Abu Dhabi, UAE: Future Health – A Global Initiative by Abu Dhabi has released a new whitepaper with the McKinsey Health Institute and Healthy Living at the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi, outlining a framework for governments to promote healthier and longer lives through prevention and coordinated action.
The whitepaper, The Future of Healthy Living: A $16.4 Trillion Opportunity, estimates that addressing behavioural, metabolic and environmental risk factors could generate an annual global GDP uplift of $16.4 trillion by 2050, equivalent to 9% of projected global GDP.
The analysis also estimates that addressing modifiable risks could prevent around 1.5 billion disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) in 2050, representing approximately 47% of the projected global disease burden, while increasing global healthy life expectancy at birth by up to 12 years.
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The publication presents a five-step framework for governments: establish a clear ambition, identify major health and economic opportunities, develop coordinated interventions, implement and scale effective measures, and use data to evaluate and adapt programmes.
Lars Hartenstein, Partner and Director of Longevity at McKinsey Health Institute said: “The opportunity to improve health outcomes at scale has never been greater. Our analysis demonstrates that addressing modifiable risk factors could add years of healthy life while strengthening economic participation and productivity. Achieving that impact will require coordinated action across sectors to address the wider factors that influence health every day, from where people live and work to how they learn and connect.”
Abu Dhabi’s Healthy Living initiative is highlighted as an example of a whole-of-society prevention model. More than 28 initiatives are being implemented across food environments, schools, workplaces, community infrastructure and physical activity.
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“In Abu Dhabi, we are progressing from a reactive model of care towards one that is proactive, predictive, and preventive. World-class clinical care remains fundamental, but the ambition extends beyond what happens when someone becomes unwell. It is about looking upstream at the factors driving health and addressing them before they translate into disease”. H.E. Dr. Noura Khamis Al Ghaithi said.
The publication forms part of the Abu Dhabi Blueprints series and will inform discussions at the Abu Dhabi Future Health Summit, scheduled for October 20–22, 2026.
