In the exhibition hall of Dubai Arab Health Expo, Dr. Hamid Ali Al Hashmi, the Strategic Director of Abu Dhabi Health Department, stood in front of a huge data screen, with real-time health data of 3 million residents of Abu Dhabi jumping on the screen. He pointed to the screen and said to the reporter, "This is not a science fiction movie, this is the medical revolution happening in Abu Dhabi

In 2017, the United Arab Emirates launched a forward-looking national artificial intelligence strategy, explicitly listing AI technology as a core driving force for economic transformation. A research report released by global consulting giant Accenture in May 2018 predicted that by 2035, artificial intelligence will contribute up to $182 billion in growth to the UAE economy, with healthcare alone expected to generate $22 billion in annual revenue. In this grand context, the Abu Dhabi Ministry of Health has become the first regulatory agency in the region to develop and implement specialized medical artificial intelligence policies.

AI Laboratory: An Incubator for Medical Innovation

In order to accelerate the deep integration of healthcare and technology, the Abu Dhabi Ministry of Health launched a groundbreaking platform - AI Laboratory - at the 2019 Arab Health Expo. Dr. Hashemi introduced that this is the first in the field of medical regulation in the region, aiming to promote the development of next-generation medical solutions through cutting-edge technologies such as artificial intelligence, blockchain, predictive analytics, and medical IoT.

This laboratory provides a collaborative platform for the Ministry of Health, medical service providers, payment providers, and technology companies to focus on innovation in four core areas: health and prevention, chronic disease management, clinical nursing, and regulatory management. Through this platform, Abu Dhabi is building a globally interconnected ecosystem that enables researchers, innovators, and investors to fully unleash the potential of data-driven discovery.

From Concept to Application: Implementation of Two Flagship Projects

The first landing project of the AI laboratory is an application called "My Health Coach". This health management application aims to motivate Abu Dhabi residents to improve their lifestyle through an interactive platform. It can synchronize with mainstream fitness trackers to provide users with personalized and scientific health advice. The application has been piloted among over 700 employees of the Ministry of Health and is planned to be expanded to all Abu Dhabi government employees in six months. It is expected to be open to the public in 2020.

The second project is a cognitive virtual assistant aimed at simplifying the process of obtaining medical information. This intelligent assistant that supports Arabic and English can provide users with information about medical institutions and professional qualifications, and will gradually cover all service projects of the Ministry of Health in the future. Through these two projects, Abu Dhabi is pushing AI from the laboratory to millions of households.

Data cornerstone: the MaLafite platform that connects information

Before the establishment of the AI laboratory, the Abu Dhabi Ministry of Health had already started building a digital foundation for the healthcare system - a health information exchange platform called "MaLafite". Marafi "means" my file "in Arabic, and its goal is to connect over 2000 public and private medical institutions within the emirate, covering the health data needs of more than 3 million residents.

This centralized platform not only reduces duplicate medical services, but also enables doctors to make clinical decisions faster and more efficiently, thereby improving medical quality and patient treatment outcomes. The platform strictly complies with health privacy regulations and plans to achieve full coverage by the end of 2020. Through the MaLafite platform, Abu Dhabi is building a data-driven healthcare ecosystem.

Transparency and Insight: Real time Data Driven Decision Making

In response to the technological changes that the healthcare system is undergoing, Abu Dhabi has launched the Open Data Dashboard project. This online platform presents the latest health statistics in an intuitive way, meeting the demand for real-time medical information. Dr. Hashemi stated that the dashboard is open to the public and continuously updates real-time data in an AI driven database. Users can also compare local data with international standards, providing powerful references for decision-making across the industry.

Nowadays, artificial intelligence has moved from imagination to reality, entering the stage of practical, quantifiable, and scalable applications. AI is reshaping the entire healthcare industry by reducing costs, optimizing diagnosis and treatment processes, and improving service accessibility. Patients will directly benefit from more accurate initial diagnosis and optimized treatment plans. At the same time, AI is also having a profound impact in the fields of remote healthcare and health monitoring, enabling patients to break through the limitations of traditional clinics and better manage their own health at home.

Challenge and Escort: Guarding Security in Innovation

While actively embracing AI, the Abu Dhabi Ministry of Health is also acutely aware of the challenges that come with it, particularly data security and patient privacy protection issues. Dr. Hashemi emphasized the need to establish corresponding regulations to ensure patient safety and privacy are not threatened, as inaccurate data can directly affect AI prediction and treatment outcomes.

In addition, the core challenge of technology adoption lies in whether end users are willing to accept AI mediated diagnosis and treatment methods. To this end, the Ministry of Health has launched standards for remote medical services, requiring service providers to strictly implement data management and medical record retention regulations. The UAE Ministry of Health and Prevention has also taken an important step in regulating the application of artificial intelligence in the healthcare sector, drafting an ethical framework to ensure responsible use of AI technology in this area.

Motivating Ecology: Awards and Platforms Boost Innovation

In order to further consolidate Abu Dhabi's position as a global center for medical innovation, the Ministry of Health has also established the "TIP Medical Innovation Award", aimed at stimulating the development of the medical innovation ecosystem and promoting research and breakthroughs in key medical challenges. We are the first government agency to build a bridge between investors and healthcare innovators, "Dr. Hashemi added." This platform allows innovators to showcase and incubate new ideas, and gain the necessary support

Abu Dhabi has also launched the Health, Endurance, Longevity, and Medicine (HELM) cluster to drive AI driven medical breakthroughs. This cluster aims to build a globally interconnected ecosystem that enables researchers, innovators, and investors to fully unleash the potential of data-driven discovery. Through Hub71, Abu Dhabi's global technology ecosystem, startups and growth companies will have access to cross-border collaboration opportunities with local and global investors, as well as markets such as France, South Korea, and Singapore.

Looking ahead to the future: becoming a global leader

Dr. Hashemi summarized, "We believe that innovators will lead the industry's development. Artificial intelligence and cutting-edge technology will provide a new path for precision diagnosis and advanced treatment. Abu Dhabi is driven by innovation and steadfastly committed to becoming a global leader in medical technology innovation

From the top-level design of national strategy to the specific practice of AI laboratory, from the thoughtful service of "My Health Coach" to the huge foundation of "MaLafite" platform, Abu Dhabi is systematically integrating artificial intelligence into every aspect of the healthcare system. This is not only about technological progress, but also carries the promise of providing better, more accessible, and smarter medical services for every resident. The medical AI blueprint in the UAE is accelerating from planning to becoming a reality.

With the increase of chronic diseases such as cardiovascular diseases and diabetes, the HELM cluster and its AI driven discovery initiatives are crucial to the future of medicine. Through this initiative, the cluster will enhance early disease detection, improve patient outcomes, and strengthen Abu Dhabi's leading position in global healthcare innovation by integrating AI driven insights.

China's Opportunity: AI Medical Going Global in a New Blue Ocean

The Middle East is becoming one of the fastest-growing markets for digital health globally. The radical medical and AI plans of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates provide a broad outlet for China's mature medical technology and solutions. Data shows that the AI oncology market in the Middle East is expected to increase from $112 million in 2024 to $813 million in 2034.

Currently, the Saudi Arabian government and the UAE government are actively contacting Chinese investment institutions and companies, and have opened up cooperation channels. A group of powerful Chinese companies have taken the lead in exploring this emerging land. For example, Senyi Medical is leading the trial operation of the world's first AI clinic in Saudi Arabia; Jingtai Technology has established its first automation research and development laboratory in the United Arab Emirates. Under this trend, Chinese enterprises have also shifted from trade exchanges to a deep integration of "capital+technology".

BGI Genolive, a joint venture between Saudi Medical Group and Capital, has leveraged orders worth 950 million RMB; New GeYuan Biotech has also established a joint venture, AD Omics, in the United Arab Emirates to introduce single-cell sequencing technology. In the future, with the continuous expansion of investment and industrial cooperation, the Middle East market is expected to become a long-term strategic development choice for enterprises.

The medical AI revolution in Abu Dhabi is not only a technological revolution, but also a comprehensive ecological reconstruction of governance, industry, and academia. From innovation incubation in AI labs, to data-driven approaches on the MaLafite platform, and to the incentive ecosystem of the TIP Medical Innovation Award, Abu Dhabi is building a medical future centered around artificial intelligence. Keywords: international news, latest information on new infrastructure, AI healthcare

For Chinese medical technology companies, this is both an opportunity and a challenge - how to occupy a place in this billion dollar market with technological strength and innovation capability in fierce global competition will be one of the most important issues in the next decade.Editor/Yang Meiling