Today's Edition
AMEINAH ALZEYOUDI (ABU DHABI)
The UAE recorded the highest levels of trust in health institutions globally in the "2026 Edelman Trust Barometer Special Report: Trust and Health," with confidence rising across government, employers, healthcare authorities and health-related industries even as many countries grapple with weaker trust in health information.
The findings point to a healthcare environment in which residents show strong confidence not only in medical institutions, but also in their ability to navigate health decisions.
In the UAE, 86% of respondents said that they trust the government to do what is right in addressing their health needs and concerns, compared to a 53% global average - the highest level recorded globally and a 10-point increase from last year.
The same proportion said they trust their employer, the second-highest level globally and up five points from 2025. Trust in business stood at 80%, NGOs scored 72% - both the highest globally - while media health trust reached 69%, the second-highest level worldwide. Across this entire category, the UAE posted gains in all five sub-groups compared with last year.
That pattern continued across healthcare institutions, where the UAE ranked first globally in all five categories measured. Trust in local health authorities and national health authorities both reached 90%, up five and four points from 2025, respectively.
UAE respondents' trust in the World Health Organization scored 85%, up five points, while healthcare companies and the government agencies responsible for regulating drugs, vaccines and medical devices also both reached 85%, with healthcare companies posting a seven-point rise.
The UAE also led the world across every category measured under health sub-sectors. Hospitals were trusted by 90% of respondents, up from last year, while local pharmacies scored 85%. Trust in health technology reached 86%, up seven points, while the pharmaceutical industry stood at 84%, six points higher than in 2025.
Consumer health scored 85%, marking the largest jump in this category with a 10-point rise. Private health insurance reached 82%, up six points, while nutrition stood at 77%, seven points higher than last year.
The report suggests that trust in the UAE's health system is not confined to traditional institutions - residents are also embracing digital tools at a far higher rate than the global average.
In the UAE, 59% of respondents said they use artificial intelligence to manage their health, compared with a global average of 35%. That includes tasks such as finding quick medical answers, interpreting test results and supporting day-to-day health decisions.
At the same time, UAE respondents expressed a high level of confidence in their own health literacy - 70% said they felt confident in their ability to find answers to health questions and make informed decisions, the highest figure recorded globally.
The barometer surveyed more than 16,000 respondents across 16 countries, with about 1,000 respondents in each market.
