emirates7 - In 2024, the UAE’s healthcare sector achieved remarkable milestones as part of ongoing efforts to enhance performance, elevate quality of life, and foster healthy lifestyles within the community.
For the 2025 fiscal year, the UAE allocated AED 5.745 billion, or 8% of the federal budget, to healthcare and community prevention services.
A significant policy shift came with the UAE Cabinet's approval of a mandatory health insurance system for workers in private sector institutions and domestic workers without existing coverage. Starting 1st January 2025, private sector employers and sponsors will be required to bear the cost of health insurance for their registered employees.
The Cabinet also introduced the National Policy for Improving Women’s Health, designed to provide women with the highest standards of preventive, therapeutic, and rehabilitative healthcare services.
Additionally, the Emirates Genome Council announced the integration of genetic testing into pre-marital screening for all Emirati citizens planning to marry, effective January 2025.
Among the ambitious projects unveiled in 2024 was a specialised medical city focused on women’s and children’s health. This comprehensive facility will feature Sheikh Khalifa Medical City as a centre of excellence for paediatric care, Corniche Hospital for women’s and newborns’ health, a rehabilitation complex, and a mental health centre dedicated to women and children.
In Dubai Healthcare City, phase two commenced with the groundbreaking of the Asan-UAE Gastroenterology Hospital. Developed by Scope Investment, this marks the first international branch of South Korea’s renowned Asan Hospital.
As part of workforce development, the Emirates Medical Preparedness and Response Programme, Jaheziya, established a national nursing academy in partnership with the National Academy for Medical Training and Research (Tadreeb). The initiative aims to enhance the skills of Emirati healthcare professionals and improve nursing readiness across the country.
On the global stage, the Ministry of Health and Prevention signed a strategic cooperation agreement with AstraZeneca to advance early lung cancer detection through cutting-edge technologies and best practices.
Other notable achievements in 2024 include the licensing of the Institute for Healthier Living Abu Dhabi by the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi, marking the world’s first centre specialising in healthy longevity medicine.
The Ministry of Health and Prevention also launched the National Survey for Health and Nutrition 2024-2025 in collaboration with the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Centre, alongside local health and statistical authorities.
UAE hospitals continued to demonstrate excellence in performing complex and rare surgeries. Dubai Hospital successfully removed the world’s largest adrenal gland tumour from a woman in her 60s, while SEHA, a PureHealth subsidiary, treated a 54-year-old dialysis patient with thyroid cancer using radioactive therapy.
The Abu Dhabi Stem Cells Centre achieved a groundbreaking ovarian preservation procedure for a seven-year-old Emirati girl with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, in partnership with ART Fertility Clinic.
Meanwhile, Burjeel Medical City in Abu Dhabi conducted the UAE’s first successful paediatric liver transplant. The 12-hour procedure on a four-year-old girl also marked the country’s first paediatric liver transplant from a living donor.
For the 2025 fiscal year, the UAE allocated AED 5.745 billion, or 8% of the federal budget, to healthcare and community prevention services.
A significant policy shift came with the UAE Cabinet's approval of a mandatory health insurance system for workers in private sector institutions and domestic workers without existing coverage. Starting 1st January 2025, private sector employers and sponsors will be required to bear the cost of health insurance for their registered employees.
The Cabinet also introduced the National Policy for Improving Women’s Health, designed to provide women with the highest standards of preventive, therapeutic, and rehabilitative healthcare services.
Additionally, the Emirates Genome Council announced the integration of genetic testing into pre-marital screening for all Emirati citizens planning to marry, effective January 2025.
Among the ambitious projects unveiled in 2024 was a specialised medical city focused on women’s and children’s health. This comprehensive facility will feature Sheikh Khalifa Medical City as a centre of excellence for paediatric care, Corniche Hospital for women’s and newborns’ health, a rehabilitation complex, and a mental health centre dedicated to women and children.
In Dubai Healthcare City, phase two commenced with the groundbreaking of the Asan-UAE Gastroenterology Hospital. Developed by Scope Investment, this marks the first international branch of South Korea’s renowned Asan Hospital.
As part of workforce development, the Emirates Medical Preparedness and Response Programme, Jaheziya, established a national nursing academy in partnership with the National Academy for Medical Training and Research (Tadreeb). The initiative aims to enhance the skills of Emirati healthcare professionals and improve nursing readiness across the country.
On the global stage, the Ministry of Health and Prevention signed a strategic cooperation agreement with AstraZeneca to advance early lung cancer detection through cutting-edge technologies and best practices.
Other notable achievements in 2024 include the licensing of the Institute for Healthier Living Abu Dhabi by the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi, marking the world’s first centre specialising in healthy longevity medicine.
The Ministry of Health and Prevention also launched the National Survey for Health and Nutrition 2024-2025 in collaboration with the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Centre, alongside local health and statistical authorities.
UAE hospitals continued to demonstrate excellence in performing complex and rare surgeries. Dubai Hospital successfully removed the world’s largest adrenal gland tumour from a woman in her 60s, while SEHA, a PureHealth subsidiary, treated a 54-year-old dialysis patient with thyroid cancer using radioactive therapy.
The Abu Dhabi Stem Cells Centre achieved a groundbreaking ovarian preservation procedure for a seven-year-old Emirati girl with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, in partnership with ART Fertility Clinic.
Meanwhile, Burjeel Medical City in Abu Dhabi conducted the UAE’s first successful paediatric liver transplant. The 12-hour procedure on a four-year-old girl also marked the country’s first paediatric liver transplant from a living donor.