The UAE has emerged as a global leader in healthcare confidence and artificial intelligence adoption, with residents ranking highest among 16 countries surveyed in their ability to make informed health decisions, according to the 2026 Edelman Trust Barometer Special Report on Trust and Health.
The findings position the UAE as a standout model at a time when many healthcare systems worldwide are grappling with declining public trust and rising misinformation.
AI adoption in healthcare is particularly striking, with 59 percent of UAE respondents using the technology to manage their health, well above the global average of 35 percent. The report suggests AI has moved beyond experimentation in the UAE and is now embedded in everyday health decision-making.
Despite the surge in technology use, confidence in medical professionals remains firmly intact. Nearly nine in ten UAE respondents trust their doctor to tell them the truth about health issues, reinforcing physicians as the most trusted voice in the healthcare space.
Institutional trust is equally strong. Some 90 percent of UAE respondents expressed confidence in local and national health authorities, compared to 69 percent globally, creating a stable foundation for continued healthcare innovation and adoption.
Taken together, the data points to a more empowered healthcare consumer. Seventy percent of UAE respondents said they feel confident finding health information and making informed decisions, suggesting that trust in doctors and trust in AI are reinforcing rather than competing forces.
The report concludes that the UAE may offer an early glimpse of the future of healthcare, one where informed consumers, trusted physicians and embedded technology advance together rather than in tension.
News Source: Emirates News Agency
