The future of hospitals in the UAE will combine artificial intelligence with the human touch, a collaboration set to transform the healthcare system into one that prioritizes patient-centered care. Hospitals will shift from being centres of post-treatment care to hubs of preventive healthcare.

Exploring these curious questions about the future of hospitals and healthcare in the UAE, MedEdge MEA had an insightful conversation with Dr. Muna AlHammadi, Acting-Hospital Director at Al Rahba Hospital SEHA. This interview offers a comprehensive perspective on the future of healthcare in the UAE and answers an interesting question: What will hospitals in the UAE look like in 2040?

MedEdge MEA: How are hospitals in the UAE adapting to balance advanced technology with the increasing demand for accessible, quality care?

Dr. Muna AlHammadi: Hospitals in the UAE are advancing healthcare by integrating cutting-edge technologies like AI, robotics, and telemedicine to enhance diagnostics, surgeries, and remote care access. Initiatives such as SEHA Virtual Hospital and mobile clinics extend services to underserved areas. Public-private partnerships and mandatory health insurance reforms have expanded healthcare affordability and coverage. The country is also emerging as a hub for medical tourism, with centers of excellence like SKMC and SSMC offering specialized treatments.

Precision medicine is gaining traction through programs like the Emirates Genome Program. Regulatory bodies enforce high standards via JCI and DOH accreditation, while infrastructure investments boost capacity. However, challenges persist, including maintaining affordability, Emiratization, and workforce development. Sustainability is also a key focus, with hospitals adopting eco-friendly practices in line with the UAE’s Net Zero 2050 targets. Overall, the UAE’s healthcare system balances innovation and accessibility, ensuring high-quality care for both residents and international patients.

ME: How are hospitals playing a key role in promoting preventive care and encouraging early detection across communities?

Dr. Muna: The UAE has adopted a comprehensive national strategy to prioritize preventive healthcare and early detection, aiming to reduce chronic disease burden and enhance population health. Central to this effort is the National Preventive Health Strategy, aligned with UAE Vision 2021 and 2071, which shifts the focus from treatment to prevention. Key goals include reducing lifestyle-related diseases, increasing early cancer detection rates, and achieving full vaccination coverage. National screening programs such as Weqaya, IFHAS, and Saada target early detection of cardiovascular and chronic diseases.

The integration of AI and predictive analytics helps identify high-risk individuals, supporting timely interventions. School and workplace health programs ensure widespread vaccination and routine screenings, while offering incentives for corporate wellness. Insurance and policy measures include lower premiums for health-conscious individuals and mandatory screenings linked to visa renewals. Public awareness campaigns like the Pink Caravan further promote early detection. By 2030, the UAE aims for a 30% reduction in diabetes and hypertension and 50%+ early cancer detection, ranking among the world’s top healthcare systems.

ME: Mental health awareness for a healthy community.” Your take?

Dr. Muna: Launching a mental health initiative in Abu Dhabi requires cultural sensitivity, strategic planning, and collaboration. First, align with the UAE’s national mental health goals, avoiding duplication and seeking partnerships with existing programs. A culturally sensitive approach is key, offer multilingual materials, ensure confidentiality, and frame mental health within familiar religious and cultural contexts. Next, assemble a diverse team involving government bodies, NGOs like Ma’an Social Care and Emirates Red Crescent, universities, and the private sector.

Depending on your focus, choose from several initiative formats: a community mental health fair with free therapy tasters and workshops; workplace wellness programs in partnership, youth campaigns in schools promoting peer support and mindfulness; or digital awareness drives using social media and webinars. Address logistics such as permits, funding, and outreach through local media and community hubs. Measure impact via feedback and engagement metrics.

ME: In your view, how can hospitals balance sustainability goals with the demands of modern healthcare delivery?

Dr. Muna: In 2025, UAE hospitals can effectively balance sustainability with modern healthcare demands by adopting community-focused strategies. Expanding preventive and primary care through mobile clinics, AI-driven risk assessments, and wellness programs reduces hospital admissions and environmental strain. Telemedicine and digital health tools like virtual follow-ups and AI chatbots increase access while cutting emissions and paper waste.

Green community partnerships, such as awareness campaigns, hospital gardens, and corporate tie-ups, foster eco-conscious habits. Family medicine-led initiatives like mall-based health pods and home care services help manage chronic diseases while minimizing hospital reliance. Data-driven public health interventions, including predictive vaccination drives and heatstroke alerts, ensure efficient resource use.

Together, these efforts not only lower healthcare’s carbon footprint but also improve outcomes, reduce costs, and strengthen public engagement, paving the way for a more sustainable and inclusive healthcare system across the UAE.

ME: How will hospitals in the UAE look in 2040?

Dr. Muna: By 2040, UAE hospitals will revolutionize care through AI doctors and bioprinting. AI-powered virtual physicians will conduct consultations via holograms, provide second opinions, and perform autonomous surgeries with near-zero errors. AI will also predict disease outbreaks and accelerate drug discovery. Meanwhile, bioprinting will eliminate organ shortages, enabling on-demand printing of kidneys, skin grafts, and spinal discs using patients’ cells. Cosmetic upgrades and age reversal therapies may emerge, raising ethical concerns. Regulatory frameworks, like those from Dubai Healthcare City, will guide AI licensure and bioprinting practices. With global partnerships and innovation hubs, the UAE could lead life sciences exports. Still, questions remain, will patients trust AI, and will life-saving bioprinting be accessible to all?