A. SREENIVASA REDDY (ABU DHABI)
Six UAE hospitals have been named in Newsweek’s World’s Best Smart Hospitals 2026 ranking, which highlights facilities leading the way in integrating digital technologies into healthcare.
Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, Medicare Hospital, Al Sara (Dubai), Fakeeh University Hospital (Dubai), Aster Hospital Al Qusais (Dubai), Mediclinic City Hospital (Dubai) and Aster Hospital Mankhool (Dubai) are among 350 hospitals listed across 30 countries.
The ranking, produced by Newsweek and Statista, draws on an international survey of hospital managers and healthcare professionals, the Statista Smart Hospitals Maturity Survey, and Joint Commission International accreditation, supported by independent research. It measures adoption of technologies such as artificial intelligence, robotics, telemedicine, patient safety tools, and digital portals.
The United States leads with 103 hospitals in the list, followed by Germany (24), the United Kingdom (22), France (20) and Italy (18). In total, 30 countries are represented, including the UAE with six entries.
Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, tops the global ranking, followed by Cleveland Clinic in Ohio, Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore and Mount Sinai in New York.
Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, which is ranked the number one smart hospital in the UAE and GCC, said on X that the recognition reinforced its commitment to using the latest technologies to deliver advanced treatments and strengthen the UAE’s role as a global healthcare hub.
Three hospitals from the Aster DM Healthcare network — Aster Hospital Al Qusais, Aster Hospital Mankhool and Medcare Hospital Al Safa — were included, along with Aster Sanad Hospital in Riyadh.
Aster DM Healthcare Founder Chairman Dr Azad Moopen said the recognition reflected the group’s progress in “uniting digital transformation with compassionate care” and its commitment to building resilient, patient-centric systems. He added: “Since the inception of Aster nearly four decades ago, our vision has been to make quality healthcare accessible and to build excellence in all we do. That vision has since evolved to shape the future of healthcare by harnessing technology and innovation.”
Fakeeh University Hospital (FUH) Dubai was also recognised, earning the top three-ribbon distinction in the survey. Its CEO, Dr Mohaymen Abdelghany, said the accolade underscored how the hospital had integrated “artificial intelligence, automation and digital solutions into every layer of patient care” and aligned with the UAE’s vision of becoming a leader in healthcare innovation. “FUH is proud to be featured in this ranking alongside leading hospitals such as Mayo Clinic – Rochester, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Sheba Medical Center, Karolinska Universitetssjukhuset, and Aarhus Universitetshospital,” he said.