UAE Harvest 2025/ The health sector strengthens its leadership with qualitative achievements
Abu Dhabi, December 20 / WAM / During the year 2025, the health sector in the UAE witnessed a series of qualitative achievements that consolidated the country’s position as a global platform for medical innovation, and enhanced the readiness of the health system with its diagnostic, therapeutic and research components.
These achievements were the result of a national vision based on investing in health infrastructure, empowering competencies, concluding advanced international partnerships, in addition to developing legislation and preventive policies to enhance the quality of life and preserve community health.
The Council of Ministers approved the national policy to combat health risks, in addition to restructuring the Health Council and the National Public Health Committee.
The UAE government issued a federal decree law amending some provisions of the federal decree law regarding donation and transplantation of organs and tissues, as part of its keenness to develop its health legislative system, and in line with international health policies that rely on the use of animal organs or manufactured organs as advanced therapeutic solutions, used in accordance with precise technical and medical controls and standards that ensure patient safety and prevent any unregulated or unsafe practices.
This year witnessed the adoption of the health insurance system for workers in the Fujairah government, and the opening of a regional vaccine distribution center in Abu Dhabi. The Dubai Healthcare City Authority also revealed a development plan worth 1.3 billion dirhams, which includes the construction of an innovative building and a new medical complex, while the International Conference of Pharmacy and Medicine (ICPM 2025) announced the launch of three new pharmaceutical factories in Sharjah with investments exceeding 308 million dirhams.
The UAE has strengthened its position as a global platform for advanced diagnostics through the project launched by the Abu Dhabi Stem Cell Center, Yas Hospital, and New York University Abu Dhabi, to use artificial intelligence techniques in magnetic resonance imaging to diagnose multiple sclerosis (MS) with greater accuracy and speed, while the company “M42” announced plans to establish the first heavy ion treatment facility in the Middle East within Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, to provide one of the most accurate types of radiation therapy for oncology patients.
At the public health level, the Ministry of Health and Community Protection has completed more than 95% of the national health survey and 78% of the national nutrition survey, in addition to completing the field work for the 2024-2025 National Health and Nutrition Survey campaign. The Ministry also revealed the updated scientific guide for the tuberculosis control program for the year 2025.
Health institutions in the country continued to obtain more international accreditations, as the Emirates Health Services Corporation obtained accreditation from the Joint Commission International for its diabetes care program in 12 hospitals and 8 centers, becoming the largest accredited health network for diabetes care in the world. The organization also became the largest entity in the Middle East and North Africa in the number of rehabilitation facilities accredited by CARF, and won four international awards during the 2025 International Hospital Federation Conference.
In the same context, the country achieved an advanced global position in the health inclusion index issued by “Halion” and “The Economist Impact”, as it ranked first in the world in health awareness and community participation, which reflects the success of prevention and health education programmes.
In turn, the “Hayat” program revealed that more than 2,034 organ transplant operations have been carried out since its launch, and more than 10,000 specialized cadres have been trained, with the UAE leading the world in the growth rate of donors per million people.
This year, the launch of the Healthy Living Strategy in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi emerged, which includes more than 20 initiatives to be implemented during 2026 to establish the concept of sustainable wellness and enhance the quality of life for all members of society.
In the context of enhancing research efforts, the Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences published the first comprehensive Arab genomic reference in the journal Nature Communications, which constitutes an unprecedented scientific achievement in the region.
The UAE has intensified its efforts in combating chronic diseases around the world. The Global Institute for the Elimination of Infectious Diseases (Glide), which operates under the supervision of the Zayed Humanitarian Legacy Foundation, launched a broad research project to analyze historical data on malaria in the Middle East and North Africa with the aim of preventing the re-introduction of the disease. This December, the capital, Abu Dhabi, witnessed a high-level event that brought together international leaders and prominent global contributors in the healthcare sector, during which they announced a collective pledge worth US$1.9 billion to support global efforts aimed at eliminating polio.
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