Today's Edition
BATOOL GHAITH (ABU DHABI)
The UAE’s healthcare system is increasingly being defined by its ability to combine rapid response, digital infrastructure and forward-looking policy, with experts pointing to structural reforms, AI integration and coordinated governance as key factors strengthening its resilience in the face of future health challenges.
Avinav Nigam, Founder and CEO of TERN Group, said that artificial intelligence is already being actively deployed across the UAE to improve hospital workforce efficiency, not by replacing human decision-making but by removing operational bottlenecks.
Nigam noted that the Ministry of Health and Prevention has established a dedicated AI Office deploying predictive models, smart dashboards and fraud detection tools in live operational settings.
He highlighted the launch of a National Unified Digital Licensing Platform by the second quarter of 2026, which will consolidate licensing for more than 200,000 healthcare professionals under a single system.
“For anyone who has watched a qualified professional wait months to be credentialled across different emirates, each with its own regulatory body, this initiative removes one of the biggest friction points in healthcare workforce deployment,” Nigam told Aletihad.
He added that across the 13 countries where TERN operates, the primary challenge is not a shortage of professionals but the gap between readiness and deployment.
“AI is reducing that gap, not by replacing human judgement, but by removing the paperwork and process that slows everything down,” Nigam explained.
In the long run, he added, the systems that can move people at the speed demanded will dominate, and the UAE is already demonstrating leadership in this area.
“The UAE is not waiting for the world to figure that out. It is showing the world that it can be done,” Nigam said.
Data-driven Healthcare and Shift to Predictive Systems
Looking ahead, Nigam said the UAE’s healthcare model is increasingly built on treating data as national infrastructure, rather than a byproduct of clinical operations.
He pointed to platforms such as Malaffi in Abu Dhabi and NABIDH in Dubai, which hold longitudinal clinical records at population scale, alongside the Emirati Genome Programme, which has sequenced over 800,000 genomes.
Together, these initiatives are laying the foundation for more personalised and predictive healthcare systems, he noted.
At the same time, healthcare spending in the UAE is growing at an annual rate of 8.5%, creating pressure to rethink how care is delivered, Nigam added.
“Managing that level of growth without fundamentally changing how care is delivered will be difficult. This is where AI becomes essential,” he said.
He added that over the next decade, healthcare planning is expected to shift from reactive to predictive models, with systems that anticipate demand, allocate resources more efficiently and improve patient outcomes.
“In terms of workforce, this means the end of reactive hiring,” Nigam explained, emphasising that the UAE is well-positioned to forecast workforce demand before it becomes a crisis.
Post-pandemic Reforms and System-wide Coordination
Dr Shanila Laiju, Group CEO of Medcare Hospitals & Medical Centres, said the COVID-19 pandemic was a turning point that led to lasting structural improvements across the UAE’s healthcare system.
“The pandemic showed just how important it is for every part of the healthcare system to work together. One of the biggest changes since then has been the much closer coordination between healthcare providers, regulators and public health authorities,” Dr Laiju told Aletihad.
She noted that this has resulted in a stronger framework for information sharing, faster decision-making and more coordinated responses to emerging health challenges.
Dr Laiju added that there has also been a greater focus on emergency preparedness, workforce readiness and strengthening supply chains.
“Together, these changes have made the UAE’s healthcare system more connected, more resilient and better prepared for the future,” she said.
Regulatory Agility and Rapid Adoption of Innovation
Dr Laiju noted that regulatory agility has played a central role in strengthening the UAE’s healthcare resilience, particularly in the rapid approval and adoption of new treatments.
“Regulatory agility is vital. In healthcare, timing can make an enormous difference, particularly when patients are waiting for new treatments that could improve or even save lives,” she explained.
Dr Laiju noted that the UAE has managed to balance speed with safety and quality.
“A healthcare system that can adapt to new evidence, respond to changing needs and bring in innovation at the right time is always going to be more resilient,” she added.
She indicated that several factors enable the UAE to move quickly in adopting cutting-edge therapies, including strong collaboration between regulators, healthcare providers and the pharmaceutical industry.
“The UAE has created an environment where innovation is genuinely encouraged. It also benefits from modern healthcare facilities, advanced technology and highly skilled medical teams who are ready to introduce and manage new therapies,” Dr Laiju said.
She also highlighted the growing importance of preventive healthcare in addressing long-term challenges such as obesity and diabetes, stressing that early intervention through screening, health education and lifestyle support can significantly reduce the risk of serious complications.
Focus on Healthcare Quality and Efficiency
The UAE’s healthcare progress is also reflected in broader national achievements. The country has consistently ranked among the top globally in healthcare quality and efficiency.
A report by the Ministry of Economy reported that healthcare spending is anticipated to reach $26 billion by 2028, while the country aims to invest Dh118 billion in the healthcare sector by 2027, with a focus on infrastructure development and public-private partnerships.
National initiatives such as the Emirates Health Services digital transformation strategy, the National Strategy for Wellbeing 2031 and continued investment in digital health infrastructure have further reinforced system resilience.
