the cover of this report comes from the 2023 Reaching the Last Mile Forum hosted
at COP28 in Dubai on December 3rd 2023. This photo was retrieved at
https://www.khaleejtimes.com/cop/cop28-gathers-2-4-billion-in-funds-to-focus-on-forests-
oceans-and-ntds.

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INTRODUCTION

The U.A.E. economy’s resilience and recovery during and after the COVID-19 pandemic, and reforms
adopted as a result of the pandemic, have solidified its place as a regional leader in diversification,
sustainability, and technology. Moreover, the country has set itself upon an ambitious plan to become a
global hub in health care, technology, banking, and energy efficiency and reform over the next five
years. The country’s hosting of the 28th session of the Conference of the Parties – more commonly
known as COP 28, the premier climate change conference of the United Nations – in Dubai in November,
2023 added to the country’s regional and global status as a leader in climate change action and global
health. The U.A.E.’s rise in prominence was not limited to the field of sustainability. It also took marked
steps towards its overall goal of building a world-class healthcare ecosystem in the country and
establishing itself as a global leader in life sciences and health technology. Through its strategic
relationships with world-renown healthcare, research, and education institutions, public-private
partnerships, and dynamic regulatory environment, the U.A.E. continues to drive local healthcare
infrastructure development, integrate technology into all aspects of patient care, address the health
impact of climate change, and create a policy and regulatory environment that attracts and fosters
innovation. These efforts have solidified the U.A.E. as a leader in creating a dynamic and forward-
looking, innovative healthcare ecosystem and a top destination for medical tourism.

Significant reforms in the U.A.E.’s healthcare sector continued in 2023 with the appointment in late
January of His Excellency Mansoor Al Mansoori as the Chairman of the Department of Health – Abu
Dhabi (DOH). Prior to this appointment, H.E. Al Mansoori served as Group Chief Operating Officer of
G42, the U.A.E.’s home-grown artificial intelligence and technology company.1 Later in the year, Her
Excellency Dr. Noura Al Ghaithi, formerly the CEO of Ambulatory Healthcare Services, a SEHA institution,
became the new Undersecretary of the DOH. H.E. Dr. Al Ghaiti, who for many years served as an Official
Spokesperson for the U.A.E. Healthcare Sector, was at the forefront of the U.A.E.’s COVID-19 response
and passionately promoted artificial intelligence and advanced technology to address public health
needs.2 Both appointments demonstrate Abu Dhabi and the U.A.E. leadership’s recognition of the
importance of fusing health and life sciences with technology and innovation. Abu Dhabi continued this
effort with initiatives led mainly by PureHealth and M42, subsidiaries of its two key sovereign wealth
funds ADQ and Mubadala, respectively. Under the direction of federal and emirate-level authorities,
public-private partnerships in Abu Dhabi are working to position the U.A.E.’s capital as a global hub for
healthcare and life sciences research, development, and manufacturing.

The healthcare landscape in Dubai, which has historically relied on a combination of public and private
sector providers and a welcoming business landscape for international companies, is also undergoing
significant reform. While still pursuing its strategy of attracting medical tourism and international
investment, the Dubai Health Authority (DHA) is taking the lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic
and the international response to climate-change induced heath crises and natural disasters and is
undertaking a substantial internal restructuring that may better serve its citizens and residents.

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Leadership from the DHA visited many countries around the world throughout the year – including the
United States – to gauge international best practices for emergency management and public health
protection. As it undergoes these institutional changes, DHA leadership has noted three key priority
areas: public health, health regulation, and health insurance.

The U.A.E. continues to leverage its prime location as a hub for tourism, logistics, and travel, and has
seen a significant surge in global tourism since the pandemic. It continues to capitalize on this
momentum to position itself as not just a regional but a global hub in priority sectors, including in
healthcare. From its growth in medical tourism – for which Dubai ranks sixth globally and Abu Dhabi
ranks ninth – pharmaceuticals and medical technology research, development, and manufacturing, and
its humanitarian support response in times of crisis and uncertainty, the U.A.E. has grown as a globally
influential power.3

In response to the conflict between Israel and Hamas, for example, the U.A.E. responded by sending aid
to Palestinian civilians in Gaza, opening field hospitals, performing medical evacuations, offering medical
treatment in the U.A.E. to over 1,000 Palestinian patients, and calling for a ceasefire and a diplomatic
solution to the conflict. Similarly, the U.A.E. continues to play a critical role in mediating between Russia
and Ukraine for hostage exchanges an diplomatic conversations. As the crisis in Gaza continues, the
U.A.E. is continuing humanitarian relief efforts and playing a leadership role, alongside other Gulf and
Middle Eastern states that have normalized relations with Israel, to identify and facilitate a resolution to
the conflict.

The U.A.E. government also continued to expand its opportunities for international cooperation, trade,
and investment through regional integration efforts and economic partnership agreements. The I2U2
Initiative, a collaborative partnership signed in 2023 by the governments of India, Israel, the U.A.E., and
the United States, serves as one potential opportunity for the private sector to leverage the U.A.E.’s
regional role to advance healthcare partnerships and business in new markets. In addition, the U.A.E. is
working towards signing 26 Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreements (CEPA) with countries
around the world, through which the healthcare industry can also reach more patients, providers, and
innovators.4

In addition to government efforts, new entities and institutions have emerged and evolved in recent
years, adding to the U.A.E.’s value proposition as a hub for healthcare innovation. These institutions,
including Emirates Health Services, Dubai Health, PureHealth, and M42, combined with existing
government and semi-governmental ones, serve as the impetus for continued advancements in
healthcare and life sciences that are positioning the U.A.E. as a global leader. These developments
continue to offer significant opportunities for U.S. institutions to engage and partner with key players in
the local healthcare ecosystem to collaborate on new technologies, innovation, and research. While
Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi continues to serve as the premier example of U.S.-U.A.E. healthcare
collaboration, new partnerships with U.S. institutions emerged in 2023, adding to the healthcare
innovation ecosystem. For example, key institutions in the Boston health ecosystem, Mass General
Brigham and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, announced jointly a partnership with BEEAH Group to create
the ‘Jawaher Boston Medical District’ in Sharjah. Many other new partnerships between U.A.E. entities
and U.S. hospitals, pharmaceutical companies, medical technology firms, and health education

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institutions in both the U.A.E. and the United States continue to develop, offering additional
opportunities for collaboration.

Building on the Business Council’s previous reports on the U.A.E.’s healthcare sector, this updated
edition aims to facilitate the involvement of U.S. companies in the next phase of the U.A.E.’s healthcare
development by providing relevant information about the country’s healthcare sector. This report
provides an overview of the latest developments and the potential for growth of the U.A.E. healthcare
market, government reforms necessary to meet the demands of this evolving ecosystem both from a
regulatory and service provision perspective, and the steps that the government is taking to meet these
demands. Secondly, this report takes a closer look at the different actors and entities in the U.A.E.
healthcare sector – from regulators to providers, insurers to manufacturers, researchers to educators,
and others that are driving this rapid change. Finally, this report provides a snapshot of both challenges
and opportunities for our member companies in the U.A.E. healthcare market and offers resources
useful for businesses entering the market.

Throughout, this report highlights case studies of successful U.S.-U.A.E. partnerships are highlighted to
demonstrate different ways that U.S. companies can and have become involved in the local ecosystem
in mutually beneficial arrangements.

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Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................................................ 4
PART I: GENERAL TRENDS............................................................................................................................. 9
A. Growth ............................................................................................................................................ 9
B. Challenges ..................................................................................................................................... 11
Strengthening Domestic Capabilities ................................................................................................................... 11
Case Study: Bridging Sustainability and Health............................................................................................... 12
C. Government Strategies ................................................................................................................. 12
PART II: SECTOR OVERVIEW ....................................................................................................................... 14
A. Regulation ..................................................................................................................................... 14
Federal Level ................................................................................................................................................................... 16
Emirate Level .................................................................................................................................................................. 17
B. Provision ........................................................................................................................................ 19
Public Sector ................................................................................................................................................................... 19
Government-Linked Entities .................................................................................................................................... 24
Private Sector ................................................................................................................................................................. 27
Medical Hubs................................................................................................................................................................... 31
C. Insurance ....................................................................................................................................... 31
Daman’s Market Importance ................................................................................................................................... 32
Heavy Competition ....................................................................................................................................................... 33
D. Pharmaceuticals ............................................................................................................................ 36
Promoting Manufacturing ......................................................................................................................................... 36
Pharmaceutical Intellectual Property .................................................................................................................. 36
Controlling Prices ......................................................................................................................................................... 37
Julphar and U.A.E. Pharmaceutical Manufacturers ........................................................................................ 37
International Pharmaceutical Companies .......................................................................................................... 38
Pharmaceutical Hubs .................................................................................................................................................. 38
E. Medical Equipment ....................................................................................................................... 39
Diagnostic Imaging Equipment ............................................................................................................................... 39
Cardiovascular Devices .............................................................................................................................................. 40
Local Manufacturing and 3D Printing .................................................................................................................. 41
F. Information Technology ................................................................................................................ 42
Electronic Health Records and Health Information Exchanges ................................................................ 42

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 Telemedicine ................................................................................................................................................................... 46
Smart Technology and Apps .................................................................................................................................... 47
Medicine in the Metaverse ........................................................................................................................................ 47
G. Education, Research, and Events .................................................................................................. 48
Education and Training .............................................................................................................................................. 49
Research............................................................................................................................................................................ 52
Exhibitions and Conferences ................................................................................................................................... 55
H. Public Health ................................................................................................................................. 56
Response to COVID-19................................................................................................................................................ 56
Cancer Screening ........................................................................................................................................................... 57
Anti-Smoking .................................................................................................................................................................. 57
Combating Obesity, Diabetes, and Cardiovascular Disease ........................................................................ 58
Environmental Health and Emergency Management ................................................................................... 59
PART III: ENTERING THE MARKET ............................................................................................................... 61
A. Opportunities ................................................................................................................................ 61
B. Challenges ..................................................................................................................................... 62
C. Resources ...................................................................................................................................... 63
REFERENCES ............................................................................................................................................... 67

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PART I: GENERAL TRENDS
The U.A.E. has continued to invest significant resources into the healthcare sector, further solidifying its
position as a global hub for healthcare and life sciences. In previous years, creating and institutionalizing
new hospitals, care centers, and medical education institutions to advance the U.A.E.’s domestic care
capacity was the country’s primary focus. In 2023, this focus began to be coupled with federal and
emirate-level, top-down strategies to develop local technology, innovation, artificial intelligence, and
research and development in the healthcare sector. The U.A.E. government’s overall objective with
these efforts is to build a healthcare ecosystem that offers the highest standard of medical care for its
residents and to the broader region through world-class hospitals, international collaborations, and
partnerships to develop cutting-edge research and innovation.

A. Growth
The U.A.E. healthcare market has grown rapidly over the past decade
and continues to do so. The value of the healthcare market in the
U.A.E. in 2022 totaled $1.83 billion, and is predicted to increase by
2030 to $3.59 billion, a compound annual growth rate of 8.93%.5 In
2022, the federal government spent AED 4.95 billion ($1.35 billion) on
health, about 8.6% of its total budget.6 There will soon be 166 hospitals
in the country, and a total of 5,301 hospitals and clinics.7 The number
of physicians working in the public and private sectors in the country
increased to 27,268 by the end of 2021, compared to 12,894 in 2010, a
rise of 111%.8

Population growth has been one driver of this expansion and will
continue to be the case in the future. Current UN forecasts predict that
the U.A.E. population will continue to grow to about 11.1 million in
2030, 13.2 million in 2050, and 14.8 million in 2100.9

Demographic shifts towards an aging population are also driving the growth of the U.A.E.’s domestic
healthcare sector needs. The estimated share of the U.A.E.’s population above the age of 65, according
to the World Bank, will increase from 1.1% at present to 4.4% by 2030. The aging population in the
U.A.E. will also likely become more diverse with the increase in expatriates retiring in the country and
will therefore demand healthcare, including geriatric care, in both the private and public sectors.
Similarly, the growth of the long-term resident population will result in higher demand for maternity,
neonatal, and pediatric care as expatriates will increasingly give birth and raise children in the U.A.E.

Diseases resulting from unhealthy lifestyle habits continue to be prevalent among the U.A.E.’s citizens
and residents. Obesity and its comorbidities such as diabetes and cardiovascular diseases account for
the majority of mortalities among the U.A.E. population. Cardiovascular disease remains the leading
cause of fatalities in the U.A.E., accounting for over two-thirds of all deaths. Around 17% of the
population between the ages of 20 and 79 years old suffer from type 2 diabetes, placing the U.A.E. at
10th worldwide in diabetes prevalence.10

Health problems stemming from a widespread use of tobacco, especially among youth, are also
common. A study published in the Oman Medical Journal estimates the prevalence rates of smoking in
the U.A.E. to range from 23.4%–24.7% in men and 0.8% in women – a rate low in comparison to many
countries in the Middle East, but high compared to the rate of 12.5% among adults in the United

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States.11 With the ease of access to non-traditional smoking methods, such as midwakh, sheesha, and
electronic vapes, it is expected that these rates will continue to increase. In addition, rising
temperatures and worsening air quality have increased the prevalence of climate-related health
problems such as asthma, which is exacerbated by smoking and vaping.

The most recent data available from the U.A.E.’s Ministry of Health and Prevention shows that in 2019,
cancer accounted for 13.1% of all deaths in the U.A.E. The Ministry’s research revealed that cancer
affects women more than men in the U.A.E., with 56.2% of cases affecting female citizens compared to
43.8% of cases affecting male citizens. Breast cancer was the leading cause of cancer-related deaths, at
an average of 11.6% deaths per year, followed by colon cancer and lung cancer.12

Mental health care is a growing field of medicine in the U.A.E. and one with much potential for
development in the coming years. In 2022, according to a survey of prices for mental health services
across 50 countries, the U.A.E. was found to be the second most expensive, with an average cost of
$163 for a one-hour therapy session.13 The country has a shortage of mental health professionals, with
0.77 psychologists per 100,000 people.14 However, in terms of virtual access to mental health
counseling, the U.A.E. is leading in the field of digital mental health infrastructure and services. The
market for digital health services in the Emirates, which includes virtual appointments, mHealth, and
remote patient monitoring, is projected to reach over $530 million by 2025 – up from about $120
million in 2019.15 Additionally, government organizations at the federal and emirate level have rolled
out initiatives for free-of-cost mental health services such as hotlines giving those seeking help quick
access to mental health professionals.16 EHS, for example, operates Al Amal Psychiatric Hospital in
Dubai, the largest mental health hospital in the U.A.E., with a combination of in-person and digital
services allowing patients across the country to engage and benefit from mental health care services,
while simultaneously protecting their privacy.17 In December 2023, the U.A.E. Government issued a
policy on mental health that aims to define the relationship between mental health patients, care
providers, and the health authorities, as well as to preserve the rights and privacy of the patient.18

A significant driver of U.A.E. healthcare growth is medical tourism. In 2021, Abu Dhabi and Dubai
became two of the top 10 medical tourism destinations in the world, according to the Medical Tourism
Index.19 From specialty surgeries to cosmetic procedures, the costs associated with travel to and
healthcare in the U.A.E. make it more accessible to people of the MENA, Southeast Asia, and Africa
regions than similar care in Europe and North America. Both Abu Dhabi and Dubai have their own
individual approaches to success in medical tourism, outlined by the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi
(DOH) as well as Dubai’s Medical Tourism Strategy for 2017-2021, put forth by the Dubai Health
Authority. Following the lull in travel during the COVID-19 pandemic, Dubai’s medical tourism industry
has boomed once again, receiving 674,000 medical tourists that spent $270 million in 2022, an increase
of about $70 million from revenues of 2021.20

Improved quality is also a driver of cost, and various metrics have shown that the quality of U.A.E.
healthcare has improved. In 2021, the Legatum Institute’s Legatum Prosperity Index report ranked the
U.A.E. 33rd globally, and second (after Israel) in the Middle East and North Africa, in terms of healthcare
quality.21 The same report also ranked the U.A.E. first in three important global competitiveness indices
in the health care industry: for its national early detection programs, the scope of its medical coverage,
and the range of antenatal care.22

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B. Challenges
The tremendous growth of the U.A.E.’s healthcare market has driven policies and initiatives aimed at
mitigating the biggest challenge still facing the country: recruiting, training, and retaining healthcare
professionals.

Strengthening Domestic Capabilities

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the U.A.E. was confronted with the reality of caring for all its patients
with an understaffed healthcare sector. It was in particular need of nurses. According to 2021 data, the
U.A.E. had 6.05 nurses for every 1,000 people, a figure significantly lower than that of most Western
countries.23 Several factors complicated the adequate staffing of qualified medical personnel in the
U.A.E., and government action in recent years has aimed at mitigating these challenges.

In October 2021 the U.A.E announced sweeping reforms to its visa process by granting all frontline
health workers and their families a 10-year golden visa.24 This initiative, under the direction of U.A.E.
President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, served to provide stability for healthcare workers and their
families in the U.A.E., who were also supported throughout the pandemic with schooling cost assistance
and free flights home to visit their families. Additionally, Emirates Health Services (EHS) – the federal
authority responsible for the provision of care that recently spun off from the federal health regulation
authority, the Ministry of Health and Prevention (MOHAP) –put forth initiatives to attract Emirati
professionals and students to healthcare professions, with a specific focus on nursing.

In April 2021, MoHAP launched the National Strategy for Nursing and Midwifery – Roadmap for 2025,
(later adjusted to 2026). This strategy serves to encourage U.A.E. citizens and residents to become
nurses and midwives, to promote public training programs for them, and to raise the quality of nursing
care provided domestically.25 It also refers to the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals to
increase sustainability of the medical field and equitable treatment of nursing professionals.

In its efforts to enhance the capabilities of its domestic healthcare sector, the U.A.E. has developed and
invested in general and specialty care facilities.
v In Abu Dhabi, institutions such as Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi and Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City
(SSMC) illustrate progress made in diversifying and strengthening the types of care provided in
the country by bringing in international doctors and providers and developing local centers of
excellence.
v Dubai is home to two of the most important children’s and women’s hospitals, Al Jalila
Children’s Specialty Hospital and Medcare Women & Children Hospital, according to
Newsweek.26 Additionally, Dubai Health Care City (DHCC), the emirate’s healthcare free zone,
has grown to include nearly 200 hospitals and clinical facilities and is continuously working to
attract investment from local and international healthcare businesses, with a specific focus on
those providing specialty services.27
v In mainly Sharjah and the Northern Emirates (and to a lesser extent in Dubai) Emirates Health
Services (EHS), took on much of the responsibility for building the capacity of the local
healthcare sector. EHS signed many partnership and collaboration agreements with domestic
and international hospitals, pharmaceutical companies, and medical technology companies, and
has demonstrated a keen interest in further engaging U.S. private sector companies and work to
enhance the efficiency and scope of the U.A.E.’s domestic healthcare sector. These partnership
opportunities include visiting consultancy programs, shared education and training courses,
research and academic cooperation, development of digital solutions, and public health
advocacy initiatives. In addition to EHS, PureHealth’s acquisition of Abu Dhabi Health Services

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 Company (SEHA), made it the largest healthcare provider network in the U.A.E., and many of its
14 SEHA hospitals and 46 clinics are active in the northern emirates.

Case Study: Bridging Sustainability and Health

From November 30th to December 12, 2023, the U.A.E. hosted the 28th session of the Conference of the
Parties – more commonly known as COP 28, UNFCCC’s annual climate conference. The U.A.E. leveraged
its Presidency of COP 28 to include a health-focused day at COP to highlight the impact of the climate
crisis on public health. This initiative included a climate-health ministerial, and in a landmark
announcement, the parties announced the ‘COP28 UAE Declaration on Climate and Health,’ a global
commitment to proactively address climate-related health impacts that was endorsed by 123
countries.28 Also at COP 28, a record number of financial commitments to help address the climate
change health crisis were made, including an initial $7 million towards the new Climate and Health
Initiative by the Asian Development Bank, $57.95 million towards climate and health by the Bill and
Melinda Gates Foundation, £100 million by Wellcome Trust, $100 million by the Rockefeller Foundation,
£18 million by the U.K. government, and $500 million from the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis,
and Malaria.29

This COP also brought a multitude of voices to the forefront of the climate change-health agenda.
Indigenous peoples, youth, and vulnerable communities in the Global South were represented in
ministerial negotiations, thought-leadership discussions, and advocacy protests. Climate change is
already contributing to humanitarian emergencies and health crises around the world such as
heatwaves, wildfires, floods, tropical storms, and hurricanes, but the brunt of these disasters is felt by
countries and populations that do not have the financial support and infrastructure to mitigate it. The
U.A.E., in striving to host the “most inclusive COP,” successfully amplified these voices to join
governments and industry around the world in the fight for health resiliency in the face of climate
change.30

C. Government Strategies
The U.A.E. federal government – which broadly oversees the country’s healthcare sector and funds non-
private healthcare in the northern emirates – has developed strategic plans to both respond to the
growing demand for healthcare and meet the associated challenges. The ‘We the U.A.E. 2031’ Vision,
launched in November 2022, is the highest-level federal strategic which, among other measures, aims to
rank the U.A.E. as one of the top 10 countries globally in the quality of healthcare.

This builds on the previous strategic plan, the U.A.E’s Vision 2021, which made achieving “world-class
healthcare” one of its priority goals. In executing this strategy, the U.A.E. achieved status as the leading
country in Joint Commission International (JCI) accredited hospitals, after the U.S., with more than 200
accredited health facilities.31 The 2021 Vision, which coincided with the U.A.E.’s 50th National Day, also
sought to reduce the prevalence of diabetes, obesity, and smoking among the population, decrease the
number of deaths from cardiovascular diseases and cancer, and increase the supply of nurses and
physicians to treat its population.

Also in 2021, the federal government launched the ‘Projects of the 50’, a series of economic projects
that aim to accelerate the development of the U.A.E. into a regional hub and ideal destination across
various sectors for talented individuals and investors. One of these projects is the Healthcare

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Development Programme, which strives to recruit and train 10,000 Emiratis into the U.A.E.’s healthcare
sector by 2025. This program falls under the scope of NAFIS, a program focused on attracting Emirati
youth to the private sector and will roll out educational programs to train students in collaborations
with private sector educators and healthcare facilities.32

In the spirit of the U.A.E.’s Vision 2021, Abu Dhabi had developed its own emirate-level strategic
healthcare plan. In December 2014, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, current President of the
U.A.E. and then-Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, approved the strategy to improve healthcare in the emirate.
This strategy included 85 initiatives that aimed to improve the quality of healthcare services in Abu
Dhabi by enhancing safety standards and patient experience, attracting and retaining medical
professionals, preparing for emergencies, embracing public health methodology, stemming
unsustainable health care costs, and integrating IT systems and electronic data into practices.33 This
strategy evolved to include further integration of the private sector in the Abu Dhabi healthcare
environment, with entities like Mubadala Investment Company and ADQ playing an important role.

Dubai likewise developed strategic plans for its healthcare sector in keeping with Vision 2021. In January
2017, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, U.A.E. Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of
Dubai, launched Dubai Health Strategy 2021. This strategy aimed to provide high-quality medical care to
patients with chronic diseases, as well as to promote a culture of early detection and regular check-ups.
It also sought to create a high-quality comprehensive and integrated health service system by improving
efficiency in healthcare, utilizing digital infrastructure, and creating a collaborative partnership between
the public and private sectors.

Other emirates also embarked on long-term plans to meet the anticipated growth in their healthcare
sectors. Sharjah, for instance, has made healthcare a focus of its development strategies, beginning with
the construction of the Sharjah Healthcare City freezone. U.S. partnerships with public and private
institutions will increasingly provide a framework for Sharjah’s overall healthcare ecosystem
development, especially following the announcement of the Jawaher Boston Medical District, a
collaboration between BEEAH Group and Boston-based Mass General Brigham Hospital Group and
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.34 While the Sharjah Health Authority is the main entity charged with the
regulation and provision of healthcare services in the emirate, Emirates Health Services (EHS) shares
some of this responsibility through its affiliation with Al Qassimi Women and Children’s Hospital and
others. The federal government similarly manages the healthcare sectors of the remaining northern
emirates including Ajman, Ras Al Khaimah, Umm Al Quwain, and Fujairah.

As the U.A.E. redoubles its commitment to developing its healthcare sector, both at the federal and
emirate level, the private sector will have an important role to play. Private-sector healthcare spending
is forecasted to increase at a cumulative annual growth rate of 9.5% compared to a government
contribution growth rate of 4.4%. This growth offers tremendous opportunities for U.S. companies and
healthcare institutions to partner with U.A.E. government and private entities and build towards the
realization of the U.A.E.’s healthcare objectives.

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PART II: SECTOR OVERVIEW
Under the oversight of both federal and emirate-level regulatory authorities, the U.A.E. is witnessing a
boom in healthcare provision from both public sector and private sector institutions. Concurrently, the
U.A.E. is rapidly expanding its pharmaceutical, medical equipment, healthcare data and IT, and medical
education sectors.

A. Regulation
The U.A.E. has a number of healthcare regulators at both the federal and emirate levels, each with its
own geographic or functional purview. U.A.E. healthcare regulatory structure is being shaped by two
broad trends: (1) an expanding autonomy of emirate-level health authorities (2) changing ecosystem of
cross-sector regulatory authorities.

The Ministry of Health and Prevention, the federal health regulator, is responsible for issuing laws and
policies that are carried by the emirate-level health authorities. However, as the Department of Health –
Abu Dhabi (DOH Abu Dhabi) and the Dubai Health Authority (DHA) develop their own priorities for
growth and development in the health sector, industry has recently reported cases of laws being applied
differently in different emirates compared to federally. This has been especially prevalent in the case of
data regulations and has impacted the flow of health data between patients, providers, insurers, and
researchers. The DOH Abu Dhabi, in achieving its focus on strengthening local research, development,
and manufacturing of medical products, has also facilitated the rise of its own local institutions in
managing service provision and data management. This trend is evidenced in the consolidation of the
hospitals of the Abu Dhabi Health Services Company (SEHA) under PureHealth, a subsidiary of the
sovereign wealth fund ADQ, as well as in the enablement of technology company G42 with health and
patient data sovereignty through efforts to localize data in-country. Compared to Abu Dhabi, this trend
of government-led encouragement of local and semi-governmental market actors has not prevailed in
Dubai, where both international and local private sector health companies tend to maintain a
substantial hold in the healthcare market.

As the U.A.E.’s healthcare sector becomes more and more intertwined with other sectors, especially
technology, tourism, and logistics, other regulatory authorities will come into play in the health and life
sciences ecosystem. We have already seen this trend in the case of data, with health data laws being
created by both the relevant health authorities and the U.A.E.’s Ministry for Artificial Intelligence, Digital
Economy, and Remote Work Applications. In addition to data, manufacturing across sectors and
including healthcare is stimulated by the Make It in the Emirates Initiative, a project of the Ministry of
Industry and Advanced Technology, aimed at raising the GDP contribution of industrial manufacturing to
over $80 billion by 2030.35 A new U.A.E. Drug Corporation, announced in October 2023 upon its
establishment by the U.A.E. Cabinet, will also create a new level of regulation and licensing procedures
for medical and pharmaceutical products, heath care items, and nutritional supplements.36

Several important federal legislative developments in recent years are as follows:

v Federal Decree Law No. 11 of 2023, Amending some provisions of the Federal Law No. 8 of 2019 on
Medical Products, Profession of Pharmacy, and Pharmaceutical Facilities37
o This law, passed in April 2023, notably amended certain aspects of the U.A.E.’s regulations
regarding marketing and distribution of medical products including pharmaceuticals and
medical devices. One of the most critical changes this law made was to require medical
product developers, in marketing their products in the U.A.E., to identify two, rather than
only one, local distributor. Industry leaders noted that this policy, while important for

14
 protecting the availability of critical medical products in the event of supply chain
disruptions, can create inefficiencies for companies that produce and market value-driven,
rather than volume-driven products. The U.S.-U.A.E. Business Council is working with
industry and U.A.E. government health authority leaders to facilitate discussions that
reconcile industry recommendations for global best practices and U.A.E. leadership’s
priorities.
v Ministerial Resolution No. 89 of 2023, Regarding Medical Products and Health Facilities that are
excluded from Registration in the Drug Tracking and Monitoring Platform38
o This ministerial resolution, passed in March 2023 by the MoHAP, refers to the ministerial
resolution passed in 2021 requiring medical products distributed in the country to be
registered using the Electronic Drug Tracking and Monitoring Platform, Tatmeen. This
updated resolution excludes certain products from the requirement to register them on the
Tatmeen platform, including intravenous nutrition, radioactive drugs, diagnostic imaging
medications, blood and blood products/derivatives, medical gasses, medical products of
limited or rare demand, compound medicinal products prepared within the country in
licensed pharmacies, and other approved products.
v National Policy to Promote Healthy Lifestyles in the U.A.E.39
o This policy, issued in 2023, serves as a framework for the U.A.E.’s emphasis on promoting
and supporting healthy lifestyles through pillars that include support from the leadership
and government, sustainability, innovation, cooperation and shared participation, equality
and transparency, and empowerment of communities.
v Chairman’s Resolution No. 146 of 2022, Regarding the regulations for international patient care40
o This resolution, issued in 2022 by the Chairman of the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi,
outlines the regulations for determining when patients should acquire medical referrals to
receive treatment outside the country and the cost, travel, and family accommodation
expenses provided.
v Federal Decree Law No. 45 of 2021, on the Protection of Personal Data
o This law, which came into effect in January 2022, deals with the protection of an individual’s
personal data, and the flow of data across country borders. This law was released after
consultation with industry, spearheaded by the Business Council, and is the precursor to a
health data law and business data law, likely to be released soon.
v Federal Law No. 13 of 2020, On Public Health41
o This law, passed in November 2020, served to identify and define national strategies and
procedures for the advancement of public health, noting an absence of the subject in
previous laws issued. It outlined the coordination across levels of government in addressing
public health concerns and the Ministry’s work to build community advocacy and
understanding of public health topics. Notably, it introduced a National Public Health
Committee, to be led by the Ministry. It brought a variety of concerns and topics under the
umbrella of “public health,” including family health, individual’s health (at all ages and
physical abilities), psychological health, healthy lifestyles, food safety, physical activity,
controlling tobacco and its derivatives, occupational health, communicable diseases, non-
communicable disease, environment health, hazardous product management, burial and
cemetery sites, and medicinal products.

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v Federal Law No. 2 of 2019, on the Use of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in
Health Fields42
o This law, announced in February 2019 by the President of the U.A.E., Sheikh Khalifa bin
Zayed Al Nahyan, aims to promote and ensure the optimal use of ICT in health fields through
adopting standard practices and enabling the Ministry to collect, analyze, and store health
data and ensure its security. This law created a Central System to keep, exchange, and
collect health information and data and, notably, restricted the storage and transfer of
health information and data outside the state, unless in cases defined by the Health
Authority in coordination with the Ministry. This provision in the law has proven to create
challenges to U.S. companies, particularly those in the insurance sector as well as providers
who serve patients both in the U.A.E. and the United States, and the Business Council has
worked with industry and government to establish conversations that may synthesize
mutually-beneficial solutions to these challenges.

Federal Level
The most important federal regulatory authority in the U.A.E. healthcare sector is the Ministry of Health
and Prevention.

Ministry of Health and Prevention (MOHAP)

The Ministry of Health and Prevention (MOHAP), formerly known as the
Ministry of Health, oversees the implementation of government policy in
relation to the provision of health care for all U.A.E. citizens and residents.43
Importantly, it also licenses and controls the prices of drugs and medical
devices nationwide.44 MOHAP is working to achieve the objectives of the
U.A.E.’s ‘National Strategy for Wellbeing 2031’, which aims to make the
country a world leader in quality of life for its citizens and residents. The
current Minister of Health and Prevention is H.E. Abdul Rahman bin
Mohammed bin Nasser Al Owais and the Undersecretary is Dr. Mohammad Salim Al Olama.45 For more
information, please visit www.mohap.gov.ae

MOHAP is working to achieve the objectives of the U.A.E.’s ‘National Strategy for Wellbeing 2031’,
which aims to make the country a world leader in quality of life for its citizens and residents.

16
 MOHAP Partnerships with U.S. Institutions

Ø SAS collaborated with MOHAP for the U.A.E.’s

first Center of Excellence for Artificial
Intelligence (AI), which launched in October
2023. This Center will aim to promote the
digitalization of health data, employ smart
technologies to develop health capacities, and
establish a comprehensive digital services
ecosystem for patients.

Ø Viatris signed a Memorandum of

Understanding with MOHAP in September
2022 to support the ministry’s efforts,
initiatives, campaigns, research, and
workshops designed to achieve the objectives
of the U.A.E.’s ‘National Strategy for Wellbeing
2031’.

Ø Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of

Johnson & Johnson, signed an appendix in
February 2022 to their 2018 Memorandum of
Understanding with MOHAP and Axios, a
healthcare consulting firm, aimed at providing
affordable medicines to uninsured and low-
income expatriates suffering from pulmonary
hypertension, multiple myeloma, ulcerative
colitis and/or psoriatic arthritis.

Ø Amazon Web Services (AWS) signed a

Memorandum of Understanding in January
2022 with MOHAP for partnership in creating a
cloud-based electronic medical records
system.

46

Emirate Level
While healthcare provision in some emirates is regulated entirely by MOHAP, certain emirates or free
zones also have their own regulatory authorities, most notably The Department of Health – Abu Dhabi
(DOH) and Dubai Health Authority (DHA).

17
Department of Health – Abu Dhabi (DOH)
The Department of Health – Abu Dhabi (DOH) regulates the healthcare sector in
Abu Dhabi. It defines the strategy of the health system, and it monitors and
analyzes both the health status of the population and the performance of the
system. Importantly, the International Patient Care (IPC) Office of the DOH
refers Emiratis to leading U.S. hospitals for treatment. The Chairman of the
DOH is His Excellency Mansoor Al Mansoori and its Undersecretary is Her
Excellency Dr. Noura Al Ghaithi.47 For more information, please visit
www.doh.gov.ae/en

DOH Partnerships with U.S. Institutions

Ø AbbVie Biopharmaceuticals signed a

Declaration of Collaboration with DOH and
M42 in June 2023 to elevate collaborative
efforts in personalized medicine and genomics
in Abu Dhabi.

Ø Mass General Brigham signed an agreement

with DOH in June 2023 for collaboration on
clinical and translational research, capacity
building, technology transfer, and
commercialization.

Ø Eli Lilly & Co. signed a Declaration of

Collaboration with DOH in June 2023 to
support clinical research and healthcare
technology.

Ø Johnson & Johnson signed a Declaration of

Collaboration with DOH in June 2022 to bring
innovative treatments and breakthrough
solutions to the U.A.E. in support of Abu
Dhabi’s vision in developing a regional hub for
clinical research and data generation.

Ø Merck (MSD) signed a Declaration of

Collaboration with DOH in June 2022 for
collaboration on public health research,
healthcare professional education and training
programs, and development of technological
and digital solutions.

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Dubai Health Authority (DHA)
Dubai Health Authority (DHA), which was created by Law No. 13 of
2007, is the main health authority in Dubai. DHA regulates all of
Dubai’s healthcare sector services through licensing healthcare
facilities and professionals and inspecting health facilities. DHA also
regulates the cost of healthcare in the emirate and runs special
programs such as one meant to encourage young Emiratis to enter medical professions.

DHA is undergoing a major reorganization, especially in the area of public health and disaster and
emergency management. The DHA has collaborated with U.S. institutions such as U.S. Centers for
Disease Control (CDC), Health and Human Services (HHS), and the Federal Emergency Management
Agency (FEMA), to learn best practices in public health protection.

His Excellency Awadh Seghayer Al Ketbi is its Director General. For more information, please visit
www.dha.gov.ae/en

Sharjah Health Authority

Sharjah Health Authority (SHA), which was established by Sharjah Emiri Decree No. 12 of 2010
(amended by Emiri Decree No. 33 of 2016), regulates Sharjah’s healthcare system. According to SHA, its
prime mission at present is to develop and manage Sharjah Healthcare City. It also manages the Sharjah
Health Insurance department.48 Dr. Abdulaziz Saeed Al Muhairi is Chairman of the Sharjah Health
Authority. For more information, please visit www.sha.gov.ae/en

B. Provision
Public sector institutions and government-linked entities play a relatively outsize role in U.A.E.
healthcare provision, with the exception of the emirate of Dubai. That said, the private sector is
assuming an increasingly prominent role, aligning with a deliberate government strategy to encourage
public-private partnerships and private sector investment.

Public Sector
The three public sector institutions which play major roles in U.A.E. healthcare provision are: Abu Dhabi
Health Services Company (SEHA), Dubai Health, and Emirates Health Services (EHS), with the latter being
particularly active in the northern emirates.

Abu Dhabi Health Services Company (SEHA) – Part of Pure Health

The Abu Dhabi Health Services Company (SEHA), which was

established by Abu Dhabi Emiri Decree No. 10 of 2007, has
traditionally owned and operated all public hospitals and clinics
across Abu Dhabi. In 2022, SEHA became an asset of Pure Health
(owned by ADQ) which became the largest consolidated healthcare
network in the U.A.E., consisting of 25 hospitals, 100 clinics, and 160
laboratories.49

SEHA’s flagship business entities include Sheikh Khalifa Medical City, Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City, Al
Rahba Hospital, Corniche Hospital (the U.A.E.’s largest maternity hospital), Al Ain Hospital, Tawam

19
Hospital, and Al Dhafra Hospitals. The Al Dhafra Hospitals business entity notably consists of six hospitals
and four primary healthcare centers that serve the more than 200,000 people living in the 60,000-
square-kilometer area of Abu Dhabi known as the Western (Al Gharbia) region.

Since opening Sheikh Shakbout Medical City, SEHA has undertaken several highly publicized expansions
of the hospital, including the addition of a dialysis center, a psychiatry center, and a pediatric dialysis
unit.50 In addition, over the last several years, SEHA has embarked on the expansion of its health
facilities in the Western Region, as well as adding new facilities, such as Al Towayya Children’s Specialty
Centre in Al Ain.51

The Group Chief Executive Officer of SEHA is Saeed Jaber Al Kuwaiti and its Group Chief Medical Officer
is Dr. Anwar Sallam. For more information, please visit www.seha.ae.

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SEHA Partnerships with U.S. Institutions

Ø Children’s National Hospital sponsored 11

conferences hosted by SEHA in the U.A.E. in 2023.
At these conferences, Children’s National Hospital
showcased 14 speakers from various pediatric
specialties.

Ø Johns Hopkins Medicine International signed an

agreement with SEHA in 2006 to manage the 479-
bed Tawam Hospital in Al Ain City, which is a
national referral center for oncology services. Two
years later, it signed another agreement with SEHA
to manage the 173-bed Al Rahba Hospital outside
Abu Dhabi City.
Ø Cleveland Clinic signed an agreement with SEHA in
2007 to manage Sheikh Khalifa Medical City, which
is located in Abu Dhabi City and describes itself as
the “flagship institution” for the public health
system in Abu Dhabi. It consists of a 586-bed
tertiary hospital, 14 outpatient specialty clinics,
and the Abu Dhabi Blood Bank.
Ø The New England Center for Children signed an
agreement with SEHA in 2007 to launch a
comprehensive education program for children
with Autism Spectrum Disorder. The New England
Center subsequently opened a facility in
Mohammed bin Zayed City.
Ø Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) signed
a MoU with SEHA in October 2022 to facilitate
enhanced medical research and education in the
U.A.E. CHOP has a neuro-science presence at
Sheikh Khalifa Medical Center (SKMC). CHOP’s
Chief of Neurology and two Epileptologists travel
to SKMC to evaluate new and previously seen
patients at CHOP with Epilepsy, MS, and
neuromuscular disorders. The Chief of
Neurosurgery and a neurosurgeon who specializes
in epilepsy surgery are onsite to evaluate new
patients (refractory epilepsy candidates for
surgery) and consult on other neurosurgical
conditions. Working alongside SEHA’s physicians
in this clinic allows collaboration on patients’
treatment plans and transfer of knowledge of
leading research and innovation. This agreement
was signed in October 2021.

21
Dubai Health

Dubai Health is an integrated academic health system comprised of 6 hospitals, 26 ambulatory health
centers, and 20 medical fitness centers. Its facilities include those previously operated by Dubai Health
Authority (DHA). Its flagship facilities include Dubai Hospital, Rashid Hospital, Latifa Women and
Children Hospital, and Hatta Hospital, Jebal Ali Hospital, and Al Jalila Children’s hospital. Its CEO is Dr.
Amer Ahmad Sharif, who also serves as President of Mohammed bin Rashid University (MBZU) For more
information, please visit https://dubaihealth.ae/.

Al Jalila Children’s Partnerships with U.S. Institutions

In 2023, Children’s National concluded the QUILT

program at Al Jalila Children’s Hospital. This initiative
aimed to augment Al Jalila’s capacity by refining quality
pathways, processes, and clinical outcomes in
subspecialty care, particularly in expanding scientific
service line infrastructure.

Emirates Health Services (EHS)

The Ministry of Health and Prevention (MOHAP) has recently

spun-off healthcare provider services as a new entity, Emirates
Health Services (EHS). This entity consists of all hospitals, primary
care facilities, and public health services previously provided
under the MOHAP umbrella, including 17 hospitals and over 100
clinics throughout the U.A.E., especially in the northern
emirates.52

Based in Dubai, the Emirates Health Services (EHS) has the aim of enhancing the efficiency of the federal
health sector in the country, by providing healthcare and treatment services, taking preventative
measures in combating epidemics and diseases, and achieving sustainable development of health care.
It also aims to implement the strategic health-related policies, standards, and preventative care
measures set by MOHAP. EHS has integrated the provision of healthcare treatment services, customer
and patient experience services, federal medical training and education programs, digital health and
information technology initiatives, and public health initiatives under its umbrella. EHS held its first
meeting in March 2021, under the chairmanship of Dr. Mohamed Salim Al Olama and in the presence of
EHS Director General H.E. Dr. Yousif Mohammed Al-Serkal. In April 2020, H.E. Dr. Al-Serkal was
appointed to this role after holding the position of Assistant Undersecretary for the Hospitals Sector at
the Ministry of Health and Prevention since 2013.53

Key public health-related initiatives of EHS include strategies to incorporate youth voices into health
leadership discussions, attract citizens and residents to the nursing profession, a mental health support
program for healthcare workers, a blood donation campaign, and a digital health and telemedicine
promotional campaign.54 EHS has become the forefront organization on Nursing and Midwifery in the

22
U.A.E. and hosted the 3rd Edition of the U.A.E. International Conference on Nursing and Midwifery in
November 2022. It has also revolutionized its own health systems and operations by using blockchain,
artificial intelligence, and other advanced information technologies, paving the way for further
digitization of the U.A.E.’s broader healthcare sector.55

More information can be found at https://www.ehs.gov.ae/en/home

EHS Partnerships with U.S. Institutions

Ø Oracle Cerner provides an electronic health

record system to EHS called Wareed, which is
used by clinicians in the U.A.E. for Autism
screening in young children and to reduce
patient waiting times and no-shows.

Ø Johnson and Johnson and EHS signed an MoU

in June 2022 to develop health services and
collaborate on advanced technology solutions
for the U.A.E. healthcare sector. This
partnership is set to include a joint launch of
the ’Silent Noise Campaign’ to raise awareness
about and destigmatize mental health
conditions.

Ø Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP)

signed an MoU with EHS at Arab Health 2022
to collaborate on enhanced medical services at
Al Qassimi Women and Children’s Hospital and
establish a visiting physician/surgeon program
for 7 physicians and 5 surgeons to cover 8
subspecialities in the northern emirates.
Through this partnership, knowledge will be
shared through scientific education programs,
conferences, and the EHS Simulation Center.
Also at Arab Health 2022, CHOP was featured
at the EHS booth for its innovative research on
Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Ministry of Presidential Affairs

The Medical Office of the Ministry of Presidential Affairs (MOPA) has historically made a major push to
expand the quantity and quality of healthcare provision in the U.A.E., particularly in the northern
emirates. MOPA funded the 750 million AED [$204 million] Sheikh Khalifa General Hospital in Umm Al
Quwain, which features clinics specializing in pediatrics, gynecology, emergency care, dialysis, and
dermatology.56 MOPA also funded the 1 billion AED [$272 million] 248-bed Sheikh Khalifa Specialty
Hospital in Ras Al Khaimah (near the border with Umm Al Quwain).57

23
Ministry of Defense
The Ministry of Defense is also a significant provider of healthcare in the U.A.E. Zayed Military Hospital,
a part of Zayed Military City, is a 260-bed facility, including an ICU, Burn ICU, Cardiac Care Unit, medical,
surgical, and pediatric beds. The hospital has a psychiatric center located in a separate building, bringing
the total aggregate number of beds to 300. The campus includes an ambulatory care component, as well
as housing for the Hospital’s staff and physicians. The neurology department of the Zayed Military
Hospital consists of some of the most innovative and advanced healthcare technologies in the U.A.E.,
such as Brainsuite ICT, Brainlab, and Haag Streit. The Ministry of Defense has strong relationships with
leading U.S. hospitals, including Nationwide Children’s Hospital, to supplement its resources and ensure
that military members and their families receive world-class care.

Government-Linked Entities
Government-linked entities most notably include PureHealth and M42. PureHealth is a subsidiary of Abu
Dhabi-based investment and holding company ADQ and is the largest integrated healthcare network in
the U.A.E.58 M42 is a newly formed partnership between the prominent Abu Dhabi government
investment vehicle Mubadala Investment Company and G42 Healthcare, a division of G42, the U.A.E.’s
homegrown artificial intelligence and technology company. Pure Health and M42 are both supporting
the development of a world-class, commercially sustainable private healthcare sector in the U.A.E.

PureHealth

PureHealth is the U.A.E.’s largest healthcare group. It was founded in 2006 and merged with all
healthcare subsidiaries of ADQ in January 2022, making it the largest integrated health services provider.
PureHealth’s acquisition of SEHA in particular brought under its management a total of 25 hospitals and
100 clinics. Its other subsidiaries across the U.A.E.’s healthcare sector include the National Health
Insurance Company (better known as Daman), the Medical Office, which oversees the hospitals and
health facilities of Sheikh Khalifa group, Rafed, a healthcare procurement company, PureLab, the Abu
Dhabi Stem Cells Centre, One Health, a medical devices distributor, and The Life Corner, a pharmacy.59

In December 2023, PureHealth launched on the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange after an IPO that raised
$986 million. By the close of its first day on the market, PureHealth’s shares settled at AED 5.74, after
being priced initially at AED 3.26/share. PureHealth’s founders will retain a 90% stake in the company.60

Earlier in 2023, PureHealth made two major international acquisitions that contributed to its
considerable growth. In September, it bought Circle Health Group, one of the largest independent
hospital operators in the United Kingdom, for $1.2 billion, PureHealth’s first entrance into the U.K.’s
market.61 In May, it completed its nearly $500,000 acquisition of Ardent Health, one of the largest acute
care hospitals in the U.S., based in Nashville, Tennessee.62 In expanding its international footprint, in
June PureHealth also signed an agreement with Israel’s Sheba Medical Center to conduct joint research,
collaborate on medical professionals’ training, and promote medical tourism.63

M42
Mubadala Investment Company, a global sovereign investor established by the Government of Abu
Dhabi, announced in early 2021 that it will bring together six of its wholly-owned medical assets in the
U.A.E. into an integrated network to serve patients seeking specialized care.

In 2022, Mubadala and G42, the U.A.E.’s leading artificial intelligence company, announced the merging
of their healthcare businesses to create a new, first-of-its-kind integrated healthcare company. This new

24
entity was formed to revolutionize the region’s healthcare landscape and deliver personalized, patient-
centric care to patients worldwide through G42 and Mubadala’s combined prowess in research,
technology, AI, and genomics. At first called Mubadala Health, it was eventually renamed M42.

M42’s combination of healthcare and technology creates a unique, global tech-enabled healthcare
company at the forefront of medical advancement. It is the largest healthcare company in the Middle
East and serves as a provider and partner for the region.64

The establishment of M42 follows the earlier efforts by Mubadala and its prominent international
partners to fill gaps in coverage left by public sector providers. Along these lines, M42 and its
predecessors at Mubadala:
v Created the Malaffi platform, the 1st centralized health information exchange in the region.65
v Completed a 100% acquisition of Diaverum, a Swedish multinational company that is one of the
largest providers of dialysis treatments around the world.66
v Joined with Cleveland Clinic Foundation to create its flagship project: Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi
(CCAD). CCAD hosts 15 institutes that provide innovative, multidisciplinary patient-centric care with
394 beds on 13 floors of critical and acute inpatient wards and 5 clinical floors.67
v Collaborated with institutions such as South Korea’s Wooridul Hospital to set up Healthpoint, a
specialty hospital. The facility has three centers of excellence: Musculoskeletal (Orthopedic and
Sports Medicine and Spine Care), Bariatric and Metabolic Surgery, and Dental.68
v Partnered with Imperial College London to establish the Imperial College London Diabetes Centre
(ICLDC), which has three branches in the U.A.E. capital, the newest of which, in Zayed Sports City,
broke even within three months of opening.69

The CEO of M42 is Mr. Hasan Jasem Al Nowais. For more information, please visit https://m42.ae/.
70

25
 M42 Partnerships with U.S. Institutions

Ø Resilience, a biomanufacturing company, based in

La Jolla, California, and Mubadala Investment
Company signed an agreement to help advance
the U.A.E.’s life sciences sector through a
biopharma manufacturing collaboration. Under
this agreement, a new manufacturing facility in
Abu Dhabi will be owned by Mubadala and
operated by Resilience. The facility’s production
will include a range of vaccines and therapeutics
for diseases such as cancer, infectious diseases,
and inflammatory and autoimmune disorders.

Ø Cleveland Clinic Foundation and Mubadala

Investment Company collaborated on the
construction of Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, a state-
of-the-art medical institution on Al Maryah Island
that offers world-class care to patients, closer to
home. It boasts 15 institutes, including six centers
of excellence in the following areas: Heart &
Vascular, Neurological, Digestive Disease, Eye, and
Respiratory and Critical Care. The hospital is the
designated stroke and chest pain center for Abu
Dhabi. The Department of Health has designated
Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi as a human subject
research facility and advanced teaching hospital.
The hospital delivered more than 600 academic
outcomes in 2021 and has 173 active research
studies. In 2021, the hospital had more than
800,000 encounters and performed more than
22,000 surgical cases.

Ø Children’s National Medical Center signed a MoU

with Healthpoint in May 2017 to collaborate more
closely in pediatric subspecialty care. As part of
this MoU, Children’s National would send visiting
physicians to Healthpoint, and it would manage
the pediatric department alongside Healthpoint.77

Ruling Family Patronage

Members of U.A.E. ruling families have also personally contributed to healthcare in the country. In
December 2008, for instance, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime
Minister of the U.A.E. and Ruler of Dubai, announced the establishment of a dedicated 200-bed 692
million AED [$188.4 million] children’s specialty hospital named after his daughter, Sheikha Al Jalila.71

26
Inaugurated on 1 November 2016, Al Jalila Children’s is the first dedicated children’s hospital in the
U.A.E., and it aims to be a driving force behind tertiary and quaternary care in the region. The hospital
has 28 fully operational clinics for pediatric healthcare, two leading educational programs, and several
pediatric research studies.72 It is affiliated with Alder Hey Children’s as well as Moorfields Eye Hospital
Dubai.73 In 2021, Al Jalila announced its plan to introduce the first spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) gene
therapy in the U.A.E. Al Jalila Children’s Hospital is now a subsidiary of Dubai Health.

Private Sector
The private sector plays an increasingly significant role in the provision of healthcare in the U.A.E., with
some of the major players – and best ranked private hospitals in the country, according to Newsweek –
including Ahalia Group, Al Zahra Hospital Dubai, American Hospital Group, Arabian Healthcare Group,
Aster DM Healthcare, Burjeel Holdings, Emirates Hospitals Group, International Modern Hospital, King’s
College Hospital London Dubai, Mediclinic Middle East, NMC Healthcare, Saudi German Hospital Group,
and Zulekha Hospital.74

Ahalia Group

Ahalia Group was founded in 1984 in Abu Dhabi as a small, single clinic, and grew into a conglomerate of
two multi-specialty hospitals, 20 satellite medical centers, 35 pharmacies, as well as a line of
ophthalmology centers and optical shops. It also expanded to India, operating a range of facilities under
the Ahalia Health Heritage and Knowledge Village in Kerala, India.75

Al Zahra Hospital Dubai

Established in 2013, Al Zahra Hospital Dubai is a 187-bed facility located on Sheikh Zayed Road that
hosts a medical team of 250 doctors and 400 nurses. The Al Zahra Group formerly operated a facility in
Sharjah; however that was acquired in 2017 by NMC Healthcare and renamed.76

American Hospital Group

American Hospital, part of Mohamed and Obaid Al Mulla Group, was established in 1996 and
encompasses multiple facilities in Dubai that, in total, host 254 beds and practice 40 medical and
surgical specialties. All physicians at American Hospital are American Board Certified.77

Arabian Healthcare Group

Arabian Healthcare Group is a global healthcare management and consulting firm set up in 2011 by the
Government of Ras Al Khaimah (RAK). Comprising a network of hospitals, diagnostic centers,
pharmacies, and wellness services, its flagship facility is the 65-bed RAK Hospital, which is managed in
cooperation with Sonnenhof Swiss Health.78 In 2018, Arabian Healthcare Group began a collaboration
with CommonSpirit Health, a U.S.-based healthcare provider, to enhance the emirate’s healthcare sector
through training and education programs, digital innovation, and an expansion of RAK Hospital, which
will triple its capacity to become a 200-bed facility by 2024.79 It is a hub for health tourism and
international patients and hosts an eye care center, a rehabilitation center, and three medical centers.80

Aster DM Healthcare
Aster DM Healthcare is a Dubai-based healthcare company with 27 hospitals, 115 clinics, and 223
pharmacies in the Middle East and India.81 In the U.A.E., it has eight hospitals under the high-end

27
Medcare or midrange Aster brands.82 In October 2022, Aster’s Medcare Women & Children Hospital
became the first U.A.E. healthcare facility to enter the metaverse.83

Burjeel Holdings

Burjeel Holdings is an integrated healthcare services provider which acquired the healthcare brands and
assets formerly associated with VPS Healthcare. It is a network of 39 hospitals and medical centers
across the Middle East, Europe, and India. It operates hospitals and medical centers under the Burjeel,
Medeor, LLH, Lifecare, and Tajmeel brands. In 2022, Abu Dhabi healthcare investor International Holding
Company (IHC) acquired a 15% stake in Burjeel Holdings.84

Emirates Hospitals Group

Emirates Hospitals Group hosts 26 facilities and over 1,500 medical professionals in facilities across the
U.A.E. It is a subsidiary of KBBO Group, which filed for bankruptcy in 2021 following the scandal
involving the CEO of NMC Healthcare, BR Shetty, which was also part of the KBBO Group. Emirates
Hospitals Group was successfully refinanced in January 2022 with AED 150 million ($41 million) from
Fidera, an independent London-based investment fund.85

International Modern Hospital

International Modern Hospital is the oldest private hospital in Dubai, established in 2005. Its fully
renovated (in 2023) facility in Dubai hosts 117 beds, including 4 VIP suites, and specializes in women and
children’s services, orthopedics, cardiology, general surgery, urology, gastroenterology, bariatric and
plastic surgery, ENT, ophthalmology, dental, and neurosurgery.86

King’s College Hospital London Dubai

King’s College Hospital, one of London’s largest teaching hospitals, opened a Medical and Surgical
Center in Abu Dhabi in November 2014. Then, in November of the next year, it signed an agreement
with Al Tayer Group and Dubai Investments to build a $200 million 100-bed branch of King’s College
Hospital in Dubai as well as three other King’s College Hospital clinics. The first of these clinics, a Medical
Center in Jumeirah, opened in September 2017.87 In September 2018, King’s College opened another
medical facility in Dubai.88 The late U.A.E. President Sheikh Zayed Al Nahyan once provided a donation
to King’s College Hospital to set up its specialist liver research center.89

Mediclinic Middle East

Mediclinic Middle East is a branch of Mediclinic International, which consists of 74 hospitals, five sub-
acute and specialized hospitals, 21 day case clinics, and 23 outpatient clinics worldwide.90 In the U.A.E.,
it has seven hospitals with more than 950 inpatient beds as well as 28 clinics.91 In September 2018, the
group opened its seventh hospital in the UAE, Mediclinic Parkview Hospital, a 182-bed in-and outpatient
facility in Dubai which became the largest greenfield construction project by value ever undertaken by
Mediclinic International across its entire international portfolio.92

The current Mediclinic International operation in the U.A.E. is the result of the reverse takeover by Al
Noor Hospitals Group of the Johannesburg-based Mediclinic International Limited.93 At the time of this
reverse takeover, Mediclinic had an extensive and growing U.A.E. presence. Meanwhile, Al Noor

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Hospitals Group was the largest private healthcare company in Abu Dhabi with seven facilities in Abu
Dhabi city, one in the Western Region, and two in Al Ain.94

NMC Group
NMC Healthcare was a publicly listed company on the London Stock Exchange and part of the UK’s
exclusive FTSE 100 index, until a fraud scandal broke in March 2020, and it was forced into
administration. In 2022, many NMC companies were able to exit administration thanks to lenders, led by
Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank, who agreed to exchange debt in the company for exit instruments under a
new facility. In 2023, it filed a lawsuit against its former chief executive, Mr. BR Shetty.95

Following this scandal and the company’s exit of administration, the newly formed NMC under the new
leadership of David Hadley, remains the largest integrated private healthcare platform in the U.A.E. It
operates 11 hospitals and 54 clinics and specialty care centers, employs 13,000 people, and serves over
5.5 million patients in the U.A.E. and Oman.96

Saudi German Hospital

Saudi German Hospital was founded in 1988 in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia by the Batterjee family and
has grown to become one of the largest hospital providers in the Middle East and North Africa region,
with 18 medical facilities, over 3,000 beds total, and over 9,000 employees. Its location in Riyadh, Saudi
Arabia operates in partnership with Mayo Clinic. In the U.A.E., it operates hospitals in the emirates of
Dubai, Sharjah, and Ajman.97

Zulekha Healthcare Group

The Zulekha Healthcare Group established Zulekha Hospital in Sharjah in 1992, and it subsequently grew
from a 30-bed facility to a 185-bed 290,000 square-foot hospital.98 Since then, the Zulekha Healthcare
Group has also established a 140-bed hospital in Dubai, a diagnostic center, three medical centers, and
three pharmacies.99 The Zulekha Healthcare Group partnered with the Alexis Multispecialty Hospital in
Nagpur, India to help serve the Central India community.100
101

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Private Sector Healthcare Partnerships with U.S. Institutions

Oracle Cerner and King’s College Hospital London

Dubai announced a strategic collaboration to leverage
Oracle Cloud Dubai Region in the hospital’s operations
in the first U.A.E.-based cloud deployment by Oracle
Cerner in the region.

Mayo Clinic Laboratories and American Hospital

Dubai announced a strategic partnership aimed at
improving advanced laboratory diagnostics in the
Dubai region. Under the agreement, the two
organizations began delivering laboratory testing
through a collaboration based out of American
Hospital Dubai in early 2021. Mayo Clinic Laboratories
and American Hospital Dubai are working together to
improve access to complex laboratory diagnostics for
the region’s providers. By improving access to
laboratory testing, health care providers will have the
necessary tools to advance patient care.

30
Medical Hubs
Free zones are becoming increasingly important sites for healthcare provision, as they offer many
benefits to businesses such as allowing for 100% foreign ownership of companies, full repatriation of
profits, exemption from personal income taxes and corporate taxes, and exemption from customs
duties for goods and services.

Dubai Healthcare City

Dubai Healthcare City (DHCC), which was launched in 2002, is a
healthcare free zone. DHCC currently has over 150 clinical partners,
and it hosts brand-name providers such as Moorfields Eye Hospital
and Maghrebi Eye Hospital. It is also home to the Mohammed bin
Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences, part of Dubai
Health.102 DHCC’s ecosystem has more than 400 businesses from a
plethora of sectors operating within its borders. As a part of the
U.A.E.’s efforts to increase Emirati participation in the workforce, in December 2021 DHCC launched a
tailored employment training program for Emirati Nationals called Masari.103 In June 2023, Dubai
Healthcare City announced the planning and construction of a 65-bed hospital in collaboration with the
South Korean Asan Medical Center (AMC), which will be the first hospital in the Gulf region specializing
in gastroenterology.104

Sharjah Healthcare City

In January 2017, His Highness Sheikh Sultan bin
Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and
Ruler of Sharjah, approved the master plan for Sharjah
Healthcare City (SHC). SHC is spread over an area of 2.5
million square meters and is conveniently located
adjacent to the Sharjah International Airport and
between the two main highways of the U.A.E., Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Road and Emirates Road. It
operates as a tax-free zone under the Sharjah Health Authority.105

Jawaher Boston Medical District

In May 2023, His Highness Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi,

Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, approved the joint
Jawaher Boston Medical District project. This project is a partnership
between BEEAH Group, a public-private environmental sustainability and
waste management company founded in Sharjah in 2007, and Boston-
based hospital institutions Mass General Brigham and Dana-Farber
Cancer Institute.106 This medical district will be located on the Emirates
Bypass Road next to the Sharjah Mosque, and is poised to establish an
advanced, integrated network of healthcare systems in the emirate
featuring hospitals, laboratories, R&D centres, and more.107

C. Insurance
Over the last decade, the U.A.E. has moved toward mandating health insurance for all citizens and
residents, greatly expanding the country’s health insurance market. However, the large number of

31
domestic and foreign players in this market has led to intense competition and limited profitability.
Moreover, there are restrictions on the entry of new foreign companies into the market.

Mandatory Coverage

Abu Dhabi has led the way in implementing mandatory health insurance for citizens and residents. In
2005, Abu Dhabi issued Law No. 23, requiring all employers to provide health insurance to their
employees and their employees’ dependents.108 Then, in 2007, Abu Dhabi issued Resolution 83 directing
the then-Health Authority - Abu Dhabi (now Department of Health – Abu Dhabi) to give comprehensive
health coverage to all U.A.E. nationals living in that emirate at no cost through the “Thiqa” program.109

Dubai subsequently followed suit. In 2013, Dubai introduced Law No. 11, requiring employers to provide
basic health insurance coverage for their employees and requiring sponsors to provide health insurance
for those unemployed individuals under their sponsorship.110 This law was implemented in phases: first
for companies with more than 1,000 employees, then for companies with more than 100 employees,
and finally for all companies and sponsors.111 The law fully came into effect in 2016.112

Since then, Dubai has endeavored to increase the scope of mandatory insurance coverage. In November
2017, the Dubai Health Authority launched a new initiative to provide a complete spectrum of care from
screening to treatment for three types of cancer under the basic benefit plan of the Dubai Mandatory
Health Insurance Scheme. Prior to then, cancer coverage under the scheme was limited to 150,000 AED
[$40,840].113 In October 2018, it was reported that mandatory health insurance in Dubai will include
mental health treatment and rehabilitation of debilitating physical and neurological conditions.114

Sharjah has gradually joined Abu Dhabi and Dubai in moving toward more expansive health insurance as
well. The Sharjah government extended health insurance to all Sharjah citizens aged 55 and over in April
2015.115 Then, in January 2020, it decided to extend the insurance coverage to all citizens of Sharjah.

Daman’s Market Importance

The U.A.E. health insurance industry is dominated by the National Health
Insurance Company (Daman), which is the largest insurance payer in Abu Dhabi
and the third largest in Dubai.116 Established by Emiri Decree No. 39 of 2005,
Daman is a part of Pure Health, which is, in turn, a part of ADQ.117 It has over 3
million members and it exclusively manages the aforementioned “Thiqa” program
for U.A.E. nationals in Abu Dhabi as well as the Abu Dhabi Basic Plan for low-
income expatriates in that emirate.118

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 U.A.E. Health Insurance Terminology

Ø “Thiqa” is a health insurance program for U.A.E. nationals and those of similar status living in Abu
Dhabi. It is exclusively managed by Daman on behalf of the Government of Abu Dhabi.
Ø “Enaya” is the Government of Dubai Employee Healthcare Benefits Scheme. Officially launched
in July 2009, it provides a broad range of cover as well as preventive treatment and routine health
checkups to more than 90,000 individuals. The third party administrator for this program is
Neuron LLC.
Ø “Saada” is a health insurance program for citizens of Dubai who are not covered by any
government health program. It is expected to ultimately reach 130,000 people. The third party
administrator for this program is NEXtCARE.
Ø “Isahd” – Insurance System for Advance Healthcare in Dubai – is a Dubai Health Authority (DHA)
initiative to provide health insurance for all nationals and residents in the private sector. The
system requires that everyone in the private sector have a minimum level of health insurance in
place. Around 50 companies are permitted to sell such policies, while only 14 of them have been
selected as Participating Insurers to specially serve the low-income expatriate segment. MetLife
is one of the 14 Participating Insurers approved to provide the “Essential Benefits Package” to
expatriates who earn less than 4,000 AED [$1,089] per month.189

119

In July 2016, the then-Health Authority – Abu Dhabi (now Department of Health) announced changes to
the “Thiqa” program with a view to making the healthcare sector more sustainable. Under these
changes, Thiqa cardholders would pay 20% of the cost of hitherto free treatment at private hospitals;
treatment at public hospitals would still be free. Thiqa cardholders would also pay 50% (as opposed to
10% formerly) of the cost of treatment outside Abu Dhabi, except in cases where that type of treatment
was unavailable inside the emirate.120

However, the U.A.E. government ultimately walked back these changes given their implications for the
healthcare sector. These moves would have posed complications for enrollees already in long-term
private care.121 These changes would have also potentially impacted the viability of some private
healthcare institutions and their long-term expansion plans.122 As such, in April 2017, U.A.E. President
His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, who was then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and
Deputy Supreme Commander of the U.A.E. Armed Forces, ordered the waiving of the 20% co-payment
for Thiqa cardholders when receiving treatment at private healthcare facilities.123

In November 2020, Daman announced that U.A.E. nationals in Abu Dhabi must pay for elective private
medical treatment in the other emirates. This followed the phasing out of all direct billing at hospitals in
October 2020.

Heavy Competition
The U.A.E. health insurance market reflects the U.A.E. insurance market as a whole. It is generally
overcrowded, limiting profitability. There are currently more than 60 players in the U.A.E. insurance
market, split between local insurers and the subsidiaries of foreign insurers.

That being said, the playing field of the U.A.E.’s insurance market is constantly changing. In late 2021,
Gulf Insurance Group (GIG) completed its buyout of the regional division of French multinational AXA,
which was one of the largest international health insurance providers operating in the U.A.E.124

33
Additionally, in September 2022 the Central Bank of the UAE and the Saudi Central Bank (also known as
Sama) signed a preliminary agreement to establish a general framework for the supervision of the
insurance sector in both countries.125 Today, both the Saudi and Emirati insurance markets are overseen
by the U.A.E. Central Bank. Insurance companies, policies, and contracts that are in free zones, however,
are regulated by the respective local free zone entities.126

Outside of the aforementioned Daman, three of the most prominent local insurers – both in general and
in health insurance – are:
v Orient Insurance Company/Allianz: Orient Insurance Company, which began operations in 1982, is
one of the leading insurance companies in the U.A.E. by market share. Based in Dubai, it is part of Al
Futtaim Group, a major U.A.E. conglomerate. It provides both individual and group medical
insurance.127 Orient Insurance Company is also the regional partner of German multinational
insurance and asset management giant Allianz.128
v Abu Dhabi National Insurance Company (ADNIC)/MSH International: ADNIC, which was founded in
1972, is a publicly listed composite insurance provider headquartered in Abu Dhabi that is also one
of the largest insurance companies in the U.A.E. by assets.129 It provides both individual medical
insurance and group medical insurance in partnership with French company MSH International.130
Mubadala became its largest shareholder after acquiring the stake of ADNIC held by Abu Dhabi
Investment Council.131
v Oman Insurance Company/Bupa Global: Oman Insurance Company (OIC), which is headquartered
in Dubai, is one of the leading insurance companies in the U.A.E. and in the broader MENA region. It
provides both group health insurance and an individual international health insurance plan designed
and internationally administered by British healthcare giant Bupa Global.132
In addition to the previously mentioned AXA Gulf (now GIG Gulf), other important international insurers
in the U.A.E. are U.S. health insurance companies MetLife, Aetna, and Cigna. Forming partnerships and
engaging with local actors is a key method by which U.S. or international insurance companies can stand
out in the U.A.E.’s crowded insurance market. In 2021, MetLife and Emirates NBD, Dubai’s government-
owned bank, announced a partnership to provide insurance to the bank’s wealth, retail, and SME
customer base in the U.A.E.133 Cigna has made a major push to expand its operations in the U.A.E. with
its Cigna HealthGuard plan, approved by the DHA, that is tailored for those residing in Dubai and the
northern emirates. Cigna’s eighth annual 360o Global Well-Being Survey 2022 highlighted the U.A.E. as
the top destination in the Middle East, Africa, and Asia to relocate for expats.134 In its 2023 report, the
U.A.E. was noted as having a higher percentage (68%) of respondents that have “excellent” or “great”
overall well-being, compared to rates in Europe which fall around the 35% range.135

34
 U.S. Insurance Companies in the U.A.E.

Ø MetLife: MetLife, Inc., through its subsidiaries and

affiliates, is one of the world's leading financial services
companies, providing insurance, annuities, employee
benefits, and asset management to help its individual and
institutional customers navigate their changing world.
Founded in 1868, MetLife has operations in more than 40
countries and holds leading market positions in the United
States, Japan, Latin America, Asia, Europe, and the Middle
East. MetLife is a pioneer of life insurance with a presence
of nearly 65 years in the Gulf. Through its branches,
MetLife offers life, accident, and health insurance along
with retirement and savings products to individuals and
corporations. In the U.A.E., MetLife has had operations
since 1962 and today is a leading multinational life and
medical insurance company across the country.203

Ø Cigna: In June 2017, Cigna opened an office at the Dubai

International Financial Center (DIFC) to serve as its
regional headquarters. The next month, Cigna announced
the acquisition of Zurich Insurance Middle East, gaining
official presence in Lebanon, Oman, the U.A.E., and
Kuwait. Then, in October, it launched a much-touted
individual insurance and wellness solution specially
tailored for residents of Dubai and the northern emirates.
Cigna has been growing in experience by entrenching itself
in the region and adding local capabilities like its clinical
team, culturally relevant resources, and an ever-expanding
network of hospitals, clinics, and pharmacies. Prior to its
acquisition of Zurich Insurance Middle East, Cigna already
had an established presence via a local partner providing
health insurance to U.A.E. residents for over 15 years.

Ø Aetna International: Aetna’s Dubai office, based in Dubai

Media City, is the nerve center for Aetna International’s
European and Middle East & Africa divisions. Notably,
Aetna International administers health care plans for
individuals, families, and corporate groups in the U.A.E. on
behalf of RSA Insurance. It also administers Al Ain Ahlia
Insurance Company plans within the country.163

136 137

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D. Pharmaceuticals
The U.A.E.’s pharmaceutical market is rapidly growing – it is expected to reach $4.7 billion in value by
2025.138 This growth is spearheaded and encouraged in particular by the Department of Health – Abu
Dhabi, which aims to develop the U.A.E.’s capital city as a global hub for healthcare and life sciences
through fostering domestic research, development, and manufacturing of pharmaceuticals.

Promoting Manufacturing

Although the U.A.E. currently imports about 80% of its pharmaceutical products, the U.A.E. has initiated
new programs to promote domestic pharmaceutical manufacturing. The number of pharmaceutical
manufacturing units in the U.A.E rose to 23 in 2021, and there are more than 2,500 medicines produced
locally. Local pharmaceutical exports are also anticipated to rise to $297 million by 2025.139

This growth is in line with the ‘Operation 300b’ Initiative to increase the industrial sector’s GDP
contribution from AED 133 billion to AED 300 billion (about $36 billion to $81 billion). This initiative,
launched in March 2021 under the Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology, which is led by Dr.
Sultan Al Jaber, focuses on eleven total industrial sectors, three of which are related to medical
technology pharmaceuticals.140

It is also spurred by the pandemic. The U.A.E became the first country in the MENA region to establish a
coronavirus vaccine factory in a joint venture between Sinopharm and G42 Healthcare. The COVID-19
pandemic sharpened the U.A.E.’s focus on investing in life sciences. This focus is subsequently bringing
together key investment, technology, and research entities in Abu Dhabi such as G42, Mubadala, and
ADQ in the emirate’s vision to become a regional hub for innovation in health care.

In June 2023, The Department of Health – Abu Dhabi initiated separate collaborations with AbbVie and
Eli Lilly & Company for clinical research, real-world evidence, healthcare technology, personalized
medicine, and genomics development in the U.A.E.’s capital.141

In January 2023, Mubadala Investment Company and U.S.-based National Resilience, Inc., signed a deal
to further advance the U.A.E.’s life sciences ecosystem through biopharmaceutical manufacturing.
Through a development agreement, Mubadala will establish a new manufacturing facility, in which
Resilience will operate and manufacture biopharmaceutical-related products out of the U.A.E. The range
of therapeutics will be used to treat complex diseases such as cancer, infectious diseases, and
inflammatory and autoimmune disorders. The Abu Dhabi-based facility will be the first Goods
Manufacturing Practice biopharmaceutical facility in the U.A.E., as well as the first of its kind in the
region to manufacture essential life sciences products for advanced biologics.142

Pharmaceutical Intellectual Property

The U.A.E. Ministry of Health and Prevention established robust Intellectual Property protection of
pharmaceutical products by issuing Decree 321 on September 21, 2020. Decree 321 states that for a
period of eight years from the date of marketing approval of a new drug in the U.A.E., the marketing
authorization holder has exclusive rights to the clinical data underlying approval of the pharmaceutical
product. The eight-year data exclusivity period provided under Decree 321 is the longest in the region
that protects the value of drugs by temporarily blocking regulatory approvals of generic versions.

Unlike the United States, the U.A.E. does not provide additional incentives for innovation in the form of
extensions of the market exclusivity period when companies conduct additional clinical trials to obtain

36
regulatory approval for the broader use of existing drugs, such as for the treatment of pediatric patients
or of orphan diseases (diseases for which drugs are undeveloped owing to limited potential for
profitability). The U.A.E. also does not provide additional incentives for innovation in the form of longer
market exclusivity periods for biologic drugs, which sometimes are more expensive to develop.

Controlling Prices

At the same time it has sought to encourage domestic pharmaceutical manufacturing and safeguard
pharmaceutical IP, the U.A.E. government also tries to contain rising drug prices, which are regulated by
pharmaceutical pricing legislation.143 In July 2011, the U.A.E. began a series of price reduction initiatives
aimed at bringing U.A.E. pharmaceutical prices in line with those in neighboring countries.144 Through
these initiatives, the U.A.E. had, as of December 2017, cut the prices of 8,732 pharmaceutical
products.145 By January 2021, the U.A.E. had also authorized 6,176 generic drugs which on average cost
nearly 60% less than branded medicines. This cost-cutting strategy is pioneered by MOHAP through its
‘Reduction in Medicine Prices Initiative’ aimed at making U.A.E. drug prices the lowest in the Gulf
region.146

Julphar and U.A.E. Pharmaceutical Manufacturers

The U.A.E.’s domestic pharmaceutical manufacturing industry is

headlined by Julphar Gulf Pharmaceutical Industries, which is the
largest generic pharmaceutical manufacturer in the Middle East and
North Africa. Established in 1980 under the guidance of the former
Emir of Ras Al Khaimah His Highness Sheikh Saqr bin Mohammed Al
Qasimi, Julphar now operates 12 internationally certified
manufacturing facilities globally. These factories collectively produce
over one million boxes of medicines per day with 80% produced for export. As mentioned above, in
2021, Julphar began manufacturing COVID-19 vaccines in conjunction with G42 Healthcare. In October
2022, Julphar signed an MoU with Pure Health to establish the first factory in the country to produce
Glargine, a drug used as an alternative to insulin in the treatment of diabetes.147

The U.A.E. has several other domestic pharmaceutical manufacturers as well:

v Neopharma: Neopharma claims to be Abu Dhabi’s premier pharmaceutical manufacturing company.
Started in 2003, Neopharma has 10 manufacturing facilities across 3 continents and over 2,000
employees. In October 2018, the U.S. subsidiary of Neopharma acquired an antibiotic manufacturing
facility and its related assets in Bristol, Tennessee, but this closed in 2020.148 Neopharma was
reportedly impacted by the legal woes of its longtime Executive Vice Chairman and Managing
Director, Dr. B.R. Shetty, who was at the center of the NMC Health scandal.
v Globalpharma: Globalpharma, which is based in Dubai Investment Park, is a major U.A.E.
pharmaceuticals manufacturer. Established in 1998, its manufacturing facility can produce up to 300
million tablets, 150 million capsules, and over 7 million liters of dry syrup and liquid each year. In
2014, Dubai Investments sold a majority stake in Globalpharma to French firm Sanofi, which
subsequently sold its stake in 2018, citing a shift in its focus away from the generics portfolio.149
v Medpharma (member of Valeant): Medpharma is one of the leading pharmaceutical branded
generic companies in the U.A.E. In September 2014, it was acquired by Lebanon-based Integrated
Pharma Solutions and Canada-based Valeant Pharmaceuticals.150 At the time, Medpharma had
about $30-$40 million in sales per year.151

37
v LIFEPharma: Part of the aforementioned VPS Healthcare (now integrated into Burjeel Holdings),
LIFEPharma has a facility at Jebel Ali Free Zone Area in Dubai that has the capacity to produce 1
billion tablets, 300 million capsules, and 150 million liters of liquid per year.152 In 2020, LIFEPharma
signed a multitude of agreements with international firms, pushing the U.A.E.’s pharmaceutical
exports into North American and European markets.153
v Pharmax Pharmaceuticals: Pharmax Pharmaceuticals is the first local company located in Dubai
Science Park engaged in the development and commercialization of pharmaceuticals. It was
established by one of the U.A.E.’s leading pharmaceutical and healthcare product distributors, Al
Ittihad Drug Store (IDS).154 Its facility in the U.A.E. can produce 250 million tablets and 85 million
capsules a year, and it focuses on affordable generic medicines. In 2019, Pharmax was awarded its
first Good Manufacturing Practice approval by the European Union, becoming one of the few
manufacturing facilities in the U.A.E. to achieve this standard.155

International Pharmaceutical Companies

As the U.A.E.’s domestic pharmaceutical manufacturing industry has grown, many international
pharmaceutical companies have established a presence in the country. There are currently 11
multinational pharmaceutical companies operating in the U.A.E., including Johnson & Johnson, MSD
(known as “Merck” in the U.S.), Pfizer, AstraZeneca, GSK, Roche, Novartis, and Sanofi. Some of these
companies – such as Organon, Pfizer, Viatris, and Janssen EMEA (the pharmaceutical arm of Johnson &
Johnson) – decided to make the U.A.E. the site of their regional headquarters. Moreover, these
companies are increasingly not just selling products in the U.A.E., but setting up in-country facilities for
research, digital solutions, and advocacy to support the local ecosystem, as mentioned in the section
about the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi.156

These international pharmaceutical companies are attracted to the U.A.E. for a variety for reasons. In
addition to its growing domestic market, the U.A.E. boasts a strategic location and sophisticated logistics
infrastructure that make it an ideal hub to access growing regional markets in Africa, Asia, and the
Middle East. The U.A.E. has also created business friendly environments in which pharmaceutical
companies can operate.

Key to the continued expansion of international pharmaceutical companies in the U.A.E. is the
protection of intellectual property. In May 2021, the Office of the United States Trade Representative
removed the U.A.E. from its Watch List in its Annual Section 301 Report on Intellectual Property (IP)
Protection. This was largely due to the efforts of MOHAP to resolve U.S. concerns surrounding IP
protection of pharmaceutical products and was supported by the issuance of Federal Law no. 11 of 2021
concerning the regulation and protection of Industrial Property Rights.

Pharmaceutical Hubs
Several free zones have become hubs for the pharmaceutical industry.
v Dubai Healthcare City: His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin
Rashid Al Maktoum, U.A.E. Vice-President and Prime Minister and
Ruler of Dubai, launched Dubai Healthcare City (DHCC) in 2002
with the goal of establishing an internationally recognized
location of choice for quality healthcare and an integrated center
of excellence for clinical and wellness services, medical
education, and research. It is a hub for pharmaceutical companies
such as Abbott, Allergan Middle East, AstraZeneca, Baxter, Boehringer Ingelheim, Eli Lilly, Gilead

38
 Sciences, Johnson & Johnson, Julphar, Merck Serono, Merck Sharp and Dohme (MSD), Novartis,
Novo Nordisk, Organon, Sanofi, and Viatris.157
v Dubai Science Park: Dubai Science Park (DSP), which is part of the
TECOM Group, is a science-focused business community,
dedicated to supporting entrepreneurs, start-ups, SMEs, and
MNEs. Since its inception in 2005, the community has grown to
more than 350 companies, including Amgen, Bayer, Boston
Scientific, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Fresenius Medical Care,
Medtronic, Merck Serono, Pfizer, and Zimmer Biomet. In total,
the community employs over 3,600 industry professionals.158
v Jebel Ali Free Zone: In the 34 years since its inception, Jebel Ali
Free Zone (Jafza) has become a key contributor to Dubai's
economy and a growth engine for trade and commerce in the
wider MENA region. Jafza is the leading source of foreign direct
investment (FDI) in the U.A.E., accounting for around 32% of all
FDI inflow, and has created a business environment that has
helped drive forward economic diversification. As a part of its
diversification efforts, Jafza has worked towards helping grow Dubai's healthcare and
pharmaceutical industry. Currently, there are over 160 companies registered within the free zone
from 38 countries, including leading industry players such as Johnson & Johnson, Colgate, Roche,
Sanofi, GlaxoSmithKline, and Quest Vitamins. In September 2017, Jafza agreed to work alongside the
UAE Ministry of Health and Prevention to increase support for the sector and encourage the
establishment and growth of an indigenous pharmaceutical product manufacturing base in Dubai.

Abu Dhabi is also currently working to establish its own pharmaceutical and life sciences ecosystem. This
initiative is led by the Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO) and Mubadala Investment Company, among
other leading Abu Dhabi entities.

E. Medical Equipment
The projected growth of the U.A.E.’s medical equipment market broadly mirrors that of other sectors.
Despite ambitions to expand local manufacturing, domestic production of medical equipment remains
largely nascent, offering tremendous opportunities for international companies. The pandemic led the
U.A.E. to renew its focus on exploring local production of certain medical equipment.

Diagnostic Imaging Equipment

Diagnostic imaging equipment comprises a large percentage of the
U.A.E. medical device market. Here, the U.A.E. has a preference for
products from brand-named international companies, who have
often turned to the U.A.E. as the site of their regional headquarters.
v GE Healthcare: From its regional headquarters in Dubai, GE
Healthcare provides transformational medical technologies and
services to meet the demand for increased access, enhanced
quality, and more affordable healthcare around the world. From
medical imaging, software & IT, patient monitoring, and
diagnostics to drug discovery, biopharmaceutical manufacturing

39
 technologies, and performance improvement solutions, GE Healthcare helps medical professionals
deliver great healthcare to their patients.159
v Siemens Healthineers: Siemens Healthineers, which is the separately managed healthcare business
of Siemens and is a leading provider of medical imaging equipment, bases its Middle East regional
office in Dubai Healthcare City.160 In December 2016, Siemens Healthineers partnered with Easa
Saleh Al Gurg to set up its first U.A.E. business.161 Pure Health, part of ADQ, is the authorized
distributor for some of the top brands in the Medical and Diagnostic Devices business such as
Siemens Healthineers.
v Philips Healthcare: Dubai serves as the Middle East headquarters for Philips Healthcare, which is
also a global leader in health technology. This headquarters services 15 markets, including the
U.A.E.162

Cardiovascular Devices
Cardiovascular devices are another important segment of the U.A.E. medical device market, especially
given the increasing incidence of cardiovascular disease due to the prevalence of a sedentary lifestyle
and obesity among the local population. This market is principally centered on interventional cardiology
and cardiac rhythm management.163

Many key players in this segment also have significant U.A.E. operations.
v Abbott: Dubai serves as a regional headquarters for Abbott, which is one of the world’s leading
healthcare companies in medical devices as well as nutrition, pharmaceuticals, and diagnostics.164
Abbott’s acquisition of St. Jude Medical created a combined company with best-in-class solutions
across the areas of cardiovascular and neuromodulation.165 In December 2022, the U.A.E. became
the third country in the world, after the U.S. and Canada, to implant Abbot’s leadless pacemaker in a
patient. The operation was successfully undergone at Al Qassimi hospital in Sharjah.166
v Medtronic: Dubai is the home for Medtronic’s headquarters for the Middle East & Africa, Central
Asia & Turkey (MEACAT). These markets comprise 1,400 Medtronic professionals and produce
approximately $1 billion in revenue.167 Medtronic is world renowned for its wide array of cardiac
and vascular products.168
v Johnson & Johnson: Dubai is the home of Johnson & Johnson Middle East FZ-LLC, which oversees
the regional production of a broad range of products used primarily by healthcare professionals in
the fields of cardiovascular disease as well as orthopedics, neurovascular, surgery, vision care,
diabetes care, infection prevention, diagnostics, sports medicine, and aesthetics.169

Other U.S. medical device and diagnostic companies that have an active presence in the U.A.E. include
3M Healthcare, Baxter, Beckman Coulter Inc., Boston Scientific, and Stryker. Many others are
represented through local distributors.

40
Local Manufacturing and 3D Printing
Although the U.A.E. is still heavily reliant on imports of more
sophisticated medical equipment, it has begun to develop a
nascent medical products industry, starting with products like
medical consumables. For instance, Abu Dhabi National Industrial
Projects (ADNIP) partnered with NNE Pharmaplan to launch the
Abu Dhabi Medical Devices Company, which manufactures Auto
Disable syringes, Single Use syringes, Insulin syringes, and IV
Cannula.170 During the pandemic, Mubadala subsidiary Strata
partnered with Honeywell International to set up a production line
in Al Ain capable of producing over 30 million N95 masks per year, transforming the U.A.E. from a net
importer to a net exporter of this critical personal protective equipment (PPE).

One area in which the U.A.E. is poised to potentially play a leading role in the future is 3D printing. In
2016, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the
U.A.E. and Ruler of Dubai, launched the ‘Dubai 3D Printing Strategy’ in order to exploit this technology
for the “service of humanity” and promote the status of the U.A.E. and Dubai as a leading hub of 3D
printing technology by the year 2030. One of the primary focus areas of this strategy is the medical
products sector, which could involve developing 3D printed teeth, bones, artificial organs, medical and
surgical devices, and hearing aids. As of July 2022, there was a team of 16 doctors and engineers using
six Formlabs 3D printers, working with the Dubai Health Authority and the Dubai 3D Printing Strategic
Alliance, which promotes 3D printing within the U.A.E.

41
 U.A.E. Partnerships with U.S. Medical Equipment Companies

Ø Abbott announced in October 2017 the

establishment of the Abbott Diabetes Academy.
This Academy, which is located in Dubai
Healthcare City, is the first dedicated training
academy in the U.A.E. for healthcare professionals
working with diabetes patients. With its mission to
act as a center of excellence and education and
training partner for the regional public and private
healthcare and diabetes community, the Academy
will provide practical tools that can be applied by
endocrinologists, diabetologists, and educators to
improve the region’s management of diabetes.
The announcement of this Academy came during
the first USA Healthcare Symposium and Showcase
on Nutrition, Obesity, and Diabetes, which was
held as part of Discover America month at the
Mohammed bin Rashid University of Medicine and
Health Sciences in Dubai.254

Ø GE Healthcare brings the best of its scale and

capabilities to serve as a strategic partner to public
and private sector providers across the U.A.E.
including the U.A.E. Ministry of Health and
Prevention, Dubai Health Authority (DHA), and
Abu Dhabi Health Services Company (SEHA).

Ø Medtronic signed a deal with the University of

Sharjah in 2015 whereby Medtronic Academy, the
educational wing of Medtronic, would collaborate
with the University to educate regional physicians
on Medtronic products and therapies as well as
general cardiac topics.197

F. Information Technology
The U.A.E.’s Healthcare Information Technology (IT) market is set to grow swiftly in the coming years.
This growth is partly driven by government initiatives around the digitization of electronic medical
records. The pandemic underscored not just the utility of electronic medical records but the power of
telehealth. More recently, revolutions in AI have shone a spotlight on the potential of data to transform
health care. At the same time, it has also brought into focus the importance of proper laws, regulations,
and policies regarding the storage and transfer of this data.

Electronic Health Records and Health Information Exchanges

For the past decade, the U.A.E. has been gradually implementing electronic health record (EHR) and
health information exchange (HIE) systems throughout the country that promise to help reduce

42
duplication, medication errors, and the length of hospital stays; improve patient safety and outcomes;
and inform more effective public health policies.

In 2008, the U.A.E. Ministry of Health launched the “Wareed” project to establish a ‘one patient, one
record’ electronic health record system by linking all of its facilities in Dubai and the northern emirates.
This project, which involved deploying Cerner Millennium® systems in all Ministry hospitals and clinics,
was managed by Dubai-based Hybrid Health Solutions and implemented by a consortium including
iCapital, Oracle Cerner, Gulf Business Machines (the sole distributor of most IBM products and services),
and Injazat Data Systems.171

Emirates Health Services (EHS) has since taken over management of Wareed and other electronic and
digital services for healthcare that which were formerly under the umbrella of MOHAP. In 2022, EHS
announced the Smart Health Services application to provide patients a bundle of health services,
including booking a medical appointment, requesting a medical report, home care, and viewing medical
records. U.S. companies such as Oracle Cerner and Johnson & Johnson work through partnerships with
EHS in their provision of digital health products and services. The efforts of EHS to continuously develop
its digital system is in line with its strategy to optimize the use of digital and advanced technologies in an
effort to promote healthy lifestyles among all members of the Emirati community, and to drive a shift in
the work environment towards sustainable, innovative solutions and integrated, comprehensive services
that meet the highest international standards.

Also in 2008, the Abu Dhabi Health Services Company (SEHA), a PureHealth company, launched its own
electronic health records system. In 2008, Tawam Hospital in Al Ain became the first SEHA hospital to
successfully implement Cerner Millennium® healthcare information technology solutions at its facility.172

In August 2018, the Department of Health - Abu Dhabi (DOH) signed a strategic partnership agreement
with Injazat Data Systems, a G42 company that was then a wholly-owned subsidiary of Mubadala
Investment Company, to develop an integrated Health Information Exchange system for the healthcare
sector in Abu Dhabi. The system, known as Malaffi and launched in January 2019, became the region’s
first health information exchange platform. It enables real-time exchange of patient health information
between healthcare providers with the aim of improving healthcare quality and patient outcomes.
Malaffi connects more than 2,000 Abu Dhabi healthcare providers from both the public and the private
sectors, offering healthcare services to more than 3 million people in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi.173 Its
four core areas of functionality are Diagnostic Data Exchange, Provider Portal, Patient Portal, and Public
Healthcare Services. As of April 2021, 95% of all hospitals in Abu Dhabi were connected to Malaffi.

Meanwhile, in Dubai, the Dubai Health Authority (DHA) embarked on an electronic health records
system known as “Salama.” This system, which was announced in February 2016, has created one
electronic record for each resident who uses a public hospital in that emirate.

The Dubai Health Authority has since extended this electronic health records system to private facilities
in the emirate as well through its NABIDH (Network and Analysis Backbone for Integrated Dubai Health)
initiative. This initiative enabled the creation of a single unified medical record for each individual in
Dubai by linking the information contained in all public and private health care facilities.174 Since its
launch in November 2020, the DHA has digitized 7.8 million unified medical files on NABIDH.175

The DHA also launched Sheryan in 2019, a platform designed to digitize the process of healthcare
facilities services and professional licensing, such as electronic exam registration and certification

43
auditing. In the first half of 2023, Sheryan handled more than 4 million transactions and hosted 85,000
registered health professionals in Dubai.176

In response to the pandemic, the DHA strove to upgrade its public health surveillance system, creating
HASANA. This program serves over 15.8 million people by gathering patient records from both public
and private healthcare facilities. It comprises a unified immunization record for every patient in the city.
It can also analyze disease data, laboratory reports, and hospitalization records to provide warnings of
disease outbreak.177

44
U.S.-U.A.E. Electronic Health Record and Health Information Exchange Partnerships

Ø Oracle Cerner, which designs health information

technology that is employed worldwide, is highly
active in the U.A.E., where its clients include the
Abu Dhabi Health Services Company (SEHA),
Emirates Health Services (EHS), Healthpoint,
National Reference Laboratory, King’s College
Hospital Dubai, Al Jalila Children’s Specialty
Hospital, American Hospital Dubai, Sheikh Khalifa
Medical City Ajman, and Zayed Military Hospital. In
2008, MOHAP began deploying Cerner Millennium
as part of its Wareed Project to establish a “One
Patient, One Record” system in its hospitals; in
November 2016, MOHAP renewed and expanded
this partnership with Oracle Cerner. In June 2018,
Mubadala Healthcare implemented an integrated
electronic health record system from Oracle
Cerner. In March 2020, Oracle Cerner worked with
MOHAP to develop a new program to keep
patients up to date on their refills amidst the
COVID-19 pandemic. Oracle Cerner was also
instrumental in MOHAP’s information-gathering
methods to coordinate a national response during
the pandemic. In 2021, all Mubadala Health
providers were connected to a single laboratory
information system in which physicians are able to
quickly and easily order from the full range of
advanced tests offered by National Reference
Library.

Ø Epic Systems, a Wisconsin-based company with an

international office in Dubai, has long been present
in the U.A.E. healthcare sector. As early as 2008, it
signed a seven-year contract to implement clinical
technology at the Mohammed bin Rashid Al
Maktoum Academic Medical Center in Dubai
Healthcare City. Epic Systems’ electronic medical
records information system is also used by
Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, which was awarded
the prestigious HIMSS Stage 7 certification for its
improvements using Epic.

Ø InterSystems, a global U.S.-based provider of

database, integration, and analytics software, has
been engaged to deploy its health information
systems at a variety of U.A.E. medical institutions,
including Mediclinic, Emirates Hospital Group,
Neuro Spinal Hospital, and Capital Health's
Specialized Rehabilitation Hospital.204 InterSystems
IRIS gained recognition as a platform supporting AI 45
models and technology for healthcare.
178

In December 2021, MOHAP launched Riayati, a national medical records database created to connect
3,000+ U.A.E. public and private sector healthcare providers to effectively share data in real-time
throughout the country. Riayati was developed through collaboration across federal and emirate-level
governments such as MOHAP, EHS, DOH Abu Dhabi, and DHA. The Riayati platform is also coordinated
with DOH Abu Dhabi’s Malaffi platform.179 The launch of Riayati made the U.A.E. the first country in the
MENA region to put forth a digital national healthcare platform.

Telemedicine
The U.A.E. is also improving healthcare through the increasing adoption of telemedicine, which has
grown increasingly popular especially following the COVID-19 pandemic. Six telemedicine solutions were
approved for use by the Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority (TDRA) in
April 2020: Mind Mina Telemedicine, NextGenGP Telehealth, vSee, OKADOC, DOXY, and GetBEE-licensed
telehealth, all of which were supported on all U.A.E. mobile networks in coordination with the country’s
two telecommunications operators, Etisalat and du.

Telemedicine enables both patients to consult medical professionals and medical professionals to
consult each other from a distance. This has reduced hospital visits, limited the movement of patients
between hospitals, and extended healthcare services to more remote locations.

In Abu Dhabi, Mubadala Health operates and manages the Abu Dhabi Telemedicine Center, which offers
over-the-phone medical consultations in both Arabic and English with medical professionals 24 hours
per day, 7 days per week. All services are offered exclusively through Daman to Thiqa and Enhanced
cardholders.180

The Dubai Health Authority (DHA) introduced telemedicine at its facilities through the “Dubai RoboDoc”
initiative in 2017. In 2019, this service was reintroduced as the DHA’s “Doctor for Every Citizen”
telemedicine initiative. Though it was originally only accessible by citizens, whether they be physically
present in Dubai or travelling, working, or studying abroad, after the pandemic it became a resource for
all residents of Dubai.181

In addition to the above initiatives, the U.A.E. has embraced teleradiology. For instance, in 2016, GE
Healthcare, the Ministry of Health and Prevention, and Abu Dhabi International Medical Services formed
an innovative, performance-based public-private-partnership called Unison to create the U.A.E.’s first
public sector teleradiology capability.

Finally, several startups have embraced telemedicine concepts. Of the top 10 most funded health
technology startups in the MENA region in 2022, four of them are based in the U.A.E. “Altibbi”, a remote
medical consultations platform with over 10,000 available doctors, has received a total of $52.5 million
in funding and won the World Summit Award for ‘Best Digital Health Content’. “GluCare Health”
provides in-person and virtual diabetes care and counseling through a mobile application which tracks
and monitors patients’ glucose, insulin, and diet. “Selfologi” allows patients to book appointments for
aesthetic medical treatments such as botox, hair removal, and acne scarring. “Okadoc” is another
appointment-booking and virtual consultation application that has gained investment from Abu Dhabi
Investment Office (ADIO).182

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Smart Technology and Apps
The U.A.E. has long embraced the power of smart technologies and apps in the medical field. For
instance, the Dubai Health Authority (DHA) has introduced smart pharmacies where robots can dispense
12 prescriptions in less than one minute from a store of up to 35,000 medicines.183 DHA has also
released a wide variety of apps that are geared toward various audiences from patients to doctors,
students, medical tourists, blood donors, pregnant women, diabetics, investors, and children.

During the pandemic, the U.A.E. Government utilized several smart solutions and apps to detect cases of
COVID-19 and control its spread. Most prominent among the smart solutions was the Al Hosn app, the
official contact-tracing app of the federal government that held an individual’s vaccine information,
allowed residents and citizens to see all of their COVID-19 test results and records, and notified
individuals if they came in contact or close proximity to someone who was infected with COVID-19.
Every user who downloaded the app had a unique QR code containing information about the user’s
health. The app was encrypted, and the data remained on the user's phone. Through this data, the
competent health authorities could identify people who can transmit the virus and who could be at a
risk of contracting the virus. They could then communicate with those at risk and re-test them. This app
was a joint initiative between Ministry of Health and Prevention, Department of Health - Abu Dhabi
(DoH) and Dubai Health Authority. The other prominent digital solution developed by MOHAP in
response to the pandemic was the chatbot service called “Virtual Doctor for COVID-19.” The chatbot in
the Virtual Doctor service asks several vital questions which help it deduce if a person is at risk of getting
COVID-19.

Medicine in the Metaverse

In recent years, the U.A.E. has demonstrated a commitment to exploring and engaging across sectors in
the metaverse, the virtual-reality space in which users can interact with a computer-generated
environment. The government of Dubai launched the Dubai Metaverse Strategy in July 2022, a plan
which strives to increase the metaverse sector’s contribution to the emirate’s economy to $4 billion by
2030.184 Leaders in the health technology field in the U.A.E. are joining the government entities in their
race to the metaverse, with Medcare Hospitals & Medical Centres, a subsidiary of Aster DM Healthcare,
launching the first medical facility in the metaverse in October 2022.185 Thumbay Group has also
announced its intention to build a virtual hospital in the metaverse and works with Gulf Medical
University to supplement medical training with Virtual Reality (VR) technology. VR and Augmented
Reality (AR) technology have already proved valuable in medical education worldwide and in the U.A.E.,
where local doctors at hospitals such as Dubai’s Abdul Latif Jameel Health and Abu Dhabi’s Burjeel
Medical City are using VR and AR models to learn and practice new surgical techniques and analyze real-
time simulated patient data.186

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 Other U.S.-U.A.E. Information Technology Partnerships

Ø IBM partnered with the Mohamed bin Zayed

University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI) in May
2022 to enhance and augment care practices and
support the U.A.E.’s Artificial Intelligence vision.
Commonly referred to as AI, this new generation of
technology and systems that it helps power promises
to touch every facet of work and life – with the
potential to radically transform them for the better.
This is because these systems can ingest and
understand all forms of data, which is being produced
at an unprecedented rate. The purpose of AI and
cognitive systems developed and applied by IBM is to
augment human intelligence, not replace it. Cognitive
systems, like IBM Watson, can reason over this data,
forming hypotheses and judgments.

Ø Honeywell, a global leader in connected healthcare,

has over 50 years of experience in hospital
environments worldwide. The company has a long
history in the U.A.E., where it leverages advanced
software solutions and Internet of Things (IoT)
technology to deliver ‘Connected Hospital,’
‘Connected Clinician,’ and ‘Connected Patient’
initiatives. Integrating infrastructure and disparate
systems to enable better care, Honeywell works with
state-of-the-art healthcare facilities across the U.A.E.
to ensure the rapid flow of information for more agile
operations. Honeywell also specializes in workflow
automation and communications to help reduce
errors and increase productivity for clinicians, while
improving the health of patients through effective
monitoring in the hospital and beyond. As part of its
commitment to innovation, Honeywell recently
implemented an infant tracking solution at a large
private hospital in the Middle East. The system
provides a special service level to parents who want
to track the identity, activity, and movement of their
newborn babies, to ensure the highest level of safety
and care.214

G. Education, Research, and Events

To meet its ever-increasing need for qualified medical professionals, the U.A.E. has sought to grow its
nascent medical education and training capacity. It has also endeavored to make the country a regional

48
hub for medical research and events. Leading U.S. hospitals are key partners in cultivating Emirati
medical professionals and transferring knowledge.

Education and Training

The U.A.E. is home to a number of medical education institutions, the most notable of which are:
v United Arab Emirates University (UAEU): Opened in 1984,
UAEU’s College of Medicine and Health Sciences takes pride in
being the first and highest-ranked medical school in the U.A.E.
It offers a four-year M.D. program, the pre-requisite for which
is successful completion of its two-year premed program. It
also offers several graduate programs including a Master of
Public Health, Master of Medical Sciences, and a Doctor of
Pharmacy. Additionally, it offers PhDs in Biomedical Sciences
and Public Health and Occupational Health.187
v Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine (MBRU): Opened in
2014, Mohammed bin Rashid University of Medicine is located in the
Mohammed bin Rashid Academic Medical Center in Dubai Healthcare
City. MBRU offers bachelor’s and master’s degrees through its three
colleges: the Hamdan Bin Mohammed College of Dental Medicine, the
College of Medicine, and the College of Nursing and Midwifery.188 It is
now part of Dubai Health.
v The University of Sharjah: Opened in 2006, the University of
Sharjah’s College of Medicine offers a Bachelor of Medicine and
Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) degree; a master’s degree in
Molecular Medicine; a master’s degree in Leadership on Health
Professions Education; and a Doctorate degree in Molecular
Medicine.189 The University of Sharjah also has Colleges of Dental
Medicine, Pharmacy, and Health Sciences, the latter of which
offers a BSc. in Nursing.190 The University of Sharjah is notably
home to the 325-bed University Hospital Sharjah.191
v Higher Colleges of Technology: The Higher Colleges of
Technology’s Health Sciences Division offers a broad
range of Health Sciences bachelor’s degree programs
across its 17 campuses, including bachelor’s degrees in
Emergency Medical Services, Health Information
Management, Medical Imaging Science, Medical
Laboratory Technology, Nursing, Pharmacy, Social Work,
and Veterinary Science.192
v Gulf Medical University: Based in Ajman, this University, which is associated with the Thumbay
Group, offers a MBBS degree as well as bachelor’s degrees in Biomedical Sciences, Physiotherapy,
Medical Laboratory Sciences, Medical Imaging Sciences, Anesthesia & Surgical Technology, and
Nursing. It also offers Doctorate degrees in Dental Medicine and Pharmacy.193 In August 2018, Gulf
Medical University (GMU) expanded its footprint and launched Academic Thumbay University
Hospital, two new colleges, and new programs as part of its planned educational strategy. The
expansion includes the introduction of a master’s degree in Public Health, Environmental Health,
and Toxicology, which have been made possible thanks to a partnership between Gulf Medical
University and University of Arizona’s Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health.194

49
v RAK Medical & Health Sciences University: Fully owned and managed by the government of Ras Al
Khaimah, this institution claims to be the first comprehensive health science university in the U.A.E.
It offers a MBBS degree as well as bachelor’s degrees in Dental Surgery, Pharmacy, and the Science
of Nursing. It also offers Master of Science Degrees in Pharmacy and Nursing.195
v Fatima College of Health Sciences: Established in 2006,
this Abu Dhabi-based college began by offering a BSc. in
Nursing through a program now operated in collaboration
with Griffith University in Australia. It currently offers
more than ten degree programs at BSc. and Diploma
levels in Health Sciences.196 Notably, it has collaborated with Etihad Airways Medical Center to
provide three students per year with an opportunity to pursue a career in nursing with the airline.197
v Dubai Medical College for Girls: This all-female institution offers a MBBS degree to women.198
v Dubai Pharmacy College: This all-female college provides Bachelor of Pharmacy and Master of
Pharmacy degrees.199
v Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland – Dubai: Established in 2005, this institution offers Master of
Science degrees in Healthcare Management as well as Quality & Safety in Healthcare
Management.200
New public and private sector medical education institutions are also emerging in some of the U.A.E.’s
most prestigious existing universities. Khalifa University of Science, Technology and Research was
founded in 2007 and launched Abu Dhabi’s first medical school in September 2018. The Khalifa
University College of Medicine and Health Sciences offers a four-year Doctor of Medicine degree
program modeled after the North American medical education system.201 Ajman University, which was
founded in 1988 as the first private university in the GCC and later became the first university in the
U.A.E. to admit expatriate students, offers degrees in the medical and health sciences in three of its nine
colleges.202 Ajman University offers bachelor’s and master’s degrees through its College of Medicine,
College of Dentistry, and College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences.

In recent years, medical education institutions and partnerships have been a key focus of the U.A.E.’s
healthcare leadership. Emirates Health Services (EHS) leads scholarships and education initiatives to
increase the number of Emiratis studying and joining the nursing and midwifery professions. In Dubai in
2021, H.H. Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, U.A.E. Vice president and Prime Minister and
Ruler of Dubai, created the Dubai Academic Health Corporation (DAHC), which serves to integrate all
public healthcare provision facilities with medical universities.203 This initiative aims to both strengthen
the emirate’s healthcare facilities by creating a pipeline of talented students from universities into the
workforce as well as to offer local medical students hands-on experience in their communities.

Other U.S.-U.A.E. Educational Partnerships

Ø Children’s National Medical Center provides

four training positions to Emirati physicians
during their clinical and trial rotations. Each
year, it also provides work experience to a
number of Emirati students from UAE
University, Higher Colleges of Technology, and
Khalifa University.

50
Ø Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi chose 75 Emirati
and expatriate high school students to
participate in its prestigious two-week Junior
Caregiver Program in the summer of 2018
across 4 of its 15 Institutes. The program was
relaunched following the pandemic in August
2022 to host 60 students over the course of 2
weeks. It also formed partnerships with local
education establishments such as Fatima
College of Health Sciences, a local higher
education college, from which it recruited five
candidates to join its graduate nursing
program. The hospital also sponsored 20
students from the college to continue their
studies. Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi has been
designated an advanced teaching facility by the
Abu Dhabi Department of Health. In
September 2018, Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi
welcomed its first eight U.A.E. national resident
physicians as part of its ongoing plans to boost
the number of Emirati physicians practicing in
the country and support a sustainable
healthcare sector. By the end of 2021,
Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi had 39 U.A.E.
nationals as active medical residents across
seven specialties.

Ø Boston Children’s Hospital (BCH) physicians

have participated in numerous educational
programs in the U.A.E. over many years
including Arab Health, SEHA Pediatric
Conference, and grand rounds lectures in the
public and private sector. In 2021, BCH was the
keynote sponsor for the Arab Health Pediatric
Focus Day and presented a series of lectures on
advances in neurology, surgery, cardiology, and
cardiac surgery. 232

Ø Cedars-Sinai and Khalifa University entered an

academic collaboration for training and
education of third- and fourth-year medical
students to observe best medical and research
practices as well as consult with host faculty
members at Cedars-Sinai. At Cedars-Sinai, the
commitment to medical education means
consistent delivery of nationally recognized

51
 programs produced by eminent faculty with
unrivaled opportunities for clinical and
advanced skills learning. Each year, a select
group of medical students from Khalifa
University will benefit from specialized training
experiences in Los Angeles.

Ø Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP)

hosts 4-5 medical students from Mohamed Bin
Rashid University for six weeks during the
summer in research labs of their choice to gain
exposure to clinical research.
204

Research
U.A.E. universities are increasingly conducting innovative medical
research. For instance, Sharjah University created a Research
Institute of Medical & Health Sciences, which seeks to help make the
university a national and international leader in biomedical and
health sciences. Its research focuses on experimental and system
biology, experimental genetics, disease states experimental
therapeutics, inflammatory diseases, and clinic epidemiology/health
policy.205 Moreover, NYU Abu Dhabi has created a Public Health
Research Center (PHRC), which seeks to identify environmental and
genetic determinants of health problems in Abu Dhabi and develop
and test new public health interventions to promote wellness in the
emirate.

Likewise, private sector companies are increasingly conducting research in the U.A.E., using dedicated
facilities such as those provided by Dubai Science Park. The community features world-class laboratory
space, equipped with air exhaust and ventilation systems, acid resistant draining, and pH neutralization
systems amongst other technical features. As a result, the laboratories are home to a wide range of
organizations conducting activities including research and product development, testing, diagnostics,
manufacturing, and production.206

Several dedicated research centers have emerged in the

country, with branches focusing on medical research.
Technology Innovation Institute (TII), the applied research arm
of Abu Dhabi’s Advanced Technology Research Council (ATRC),
established its Biotechnology Research Center to support and
facilitate domestic research in the emerging fields of
Biotechnology, such as bio-medicine, bio-robotics and
nanotechnology, environmental biotechnology, molecular
biotechnology and genetics, and bio-informatics.207 TII’s
researchers work alongside ASPIRE, the technology program
development pillar of the ATRC, which follows a mandate to
develop a research and development ecosystem in Abu Dhabi. To
achieve this mandate, ASPIRE works to develop a globally

52
competitive research-funding platform through the Ghadan 21 government accelerator programs and
collaborate with global partners to find solutions to local and global challenges across a variety of
sectors of which biotechnology, health, and food are key focus areas.208

In March 2017, the Thumbay Institute of Precision Medicine and Translational Research opened on the
site of Gulf Medical University to conduct postgraduate research, particularly on diabetes and cancer.
The Thumbay Institute of Population Health, which focuses on research in the fields of public health,
epidemiology, evidence based medicine, big data analysis, and global health, and the Thumbay Institute
of Healthcare Workforce Development, which focuses on responding to national, regional, and
international shortages, are recent additions to Thumbay’s commitment to research.209 Al Jalila
Foundation Research Center, another expansion in the research field, is a 200 million AED [$54 million]
institution being built in Dubai Healthcare City to research five major areas: cancer, cardiovascular
disease, diabetes, obesity, and mental health.210

Alongside this growth in local research, Emirati researchers continue to collaborate with researchers in
the United States through partnerships with leading medical institutions. For instance, in December
2016, an Emirati researcher, Dr. Humaid Al Shamsi, who is an Assistant Professor at the MD Anderson
Cancer Center at the University of Texas, was the primary investigator in the identification of a rare
subtype of colon cancer. The discovery was the result of collaboration between the Sheikh Khalifa bin
Zayed Al Nahyan Institute for Personalized Cancer Therapy at MD Anderson and the Mayo Clinic, with
research support from the Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan Foundation.211

53
 U.S.-U.A.E. Research Collaborations

Ø Illumina, a California-based biotechnology company,

opened its Illumina Solutions Centre in Dubai in
November 2022, a 9,100-square-foot laboratory
bringing genomics technology and precision
medicine to the U.A.E. Illumina strives to use the new
center as a regional hub for research and training in
diagnostic tests such as prenatal screenings and
genomic tests for cancer. Genomics testing
technology and precision medicine treatments have
historically been more widely available to
populations of European descent, because of the
concentration of research in this field happening in
Europe. However, it is a very important field of
medical study to the MENA region, where there is a
high incidence of genetic diseases and conditions.
Illumina’s new Solutions Centre will serve to gather
representation of the region’s genetic data and
educate local scientists on genetic testing techniques
and technologies, leading to improved precision
medicine therapies and drug development.
Ø New York University Abu Dhabi (NYU Abu Dhabi)
announced the launch of the “UAE Healthy Future
Study” in early 2017, which is a long-term study of
20,000 Emiratis to better understand the risk factors
of obesity, diabetes, and heart disease. The study is
being conducted in collaboration with SEHA, Zayed
Military Hospital, UAE University, Zayed University,
Khalifa University, EBTIC, Healthpoint, Capital Health
Screening Center, and Daman. Separately, in
November 2018, the Emirates Scientists Council
signed a strategic partnership agreement with New
York University Abu Dhabi. The MoU grants
researchers from various disciplines access to the
university’s advanced science laboratories and
research centers to conduct ground-breaking
studies.305

Ø The Medtronic Foundation gave a two-year

$100,000 Health Access Grant to Al Jalila Foundation
in February 2017 to fund a local research program
focusing on Vitamin D deficiency across the country.
The grant was intended to allow Al Jalila Foundation
to promote early detection and prevention of the
disease.238
212

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213 214

The U.A.E. has spurred much of the above activity through

generous grants. For example, Al Jalila Foundation not only
funded the construction of the Al Jalila Foundation Research
Center, but it also provided scholarships to U.A.E. medical
students and funded U.A.E.-based medical research.215 Al
Jalila Foundation is not alone, as the Sheikh Hamdan bin
Rashid Al Maktoum Award for Medical Sciences, which funds medical research, is now in its 22nd year.216

“Reaching the Last Mile” Global Health Forum

At COP 28, which was hosted in Dubai from November 30th – December 12th, Reaching the Last
Mile Forum hosted a pledging event for global donors. At the event, over 450 global leaders from
governments, industry, and civil society donated a total of $777.2 million to help control,
eliminate, and eradicate neglected tropical diseases. Contributions came from country and donor
partners including the Abu Dhabi National Insurance Company, the Bill and Melinda Gates
Foundation, and the Carter Center, to name a few.

The 2023 Reaching the Last Mile Forum was hosted under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh
Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, and was attended
by His Highness Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the U.A.E.’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, H.E.
Samia Suluhu Hassan, President of Tanzania, H.E. Dr. Austin Demby, Minister of Health and
Sanitation from Sierra Leone, as well as Bill Gates, co-chair of the Bill and Melinda Gates
Foundation.

Reaching the Last Mile joined with global partners at the event to announce an expansion of its
fund from $100 million to $500 million, which will broaden its scope from seven countries to 39
across Africa and Yemen. Its aim is to eliminate two neglected tropical diseases: lymphatic filariasis
and onchocerciasis (river blindness), from the continent of Africa. The Reaching the Last Mile
Forum launched in 2017 as a 10-year, multi-donor fund and, in five years, has provided over 100
million treatments, trained 1.3 million health workers, and established nine laboratories to
support neglected tropical diseases surveillance and testing.

The forum took place on December 3rd, which the U.A.E.’s COP 28 Presidency designated as the
first-ever Health Day during the United Nations Climate Change Conference.

217218

Exhibitions and Conferences

Over the last decade, the U.A.E. has become a regional hub for healthcare exhibitions and conferences.

In May 2024, Abu Dhabi Global Healthcare Week (ADGHW) will launch its inaugural conference at
ADNEC and Abu Dhabi City. ADGHW is expected to bring together over 20,000 attendees, 300 exhibitors,
and 200 expert speakers to forecast future global healthcare vulnerabilities and formulate actionable
strategies to safeguard communities against them, as well as to provide a platform for thought
leadership and global ideas exchanges, and display the latest advancements in health and technology.
For more information, please visit www.adghw.com.

55
Every January, the U.A.E. hosts “Arab Health”, the largest gathering of healthcare and trade
professionals in the Middle East. Arab Health 2023 hosted over 3,358 exhibitors, 63,599 in-person
visitors, 320 speakers, represented 183 countries, and generated $1.81 billion worth of business.219 For
more information about Arab Health 2023, please visit www.arabhealthonline.com. Kallman Worldwide
is the official USA representative of Arab Health and organizer of the USA Partnership Pavilion since
1996.220

The U.A.E. also hosts a variety of more specialized annual events. One of which is DUPHAT, the largest
pharmaceutical exhibition in the MENA region, which, in January 2023, featured more than 1,100
companies from 82 countries and a record total attendance of 26,000 visitors.221 For more information
about DUPHAT, please visit https://duphat.ae/. Another such event is MEDLAB, which is the largest
attended laboratory expo worldwide with approximately 900 exhibitors and more than 30,000
attendees.222 For more information about MEDLAB, please visit www.medlabme.com. Other
opportunities to host conferences of all sizes, topics, and audiences across the healthcare and life
sciences sector exist, especially for companies and institutions looking to forge research and thought
leadership partnerships and connections in the U.A.E.

H. Public Health
In line with the U.A.E.’s Vision 2021, the U.A.E. has recently made a major push to reduce the incidence
of chronic diseases by adopting relevant legislation and launching public health campaigns.

Response to COVID-19
The U.A.E. government quickly took precautionary health measures after its first recorded case of
COVID-19 on the 29th of January 2020, setting the stage for the U.A.E. to be recognized as a global
leader in its COVID-19 response. The U.A.E. banned large gatherings, limited international travel,
required mandatory quarantines for travelers and those potentially exposed to the virus, encouraged
telework, and began an unparalleled effort of mass testing. These efforts by the U.A.E.’s leadership
allowed the U.A.E. to be globally ranked as one of the top countries, and the best in the Arab world, in
terms of its COVID-19 response.

The U.A.E. government also quickly charted the path to post-pandemic recovery by prioritizing
vaccinations for its people. It began administering its first vaccine authorized for emergency use, China’s
Sinopharm vaccine, in December 2020, quickly followed by the American Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. Four
main groups were targeted for inoculation, with the first group including Emiratis and residents aged 60
and older, people with chronic health conditions, and the disabled. The second group was frontline
health workers, the third other essential workers, and the fourth members of the general public who
wanted to be vaccinated. Vaccines were available at mass vaccination sites organized by the Dubai
Health Authority, the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi, and other health entities within the Emirates.

Another key development was the ability of the U.A.E. to domestically manufacture key personal
protective equipment in the fight against the pandemic. Honeywell signed an agreement with Mubadala
Investment Company to produce N95 face masks within the U.A.E., with an annual output capacity of
nearly 30 million masks per year. This venture allowed the U.A.E. to not only meet its national
requirements, but also export this critical product to frontlines around the world. Meanwhile, Group 42
(G42) entered into an agreement with the Chinese pharmaceutical entity Sinopharm CNBG to
manufacture COVID-19 vaccines in the U.A.E.

56
The U.A.E.’s public health efforts were not limited to its own borders and citizens. Recognizing the global
nature of COVID-19, the U.A.E. launched two entities to support global vaccine distribution efforts. Abu
Dhabi’s HOPE Consortium and the Dubai Vaccine Logistics Alliance were formed to utilize the U.A.E.’s
strategic geographic location and its world-class logistical capabilities in the race to vaccinate the world.

Cancer Screening
The U.A.E. government has made concerted efforts to promote early cancer detection through
screening. The Ministry of Health and Prevention has been particularly forward-leaning in terms of
raising awareness about cancer and the importance of early detection through regular medical check-
ups, as well as offering free breast cancer screenings across the U.A.E.

These initiatives complement the longstanding efforts of the Friends of Cancer Patients. Founded by
Sheikha Jawaher bint Mohammed Al Qasimi, this group has organized the high-profile “Pink Caravan”
every year since 2011 to raise awareness about breast cancer early detection and screening.223 In its first
eight editions, the caravan travelled 1,700 kilometers across the seven emirates with 490 riders and 700
volunteers, providing free medical tests and screenings to 56,000 men and women, leading to the
diagnosis of 61 breast cancer cases.224

U.S.-U.A.E. Cancer Partnerships

Ø The Susan G. Komen Foundation has partnered

with the U.A.E. to raise awareness of breast cancer
and facilitate more effective outcomes in its
prevention and treatment. The U.A.E. Embassy in
Washington, D.C. regularly participates in the
Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure as an official
sponsor.

Ø The American Cancer Society (ACS) has partnered

with Friends of Cancer Patients in the U.A.E. since
2014 to launch the U.A.E.’s first Relay for Life Race
and translate the ACS’s Cancer Atlas into Arabic.
This Atlas provides a comprehensive guide to the
global cancer landscape and is used to promote
cancer prevention and control worldwide.248

Anti-Smoking
The U.A.E. has also focused on combating smoking. In January 2014, the U.A.E. announced the
implementation of Federal Law No. 15 of 2009 that, among other things, made it illegal to smoke in
houses of worship, universities, and schools; prohibited smoking in a vehicle when a child under 12-
years-old was present; forbid the sale of cigarettes to individuals under the age of 18; banned all
tobacco advertising and promotion; and mandated a large warning label on the packaging of tobacco
products.225 Building on this legislation, in November 2014, the then-U.A.E. Ministry of Health
announced a nationwide ban on smoking in all enclosed public spaces.226 Two years later, in 2017, the
U.A.E. introduced an excise tax of 100% on tobacco products.227 In early 2021, U.A.E. health authorities
opened smoking cessation clinics at various locations across the country to support individuals who

57
sought to quit smoking. In 2022, MOHAP marked the global celebration of the World No Tobacco Day,
under the slogan "Tobacco. Threat to our environment," reiterating its commitment to educating and
warning the public about the health consequences of consuming tobacco products, including e-
cigarettes, and raise awareness about the economic development burdens it places on governments and
societies.

Combating Obesity, Diabetes, and Cardiovascular Disease

In addition to its efforts to combat cancer and smoking, the U.A.E. has tried to fight growing rates of
obesity and associated ailments through regulation and taxation of the food and beverage industry. In
December 2013, the U.A.E. cabinet announced that it would require calorie counts to be printed on food
products, limit the size of soft drinks that can be sold, regulate advertising of fast food, and enforce
healthy food standards at school cafeterias.228 In 2017, the U.A.E. introduced an excise tax of 50% on
carbonated drinks.229 In 2019, it expanded this 50% excise tax to beverages with added sugars and
sweeteners.

In recent years, educational campaigns about the danger of cardiovascular diseases have also increased
in the U.A.E. In December 2018, Amgen lit up Burj Khalifa in Dubai, the world’s tallest building, as part of
its “See The Emergency In Cholesterol” campaign.230 In 2019, MOHAP launched the “Keep on Beating”
campaign in collaboration with Pfizer, aimed at increasing awareness of the lifestyle and genetic risk
factors of cardiovascular diseases such as smoking, poor nutrition, physical inactivity, and family
history.231

The U.A.E. has sought to combat these chronic ailments by promoting exercise and healthy lifestyles. In
2017, His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and
Chairman of the Executive Council of the Dubai Government, launched the Dubai Fitness Challenge,
which challenged Dubai to be active for 30 minutes every day for 30 days. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed,
Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, was among the many U.A.E. officials who
publicly embraced this challenge. A number of companies, such as Emirates, also accepted Sheikh
Hamdan's challenge.232 Sheikh Hamdan repeated the Dubai Fitness Challenge in 2018, and it has become
a recurring yearly challenge.

MOHAP launched its own media campaign aimed at encouraging Emirati society to exercise in
December 2021 called MA’KOM.233 This initiative was launched with an organized one-kilometer
run/walk event branded as “the world’s shortest marathon,” emphasizing the point that a simple
healthy lifestyle can be achieved through incorporating small exercise activities into your daily routine.

In 2022, the National UAE Taskforce on Obesity discussed developing a joint roadmap to steer efforts
and find effective ways to address obesity, in line with the National Strategy for Wellbeing 2031 and the
aspirations of the UAE to become one of the best countries in the world in terms of quality of life. The
Taskforce comprises representatives from the Ministry of Health and Prevention (MOHAP), Dubai Health
Authority, Department of Health – Abu Dhabi, and Abu Dhabi Public Health Centre. It is mandated to
combat obesity in children from 5 to 17 years, according to Emirati government directions, and based on
the recommendations of the World Health Organization (WHO), which outlined six key elements to treat
this disease. These elements are healthy eating, weight management, pre- and post-conception care,
healthy eating and physical activity in early childhood, and healthy nutrition for school students. The
Taskforce is also entrusted with multi-sectoral coordination to oversee obesity-related activities to
ensure a comprehensive and integrated approach, based on a clear-phased action plan.

58
Finally, the U.A.E. has endeavored to detect chronic ailments at an early stage so they can be effectively
managed and treated. For instance, the then-Health Authority – Abu Dhabi (now Department of Health)
launched the “Weqaya” program, which screens individuals for cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and the
risk factors associated with these two ailments.234 U.A.E. nationals must undergo Weqaya screening in
order to qualify for the elite “Thiqa” health insurance program.235

NYU Abu Dhabi’s “U.A.E. Healthy Future Study,” which published initial research in late 2023,
determined that Emiratis face widespread instances of high blood pressure and high cholesterol levels,
risk factors for diabetes, obesity, and heart disease. These results, which demonstrated that around one
third of the Emirati population of the U.A.E. face these health problems, raised alarm of the “public
health emergency” of heart disease.236
237 238

U.S.-U.A.E. Fitness Partnerships

Ø New York Road Runners partners with the

U.A.E. Embassy in Washington, D.C. on its
annual U.A.E. Healthy Kidney 10K, which
benefits the National Kidney Foundation.328

Ø Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi organized and took

part in several community events to raise
awareness of chronic or prevailing illnesses in
the U.A.E. while also encouraging healthier and
more active lifestyles. In 2022, the hospital
organized the “Ramadan Night Run” to raise
awareness for Parkinson’s disease during the
month of Ramadan. The event saw participation
of over 500 patients, patient families, and
individuals from the community.

Environmental Health and Emergency Management

As COP 28 demonstrated by its first-ever Health Day, climate change and environmental degradation are
drivers of public health problems. Through increased instances of severe weather and temperatures, the
spread of communicable and non-communicable diseases, wildfires and air pollution, and other natural
disasters exacerbated by climate change, individual and community health is at risk and will continue to
be if the international community does not take steps to reduce global warming. The U.A.E. recognizes
this and the intersection between environmental sustainability initiatives and public health protection
measures, evidenced by a visit by officials from the Dubai Health Authority’s Public Health Protection
Bureau to the United States. These officials visited U.S. health institutions such as the U.S. Centers for
Disease Control (CDC), Health and Human Services (HHS), and the Federal Emergency Management
Authority (FEMA) in Washington, D.C. and Atlanta, GA to learn best practices for developing the public
health and emergency management sectors in Dubai.239

59
60
PART III: ENTERING THE MARKET
The U.A.E. healthcare market offers enormous opportunities for U.S. companies to expand their
presence and forge meaningful partnerships. However, it also poses certain challenges. Fortunately,
there are a wide range of resources that companies can draw on to help them seize opportunities and
overcome challenges.

A. Opportunities
As previously noted, the U.A.E.’s increasing population, demographic
shifts, high prevalence of chronic diseases, wealth, ambitions to
become a regional medical tourism hub, and broader economic
diversification plans are all driving the expansion of the country’s
healthcare market. So, too, are the lessons learned by the U.A.E.
during the Covid-19 pandemic.

While it has a thriving healthcare market in its own right, the U.A.E.
is also an ideal regional hub from which to provide medical goods
and services. The country is centrally located at the crossroads of
Africa, Europe, and Asia, and it boasts advanced transportation and
logistics infrastructure. This strategic geographical location and
world-renowned logistical capabilities allowed the U.A.E. to become
a global center for COVID-19 vaccine distribution worldwide.

Moreover, the U.A.E. enjoys relative security, political stability, and favorable business regulations. The
U.A.E. has recently accelerated the pace of economic reforms meant to solidify its standing as the place
to do business in the region. The ‘Projects of the 50’ initiative, an ambitious fifty-year set of projects to
guide the country’s development over the next five decades, will surely increase the U.A.E.’s standing as
a global business hub for American and international companies.

Within this context, the U.A.E. provides attractive opportunities for U.S. companies in the field of
healthcare provision, where there is a high demand for U.S. expertise, particularly in more specialized
domains. American healthcare providers could replicate institutions in the U.A.E. as Cleveland Clinic has
done and Mass General Brigham and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute are working to do. Alternately, they
could manage U.A.E. hospitals in the same fashion as Johns Hopkins Medicine International. They can
also provide value through consultations and training partnerships.

The U.A.E. also offers opportunities in the pharmaceutical, medical equipment, and healthcare IT
sectors. U.S. companies will not only find the U.A.E. a ripe market for pharmaceutical exports, but they
will increasingly find it a suitable platform for the manufacture of drugs, perhaps following the lead of
Merck and Pfizer in agreeing to local production arrangements. U.S. companies will find in the U.A.E. a
growing market for medical and diagnostic equipment sales and one in which they can potentially sign
agreements to install and service their own medical devices, as have GE Healthcare, Medtronic, and
Illumina. At the same time, U.S. companies will find clients that are eagerly pursuing the latest
innovations in healthcare information technology, as IBM and Oracle Cerner can attest. The COVID-19
pandemic has also showcased the U.A.E.’s demand for state-of-the-art testing equipment, which
companies like Abbott provided to the U.A.E.’s airports for high-quality passenger screening.

The U.A.E. presents opportunities in meeting an ever-increasing demand for medical professionals as
well. Along these lines, U.S. doctors and nurses may find beneficial employment opportunities in the

61
U.A.E. In addition, world-class medical institutions will find local counterparts that are eager to partner
with them to provide the best education and training to future generations of local medical
professionals, as Children’s National Medical Center, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, and others
know well.

Public health and sustainability advocacy and initiatives are also welcome contributions to the U.A.E.’s
health sector. Organon, a women’s-health-focused pharmaceutical company formed out of a spin-off
from Merck, has engaged female leaders in the U.A.E. such as Dr. Asma Al Mannaei, Executive Director
of Research and Innovation at DOH Abu Dhabi, through panel discussions, events, and advocacy
campaigns about gender equity and women’s health. Especially following the country’s hosting of
COP28 in November 2023, there is ample opportunity for partnerships for U.S. companies that are
pioneering environmental sustainability in the health care industry. Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, for
example, was awarded the Ashikaga-Nikken Excellence Award for Green Hospitals by the International
Hospital Federation for its commitment to environmental sustainability.240

The above is far from an exhaustive list of opportunities available for U.S. companies in the U.A.E.
healthcare market, and less obvious opportunities exist as well. For instance, Leo A Daly has helped
design and build medical facilities in the U.A.E., such as the Zayed Military Hospital Campus, the Al Ain
Fertility Clinic, and the Abu Dhabi Policy Clinic and Hospital Complex. Additionally, U.S. venture capital
and private equity firms may find promising investment opportunities in the U.A.E. healthcare space,
which includes a wide array of innovative healthcare startups.

Regardless of the opportunity U.S. companies are pursuing, one of the keys to success will be an on-the-
ground commitment. Fortunately, there are numerous business-friendly environments in which U.S.
companies can establish themselves, including free zones like Dubai Healthcare City and Dubai Science
Park. The U.S.-U.A.E. Business Council’s newly updated guide to “Doing Business in the United Arab
Emirates” provides U.S. company executives the essential information they need when considering
operations in the U.A.E.

B. Challenges
While there are abundant opportunities for U.S. businesses in the U.A.E. healthcare industry, these
opportunities are somewhat limited by the size of the market. The U.A.E.’s relatively small population of
10 million people limits the size of local demand making it critical that large healthcare enterprises rely
on the U.A.E.’s connections to the wider region or the U.A.E.’s booming medical tourism market.

Limits to local demand are further exacerbated by the large number of domestic firms established in the
market and the increase in international competitors entering the fray. Asian firms, mainly from China
and South Korea, have invested heavily in the U.A.E., and China in particular is continuously looking for
ways to expand. Following the historic Abraham Accords in 2020, Israeli healthcare firms have also
begun moving in to the U.A.E.

Another potential challenge for U.S. companies operating in the U.A.E. healthcare market is tightening
budgets. In an environment of global inflation and increasing healthcare costs, the U.A.E. government is
taking firmer stances regarding controlling prices throughout the healthcare industry. Moreover, there
have been efforts to achieve greater efficiencies and cost savings.

62
C. Resources
American companies that are looking to capture the myriad of opportunities in the U.A.E. healthcare
market and forge fruitful partnerships with local counterparts can draw on a variety of resources and
services, both in the United States and U.A.E.

They can rely on the assistance of U.S. government institutions, located in both the U.A.E. and
Washington, D.C.

U.S. Government Contacts in the U.A.E.

Senior Commercial Officer: Tanya Cole

U.S. Embassy in Abu Dhabi, Commercial Section
P.O. Box 4009, Abu Dhabi, U.A.E.
Tel: +971-2-414-2665
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: https://www.trade.gov/knowledge-product/united-arab-emirates-market-
overview?section-nav=2758

Healthcare Commercial Specialist in Dubai: Vandana Nair

U.S. Consulate General in Dubai
P.O. Box 121777, Dubai, U.A.E.
Tel: +971-4-309-4963
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: https://www.trade.gov/knowledge-product/united-arab-emirates-market-
overview?section-nav=2758

U.S. Government Contacts in Washington, D.C.

U.A.E. Desk Officer: Naomi Wiegler

U.S. Department of Commerce
U.S. and Foreign Commercial Service
International Trade Administration
14th St. & Constitution Avenue, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20230
Tel: (202) 482-0879
Email: [email protected]

In addition, U.S. companies can turn to U.A.E. government institutions in both the United States and the
U.A.E.

U.A.E. Government Contacts in the U.S.

U.A.E. Commercial Counselor: Saud Al Nowais

U.A.E. Embassy, Trade & Commercial Office
3522 International Court, NW
Washington, DC 20008
Tel: (202) 243-2425
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://www.uae-embassy.org/services-resources/doing-business

63
U.A.E. Consulate in Los Angeles
1999 Avenue of the Stars, Suite 1250
Los Angeles, CA 90067
Tel: (310) 551-6534
Email: [email protected]

U.A.E. Consulate in New York

535 5th Ave., 32nd Floor
New York, N.Y. 10017
Tel: (212) 419-7670
Email: [email protected]

U.A.E. Consulate in Houston

7505 South Main Street, Suite 510
Houston, TX 77030
Tel: (832) 956-6666
Email: [email protected]

U.A.E. Government Contacts in the U.A.E.

Ministry of Health and Prevention

P.O. Box 848, Abu Dhabi, U.A.E.
Tel: +971-2-652-0590
P.O. Box 1853, Dubai, U.A.E.
Tel: +971-4-230-1000
Website: www.mohap.gov.ae

Emirates Health Services

DSO Digital Park Building A8
Dubai, U.A.E.
Tel: +971-4-665-0000
Website: www.ehs.gov.ae

Department of Health – Abu Dhabi

P.O. Box 5674, Abu Dhabi, U.A.E.
Tel: +971-2-449-3333
Website: www.doh.gov.ae

Abu Dhabi Health Services Company (SEHA)

P.O. Box 109090, Abu Dhabi, U.A.E.
Tel: +971-2-410-2000
Website: www.seha.ae

Dubai Health Authority (DHA)

Dubai Health Authority Building, Al Maktoum Bridge Street, Bur Dubai Area 4545, U.A.E.
Tel: +971-800-342
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.dha.gov.ae

64
Finally, U.S. companies can count on major U.S. trade associations and chambers of commerce and their
counterparts in the U.A.E.

U.S. Trade Associations/Chambers of Commerce

U.S.-U.A.E. Business Council

2001 K Street, NW, Suite 201 North
Washington, D.C. 20006
Tel: +1 202 863 7285
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.usuaebusiness.org

U.A.E. Trade Associations/Chambers of Commerce

Federation of U.A.E. Chambers of Commerce & Industry

P.O. Box 3014, Abu Dhabi, U.A.E.
Tel: +971-2-621-4144
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.fcciuae.ae

Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce

P.O. Box 662, Abu Dhabi, U.A.E.
Tel: +971-2-621-4000
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.abudhabichamber.ae

Dubai Chamber of Commerce & Industry

P.O. Box 1457, Dubai, U.A.E.
Tel: +971-4-228-0000
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.dubaichamber.com/

Sharjah Chamber of Commerce & Industry

P.O. Box 580, Sharjah, U.A.E.
Tel: +971-6-530-2222
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.sharjah.gov.ae

Ajman Chamber of Commerce & Industry

P.O. Box 662, Ajman, U.A.E.
Tel: +971-600-595-959
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.ajmanchamber.ae

Fujairah Chamber of Commerce & Industry

P.O. Box 738, Fujairah, U.A.E.
Tel: +971-9-223-0000

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Email: [email protected]
Website: www.fujcci.ae

Ras Al Khaimah Chamber of Commerce & Industry

P.O. Box 87, Ras Al Khaimah, U.A.E.
Tel: +971-7-207-0222
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.rakchamber.ae

Umm Al Quwain Chamber of Commerce & Industry

P.O. Box 436, Umm Al Quwain, U.A.E.
Tel: +971-6-765-1111
Email: [email protected]
Website: http://www.uaqchamber.ae/

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8 https://www.globalbusinessoutlook.com/healthcare/uae-healthcare-industry-set-

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9 https://www.thenationalnews.com/uae/2022/01/23/dubai-population-to-surge-to-nearly-6m-in-20-years-amid-urban-transformation/
10 https://12ft.io/proxy?q=https%3A%2F%2Ffanyv88.com%3A443%2Fhttps%2Fgulfnews.com%2Fspecial-reports%2Fsilent-pandemic-one-in-five-in-the-uae-has-diabetes-which-is-

3-times-deadlier-than-covid-19-1.1606991073666
11 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7462068/
12 MoHAP, “Cancer Incidence in United Arab Emirates Annual Report of the UAE – National Cancer Registry 2019, www.mohap.gov.ae
13 https://www.thenationalnews.com/uae/health/2022/03/24/high-costs-a-barrier-to-mental-health-support-in-uae-report-finds/
14 https://www.thenationalnews.com/uae/health/2022/03/24/high-costs-a-barrier-to-mental-health-support-in-uae-report-finds/
15 http://www.healthhq.world/issue-sections/country-report/uae/government-led-digital-health-initiatives-drive-adoption-of-telehealth-in-the-

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16 https://www.thenationalnews.com/uae/education/2022/10/10/world-mental-health-day-a-guide-on-how-to-access-mental-health-support-

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17 https://gulfnews.com/uae/health/emirates-health-services-provides-mental-health-support-on-digital-channels-1.89834964
18 https://www.zawya.com/en/legal/regulations/uae-government-issues-federal-decree-on-mental-health-mult8u1v#
19 https://www.medicaltourism.com/mti/home
20 https://www.thenationalnews.com/business/travel-and-tourism/2023/04/12/dubai-received-674000-medical-tourists-who-spent-270m-in-

2022/
21 https://www.prosperity.com/download_file/view_inline/4789
22 https://www.globalbusinessoutlook.com/healthcare/uae-healthcare-industry-set-

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23 https://www.vision2021.ae/en/national-agenda-2021/list/world-class-circle
24 https://www.thenationalnews.com/uae/2021/10/31/frontline-workers-to-get-golden-visas-sheikh-mohamed-bin-zayed-says/
25 https://u.ae/en/about-the-uae/strategies-initiatives-and-awards/strategies-plans-and-visions/health/national-strategy-for-nursing-and-

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26 https://www.newsweek.com/rankings/worlds-best-hospitals-2023/uae
27 https://gulfnews.com/uae/dubai-healthcare-city-boosts-phase-2-expansion-plans-to-cater-to-growing-healthcare-needs-of-dubai-

1.92919644
28 https://www.who.int/srilanka/news/detail/13-12-2023-focus-on-health-at-cop
29 https://www.cop28.com/en/news/2023/12/Health-Declaration-delivering-breakthrough-moment-for-health-in-climate-talks
30 https://news.un.org/en/story/2023/12/1144292
31 https://gulfbusiness.com/special-report-why-uae-has-taken-centre-stage-in-the-healthcare-space/
32 https://u.ae/en/about-the-uae/initiatives-of-the-next-50/projects-of-the-50/second-set-of-projects-of-the-50
33 https://www.khaleejtimes.com/government/abu-dhabi-executive-council-approves-healthcare-strategy
34 https://www.zawya.com/en/press-release/companies-news/sultan-alqasimi-approves-jawaher-boston-medical-district-project-ykxo0jop
35 https://fastcompanyme.com/impact/what-will-it-take-for-the-middle-east-to-become-a-manufacturing-

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36 https://mohap.gov.ae/en/media-center/news/10/10/2023/statement-he-al-owais-law-establishing-uae-drug-corporation
37

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38

https://mohap.gov.ae/assets/4a583b8f/Ministerial%20Resolution%20No.%2089%20of%202023%20Regarding%20Medical%20Products%20and
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39

https://mohap.gov.ae/assets/55a96bee/%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B3%D9%8A%D8%A7%D8%B3%D8%A9%20%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%88%D8%B7
%D9%86%D9%8A%D8%A9%20%D9%84%D8%AA%D8%B9%D8%B2%D9%8A%D8%B2%20%D8%A7%D9%94%D9%86%D9%85%D8%A7%D8%B7%
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%B9%D8%B1%D8%A8%D9%8A%D8%A9%20%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D8%AA%D8%AD%D8%AF%D8%A9.pdf.aspx
40 https://www.doh.gov.ae/en/about/law-and-legislations
41 https://mohap.gov.ae/app_content/legislations/php-law-en-115/mobile/index.html#p=2
42 https://www.doh.gov.ae/en/about/law-and-legislations

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43 http://www.uaeinteract.com/society/health.asp
44 https://www.eiuperspectives.economist.com/sites/default/files/Investing%20in%20quality%20WEB%20English.pdf;
http://export.gov/industry/health/healthcareresourceguide/eg_main_092312.asp; http://www.thenational.ae/uae/health/ministry-of-health-
cuts-prices-on-142-medicines; http://www.thenational.ae/uae/health/uae-slashes-cost-of-diabetes-drugs-by-more-than-80;
http://www.thenational.ae/uae/health/ministry-of-health-bolsters-uaes-medicine-stockpiles; http://www.thenational.ae/uae/health/uae-fast-
tracking-new-drugs-in-bid-to-tackle-growing-health-issues
45 http://www.moh.gov.ae/en/About/Pages/OrganizationStructure.aspx
46 https://www.wam.ae/en/details/1395303087473; https://wam.ae/en/details/1395303022446;

https://tradearabia.com/news/HEAL_392330.html
47 https://www.abudhabi.ae/portal/public/en/departments/doh
48 http://sha.gov.ae/en/
49 https://circuit.news/2023/09/04/what-is-pure-health/
50 http://www.khaleejtimes.com/nation/uae-health/four-hospitals-two-clinics-to-be-set-up-in-al-gharbia;

http://www.thenational.ae/uae/health/construction-complete-at-sheikh-khalifa-medical-city-dialysis-centre;
http://www.thenational.ae/uae/health/20150609/abu-dhabis-new-centre-to-support-women-with-mental-health-issues;
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51 http://www.thenational.ae/uae/health/al-towayya-childrens-speciality-centre-opens-its-doors
52 https://www.ehs.gov.ae/en/services/health-care-facilities
53 https://www.wam.ae/en/details/1395302835242
54 https://www.ehs.gov.ae/en/about-us/initiatives
55 https://www.tahawultech.com/interviews/blockchain-is-creating-an-increased-sense-of-security-and-reliability-for-users-emirates-health-

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56 http://nmc.ae/hospitals/umm-al-quwain/sheikh-khalifa-general-hospital-1/; http://www.thenational.ae/uae/health/dh750-million-hospital-

boosts-health-care-in-umm-al-quwain; http://www.thenational.ae/uae/health/dh750m-sheikh-khalifa-hospital-opens-in-umm-al-quwain;
http://www.tradearabia.com/news/HEAL_329367.html
57 http://www.thenational.ae/uae/government/rak-ruler-sheikh-saud-opens-sheikh-khalifa-speciality-hospital---in-pictures;

http://www.thenational.ae/uae/health/raks-flagship-hospital-to-be-managed-by-leading-korean-medical-institute; http://www.sksh.ae/about-
us/; http://www.thenational.ae/news/uae-news/health/raks-flagship-hospital-will-meet-medical-needs-head-on
58 https://purehealth.ae/
59 https://www.thenationalnews.com/business/markets/2023/12/20/pure-health-soars-75-as-it-starts-trading-on-abu-dhabi-bourse-after-

986m-ipo/
60 https://www.thenationalnews.com/business/markets/2023/12/20/pure-health-soars-75-as-it-starts-trading-on-abu-dhabi-bourse-after-

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61 https://circuit.news/2023/09/04/what-is-pure-health/
62 https://www.thenationalnews.com/business/markets/2023/12/20/pure-health-soars-75-as-it-starts-trading-on-abu-dhabi-bourse-after-

986m-ipo/
63 https://circuit.news/2023/06/18/uaes-purehealth-israels-sheba-hospital-sign-cooperation-agreement/
64 https://m42.ae/who-we-are/about-m42/
65 https://m42.ae/what-we-do/malaffi/
66 https://www.diaverum.com/corporate/en/footer-links/media/news/diaverum-welcomes-m42-as-its-new-shareholder/
67 https://m42.ae/what-we-do/cleveland-clinic-abu-dhabi/
68 http://www.mubadala.com/en/what-we-do/healthcare/healthpoint; http://www.mubadala.com/en/news/mubadala-healthcare-and-

wooridul-agree-establish-spine-centre-abu-dhabi
69 https://m42.ae/what-we-do/imperial-college-london-diabetes-centre/
70 https://www.clevelandclinicabudhabi.ae/en/about-us/pages/who-we-are.aspx; http://www.thenational.ae/uae/health/sheikh-mohammed-

and-moroccan-king-inaugurate-cleveland-clinic-abu-dhabi; https://www.thenational.ae/uae/health/cleveland-clinic-abu-dhabi-continues-
expansion-as-it-treats-more-than-337-000-patients-1.613332; http://www.tradearabia.com/news/HEAL_325323.html;
https://www.thenational.ae/uae/abu-dhabi-hospital-carries-out-country-s-first-full-heart-transplant-1.684400;
http://www.gulftoday.ae/portal/60e61fe9-2c7e-4d2a-98ca-d334281cc03d.aspx
71 http://aljalilahospital.com/about-aljalila.aspx; http://www.thenational.ae/uae/health/dh700-million-childrens-hospital-set-to-open-in-dubai-

by-years-end
72 https://www.arabianbusiness.com/culture-society/407463-al-jalila-childrens-hospital-performs-dubais-first-paediatric-kidney-transplant
73 http://www.aljalilachildrens.ae/about-us
74 https://www.newsweek.com/worlds-best-hospitals-2022/united-arab-emirates
75 https://ahaliagroup.com/about-us/
76 https://www.thenationalnews.com/business/nmc-health-expands-buying-sharjah-s-al-zahra-hospital-1.202238
77 https://www.ahdubai.com/about
78 http://www.arabianhealthcaregroup.com/content.php?pid=53; http://www.arabianhealthcaregroup.com/content.php?pid=59?pid=50;

http://www.rakhospital.com/node/151/About#.V7yxY_krLIU; http://www.slh.ch/en/mitglieder/RAK-Hospital-.php
79 http://wam.ae/en/details/1395303015048
80 https://rakhospital.com/about-us/
81 http://www.asterdmhealthcare.com
82 http://www.asterdmhealthcare.com/global-network/?id=fe#aster-middle-east
83 https://www.asterdmhealthcare.com/newsroom/detail/medcare-women-children-hospital-enters-metaverse
84 https://burjeelholdings.com/investor-relations/
85 https://gulfnews.com/business/corporate-news/emirates-hospitals-group-raises-new-financing-of-dh150-million-from-fidera-

1.1641459098757
86 https://www.imh.ae/about-us/

68
87 https://www.thenational.ae/uae/new-cost-controls-to-clean-up-wild-west-uae-healthcare-market-1.628527
88 https://gulfnews.com/news/uae/health/king-s-college-opens-new-medical-facility-in-dubai-1.2274177
89 http://www.thenational.ae/business/economy/kings-college-hospital-agrees-deal-for-100-bed-dubai-facility-and-network-of-clinics;

https://www.kch.nhs.uk/news/media/press-releases/view/15643; https://www.kchclinics.com/why-kings/kings-dubai/;
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90 http://www.mediclinic.com
91 https://www.mediclinic.com/en/operating-divisions/mediclinic-middle-east.html
92 https://www.fin24.com/Companies/Health/mediclinic-parkview-hospital-opens-in-dubai-20180923
93 http://www.mediclinic.com/About-Us; http://www.thenational.ae/business/economy/abu-dhabis-nmc-health-vows-to-fight-on-for-al-noor-

merger
94 http://www.alnoorhospital.com/
95 https://www.thenationalnews.com/business/economy/2023/07/11/nmc-files-case-against-founder-br-shetty-in-4bn-fraud-suit/
96 https://www.thenationalnews.com/business/economy/2023/07/11/nmc-files-case-against-founder-br-shetty-in-4bn-fraud-suit/
97 https://saudigermanhealth.com/en/about-us
98 https://www.zulekhahospitals.com/about
99 http://zulekhahospitals.com/about; http://www.thenational.ae/business/the-life/day-in-the-life-zulekha-hospitals-executive-driven-by-best-

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100 https://www.zulekhahospitals.com/dubai/best-hospital-in-dubai
101 http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/american-hospital-dubai-joins-mayo-clinic-care-network-582079311.html;

http://www.emirates247.com/business/corporate/valiant-clinic-to-open-at-city-walk-dubai-this-year-2016-01-18-1.617722;
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102 http://www.dhcc.ae/Portal/en/about-us/overview.aspx; http://www.dhcc.ae/Portal/en/investments/faqs.aspx#page=1;

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103 https://www.dhcc.ae/news/dubai-healthcare-city-authority-launches-masari-programme-to-empower-emirati-workforce
104 https://gulfnews.com/uae/health/uae-asan-medical-centre-of-south-korea-to-build-65-bed-hospital-in-dubai-healthcare-city-1.96615044
105 http://www.sharjahupdate.com/2017/01/master-plan-for-sharjah-healthcare-city-approved/
106 https://www.zawya.com/en/press-release/companies-news/sultan-alqasimi-approves-jawaher-boston-medical-district-project-ykxo0jop
107 https://www.zawya.com/en/press-release/companies-news/sultan-alqasimi-approves-jawaher-boston-medical-district-project-ykxo0jop
108 https://www.hg.org/article.asp?id=36394; http://www.haad.ae/HAAD/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=5exKFrTZQps%3D&tabid=136
109 https://www.thiqa.ae/opencms/opencms/Thiqa/en/about-us/about-us/
110 https://www.hg.org/article.asp?id=36394; http://www.tamimi.com/en/section/global/law-no-11-of-2013-concerning-health-insurance-in-

the-emirate-of-dubai
111 http://www.thenational.ae/uae/uae-news-in-review-2015-strides-towards-compulsory-health-insurance-for-all
112 http://www.thenational.ae/uae/health/mandatory-insurance-deadline-extended-in-dubai; http://www.thenational.ae/uae/health/dubais-

mandatory-health-insurance-law-comes-into-force; http://www.arabianbusiness.com/dha-may-issue-fines-if-firms-miss-out-on-health-
insurance-renewal-674959.html; http://gulfnews.com/news/uae/health/where-to-get-insurance-cover-for-domestic-workers-1.1950911
113 http://www.arabianbusiness.com/industries/healthcare/385432-wkd-dubai-adds-cancer-treatment-to-basic-health-insurance-plan
114 https://gulfnews.com/news/uae/health/insurance-to-cover-mental-health-in-dubai-1.2295306
115 http://www.thenational.ae/uae/health/sharjah-citizens-aged-55-and-over-eligible-for-health-insurance
116 https://damanhealth.ae/en/about-daman/our-values
117 http://www.haad.ae/haad/Portals/0/Health%20Regulation%20Laws/Book1_En/index.html#/2/
118 https://damanhealth.ae/en/about-daman/
119 https://www.thiqa.ae/opencms/opencms/Thiqa/en/home/; https://www.dha.gov.ae/en/HealthFunding/Pages/Enaya.aspx;

http://www.dubai.ae/en/Lists/Articles/DispForm.aspx?ID=83&category=Citizens; http://www.saada.ae/About?Lang=1;
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https://www.zawya.com/mena/en/companies/story/Emirates_Scientists_Council_signs_strategic_partnership_agreement_with_New_York_Un
iversity_Abu_Dhabi-ZAWYA20181105121956/
214 http://www.aljalilafoundation.ae/al-jalila-foundation-receives-a-usd100000-health-access-grant-from-the-medtronic-foundation/
215 http://www.aljalilafoundation.ae/who-we-are/about-us/
216 http://hmaward.org.ae/#
217 https://www.gatesfoundation.org/ideas/media-center/press-releases/2023/12/reaching-the-last-mile-ntds-cop28
218 https://www.thenational.ae/uae/bill-gates-surprised-and-honoured-by-medal-from-sheikh-mohammed-1.676208;

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220 https://kallman.com/shows/arab-health-2023
221 http://www.tradearabia.com/news/HEAL_405101.html
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223 http://focp.ae/pc/about-us.php#page=ABOUT-PINKCARAVAN
224 http://www.gulftoday.ae/portal/035c3dfd-8fb7-40f1-903a-968fe2ab75f1.aspx
225 http://www.thenational.ae/uae/health/tough-anti-tobacco-laws-come-into-force-across-the-uae;

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226 http://www.thenational.ae/uae/health/uae-wide-smoking-ban-in-enclosed-public-spaces-next-year;

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227 http://www.bna.bh/portal/en/news/695252; http://www.khaleejtimes.com/nation/uae-health/will-a-100-rise-in-tobacco-taxation-help-

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229 http://www.arabianbusiness.com/gulf-states-set-for-100-tax-on-energy-drinks-tobacco-618052.html#.V4T6OvkrLct;

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232 https://www.thenational.ae/uae/dubai-fitness-challenge-a-success-as-participants-hail-healthy-month-1.677050;

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233 https://mohap.gov.ae/en/media-center/news/18/2/2019/under-the-slogan-dream-small-it-adds-up-ministry-of-health-and-prevention-

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235https://www.abudhabi.ae/portal/public/en/citizens/health/health_insurance/gen_info44?docName=ADEGP_DF_133720_EN&_adf.ctrl-

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237 https://www.thenational.ae/uae/health/thousands-turn-out-for-new-york-run-in-honour-of-sheikh-zayed-as-course-record-broken-

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240 http://wam.ae/en/details/1395303100900

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