The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has announced four national commitments to strengthen the integration of traditional, complementary and integrative medicine into its healthcare system, with a focus on scientific evidence, patient safety, research and professional education.
The commitments were unveiled at the Al Shifaa Summit for Integrative Medicine in Abu Dhabi, aligning with the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Global Traditional Medicine Strategy 2025–2034.
Presented by the UAE Integrative Medicine Council, the initiatives include implementing the national integrative medicine strategy and developing regulatory frameworks, standards of care and evidence-based clinical guidelines by 2028. The UAE also plans to establish its first National Integrative Medicine Research Agenda by 2027 to guide scientific research and innovation based on national healthcare priorities.
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The remaining commitments focus on strengthening healthcare workforce capabilities, expanding education and public awareness, and building partnerships to support knowledge exchange and collaboration across sectors.
WHO representatives welcomed the UAE’s efforts, emphasising the importance of rigorous research, reliable data and effective regulation to ensure the quality, safety and effectiveness of integrative medicine practices.
The commitments aim to support responsible integration of traditional and complementary medicine into healthcare while advancing disease prevention, healthy ageing and longevity. Continued collaboration between the UAE Integrative Medicine Council and WHO is expected to support the implementation of these priorities.
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