The UAE’s healthcare sector marked a transformative year in 2025, delivering a series of legislative, clinical, and research breakthroughs that strengthened its global standing and reinforced system-wide readiness across prevention, treatment, and innovation.
These achievements reflect a national strategy focused on modern infrastructure, skilled workforce development, international partnerships, and forward-looking health policies designed to protect public wellbeing.
At the federal level, the Cabinet approved the National Policy for Combating Health Risks and reconstituted both the UAE Health Council and the National Public Health Committee. A Federal Decree-Law was also issued to amend regulations governing organ and tissue donation and transplantation, aligning national legislation with global standards that allow advanced therapeutic options under strict medical oversight.
Significant infrastructure and investment announcements followed. Fujairah approved a new health insurance system for government employees, while Abu Dhabi inaugurated a regional vaccine distribution centre. Dubai Healthcare City unveiled a AED1.3 billion expansion plan, and Sharjah announced three new pharmaceutical manufacturing facilities with investments exceeding AED308 million.
The UAE also advanced precision medicine and diagnostics. NYU Abu Dhabi, Yas Clinic Khalifa City, and Abu Dhabi Stem Cells Centre launched an AI-supported MRI initiative, while M42 revealed plans to establish the Middle East’s first heavy-ion cancer therapy centre at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi.
Public health efforts gained momentum as the Ministry of Health and Prevention completed the majority of the National Health and Nutrition Surveys and issued updated tuberculosis control guidelines. Emirates Health Services secured global recognition for its diabetes care programme, now the world’s largest JCI-accredited network of its kind.
International rankings further underscored progress, with the UAE topping the Inclusive Health Index for health awareness and community engagement. Organ transplantation outcomes also improved under the Hayat programme, while global disease prevention efforts expanded through new malaria research initiatives.
News Source: Emirates News Agency
