Dubai is set on a transformative path to establish itself as the world’s leading healthcare ecosystem by 2040. The city has built a reputation for ambition and progress through its world-class infrastructure and smart city innovations over the past two decades. This new vision is driven not by competition, but by the necessity for healthcare systems that are smart, inclusive, sustainable, and resilient.

To achieve its goals, Dubai plans to learn from the best global healthcare systems, including those in the USA, UK, Singapore, and Australia. The USA is noted for its innovation, AI, and clinical research but faces challenges with equity and affordability. Dubai aims to retain technological advancements while ensuring universal access through innovative insurance models. The UK offers free healthcare at scale but struggles with underfunding and workforce issues, which Dubai plans to address through agile public-private partnerships and AI-powered preventive care.

Singapore is recognized for its digital infrastructure and proactive public health strategies, but it also experiences cyber risks and strict health mandates. Dubai’s investment in secure, smart infrastructure will help mitigate these risks. Additionally, Australia’s balanced public-private healthcare model and focus on primary care serve as a strong blueprint for Dubai’s commitment to AI-driven early detection and accessible remote care.

Despite the progress Dubai has made, including hospital bed and physician-to-population ratios comparable to OECD countries, two significant gaps remain. Medical education and research are not yet globally competitive, with no UAE university ranking among the top global medical schools. Furthermore, research and development investment at 1.3% of GDP lags behind leaders like the US, which invests 3.5%. The healthcare economy is still predominantly consumption-driven, relying heavily on imported expertise, technology, and pharmaceuticals.

The roadmap for transformation, known as Dubai Healthcare Systems (DHS), is structured around four pillars. The first is the Dubai Healthcare Accreditation (DHCA), aimed at establishing a global standard that aligns with WHO, ISO, and JCI. This will include AI integration, smart hospital certifications, and quality benchmarks to make Dubai a leader in healthcare compliance.

The second pillar, Dubai Health Valley, will serve as a strategic cluster for AI research, biotechnology, medtech startups, and manufacturing, inspired by Silicon Valley and Ireland’s biopharma hub. The third pillar is the Medical Education & Research City, which seeks to attract leading global institutions and create an AI-powered training and research hub to cultivate future-ready healthcare professionals and researchers.

The fourth pillar focuses on Policy, Partnerships & Infrastructure, aiming to create a unified digital ecosystem alongside progressive regulations and long-term funding mechanisms to ensure alignment across public and private sectors.

Dubai’s journey to global healthcare leadership unfolds across three phases. Phase 1, running from 2025 to 2030, will lay the foundation by launching DHCA, investing in AI and predictive medicine, and attracting global healthcare startups. Phase 2, from 2030 to 2035, will focus on scaling operations and establishing Dubai’s global reputation while exporting healthcare solutions to over 50 countries. Phase 3, spanning from 2035 to 2040, aims to position Dubai as the world’s benchmark for quality, innovation, and access in healthcare.

This initiative is not just about healthcare; it encompasses economic diversification, talent development, and global diplomacy. According to Sherif Beshara, group CEO of the Mohamed & Obaid AlMulla Group, health is becoming a new frontier of soft power. By developing a system that is inclusive, ethical, technologically advanced, and economically sustainable, Dubai aims to set a new global standard in healthcare.

With aligned stakeholders, bold investments, and a commitment to excellence, Dubai is poised to build the world’s most future-ready healthcare system.