The story of healthcare in the United Arab Emirates is inseparable from the country’s journey from small scattered settlements in the Arabian desert to a modern, prosperous federation with one of the most advanced medical infrastructures in the Middle East. Before 1971, the region that later became the UAE—then known as the Trucial States under British protection—had no formal healthcare system. Medical facilities were sparse, professional doctors were almost entirely absent, and the population relied heavily on traditional medicine, herbal remedies, and the skills of local healers and midwives. Infectious diseases such as malaria, smallpox, and trachoma were widespread in those years, maternal and infant mortality was high, and life expectancy was low.
In the first half of the 20th century, particularly the 1940s and 1950s, some small-scale medical interventions began to appear in the region, largely due to missionary doctors and traveling medical teams sponsored by foreign aid organizations. The Bahrain-based American Mission Hospital, established in 1903, extended some medical access to the Trucial Coast and sent teams to treat eye diseases and other ailments. In the late 1950s, oil exploration was underway in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, and the first oil company field clinics—mainly for workers—offered limited medical services. These small clinics, often staffed by a single nurse or doctor, were among the earliest formal health facilities in the region.
By the early 1960s, the rulers of Abu Dhabi and Dubai began investing in basic medical infrastructure. In 1962, after Abu Dhabi first received significant oil revenues, Sheikh Shakhbut bin Sultan Al Nahyan authorized the construction of the first government hospital in the emirate, Al Maktoum Hospital in Dubai, although the Dubai facility already had roots there, starting in the mid-1950s as a small dispensary that expanded into a larger institution. The arrival of Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan as Ruler of Abu Dhabi in August 1966 proved to be a turning point. Deeply committed to improving the welfare of his people, Sheikh Zayed prioritised health care as one of the pillars of his modernisation agenda.
In 1967, under Sheikh Zayed’s leadership, the first major public hospital, Central Hospital, opened in Abu Dhabi, offering free services to all citizens. Around the same time, the British Overseas Development Administration began sending medical teams to the Trucial States, and new small hospitals and clinics opened in Al Ain, Ras Al Khaimah, and Sharjah. These facilities were rudimentary by modern standards, but they represented a significant step forward from the almost complete absence of formal medical care a decade earlier.
The year 1971 saw the formation of the United Arab Emirates, a federation of seven emirates: Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, Fujairah, and later Ras Al Khaimah in early 1972. From the start, the federal government placed healthcare at the center of its development strategy. In the first years of the federation, the Ministry of Health (MOH) was established to coordinate medical services across the emirates, standardize care, and oversee the construction of hospitals and clinics. At the time, the total number of hospitals in the UAE was less than a dozen, and most of them were small facilities with limited specialization.
During the 1970s, oil revenues gave the government the means to rapidly expand the healthcare system. New general hospitals were built in all major cities and healthcare became free for Emirati citizens. International recruitment drives brought doctors, nurses, and technicians from countries such as Egypt, India, Pakistan, the United Kingdom, and the Philippines. In 1973, Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, launched several initiatives to improve rural healthcare, including mobile medical units to serve remote desert communities.
By the early 1980s, the UAE’s healthcare network included dozens of hospitals and health centers. In 1983, Tawam Hospital opened in Al Ain in collaboration with Johns Hopkins University, making it one of the most advanced medical facilities in the Gulf at the time. Tawam Hospital became a regional centre for cancer treatment and specialised surgery, the country’s first step towards high-level tertiary care. During the same period, the Ministry of Health introduced vaccination programmes against polio, measles and other preventable diseases, leading to a dramatic drop in child mortality.
The late 1980s and early 1990s brought further expansion and specialisation. In Dubai, the Sheikh Rashid Hospital, which had been operating since 1973, was modernised and specialised facilities such as Al Wasl Hospital (later renamed Latifa Hospital) were established to focus on maternity and paediatric care. Dubai also invested in trauma and emergency services, creating the most efficient ambulance network in the region by the mid-1990s. In Abu Dhabi, the government launched health education campaigns to combat lifestyle-related diseases, which were becoming more common as the population adopted a more sedentary, urban lifestyle.
In the 1990s, the UAE began to focus on quality as well as quantity in healthcare provision. The introduction of modern diagnostic equipment, computerised patient records and specialised medical training programmes raised the standard of care. In 1999, the UAE partnered with Harvard Medical International to develop the Harvard Medical School Dubai Center, which provided postgraduate medical education and research collaboration.
A major transformation in healthcare administration occurred in the early 2000s. In 2001, Abu Dhabi created the General Authority for Health Services (which later evolved into the Health Authority – Abu Dhabi and now the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi) to manage its healthcare system independently of the federal Ministry of Health. Dubai followed suit by establishing the Dubai Health Authority (DHA) in 2007. These changes allowed the two largest emirates to set their own healthcare policies, licensing systems, and insurance plans, while the Ministry of Health continued to oversee services in the smaller emirates.
One of the most significant reforms came in 2006, when Abu Dhabi introduced a mandatory health insurance system for all residents, making it the first emirate to do so. Dubai implemented a similar policy in phases and completed it in 2016. This shift from a purely government-funded model to an insurance-based system allowed greater private sector participation and reduced the financial burden on public hospitals.
During the same period, the UAE invested heavily in medical complexes to establish itself as a hub for medical tourism. In 2006, Dubai launched Dubai Healthcare City (DHCC), a free zone dedicated to healthcare services, medical education and research. It attracted renowned institutions such as Moorfields Eye Hospital and the German Medical Center. Meanwhile, Abu Dhabi partnered with the Cleveland Clinic to create Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, which opened in 2015 and brought world-class tertiary care to the region, reducing the need for Emiratis to travel abroad for advanced treatment.
The 2010s also saw significant digital transformation in the UAE’s healthcare system. Electronic medical records became standard in government hospitals, telemedicine services were introduced and testing of AI-based diagnostic tools began. Its focus shifted beyond curative care to preventive health, including initiatives such as the Wekaya programme in Abu Dhabi, which screens for cardiovascular risk factors in citizens. Public health campaigns addressed issues such as diabetes, obesity, and smoking—conditions that had become more prevalent as the country modernized.
The COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 tested the resilience of the UAE’s healthcare system. The government responded quickly, converting exhibition halls into field hospitals, implementing nationwide testing programs, and conducting one of the fastest vaccination campaigns in the world. By mid-2021, the UAE had one of the highest per capita vaccination rates globally, thanks to partnerships with vaccine producers such as Sinopharm and Pfizer-BioNTech. The pandemic accelerated the adoption of telehealth services, home delivery of medicines, and remote monitoring of patients.
Today, the UAE’s healthcare system is a mix of advanced public and private services. It offers specialized care in areas such as oncology, cardiology, neurosurgery, and reproductive medicine. The country has over 150 hospitals, many of which are accredited by the Joint Commission International (JCI), and has established itself as a destination for medical tourism, particularly in the field of cosmetic surgery, orthopedics and fertility treatments.
Looking to the future, the UAE aims to integrate genomics, regenerative medicine and personalised healthcare into its national strategy. The government’s Vision 2031 includes plans for smart hospitals, AI-powered diagnostics and expanded medical research capabilities. This transformation from a land without formal medical services in the 1950s to a leader in global healthcare innovation within less than three generations is one of the UAE’s most remarkable achievements.
Read Also:
- Administrative System In The United Arab Emirates: From Tribal Rule To Modern Federal State
- Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan: Father Of The UAE – A Life And Legacy
- United Arab Emirates (UAE) – All Historical And Present-Day Popular Places Known Around The World
- Why Is The United Arab Emirates (UAE) Popular And Famous All Over The World
- The Growing Growth Of The United Arab Emirates (UAE)
- The United Arab Emirates As A Tax-Free Country Of All Kinds
- The UAE As A Corruption-Free Country – A Historical And Contemporary Narrative
- Low Salary And Poor Working Conditions In Police System As A Major Cause Of Corruption In India
- Low Salary And Poor Working Conditions In Police System As A Major Cause Of Corruption In India
- At Present Time Bribery And Corruption In India Have Become A Tradition For Indian Police
- Reasons Behind Indian Police Not Opening Any Type Of Cases Without Bribe Or Corruption
- Indian Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) Department
- Why Sorasori Mukhyamantri Is India’s Best Grievance Platform – A Researcher’s Perspective
- Honorable Chief Minister Of West Bengal Government Program Implementation And Complaint Cell
- What Is There In The Digital Personal Data Protection Act On Which Questions Are Being Raised
- Public Warning: Beware Of Online Dating And Romance Scams Connected To These Bank Accounts
- Amazing Facts About Vladimir Putin
- Vladimir Putin Is Famous For
- Why Are The Opposition Political Parties Afraid Of Vladimir Putin
- Vladimir Putin Arbitrariness
- History Of Reserve Bank Of India (RBI)
