Centres of Excellence in Abu Dhabi: Building an Integrated Ecosystem that is Redefining Advanced Specialised Care

22 Jun, 2026:

From Strategic Vision to Tangible Impact

Since the launch of the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi’s Centres of Excellence (CoE) programme in 2023, the Emirate’s healthcare ecosystem has witnessed a significant transformation in the delivery of highly specialised and complex care services. The programme was introduced as part of Abu Dhabi’s commitment to strengthening its position as a leading global healthcare destination, capable of delivering world-class care for complex cases within the Emirate, while building national capabilities aligned with the highest international standards of efficiency, patient outcomes, and quality of life.

The initiative also supports Abu Dhabi’s broader vision to advance healthcare innovation, attract leading global expertise, and further strengthen the Emirate’s position as a regional and international hub for advanced healthcare.

Within a relatively short period, the Centres of Excellence have already delivered measurable impact, providing specialised care for more than 3,000 complex cases. This reflects their ability to address some of the most challenging medical conditions within an integrated environment that combines clinical expertise with advanced technologies.

The CoEs have enabled 1,664 families to access specialised care in Abu Dhabi, allowing patients to remain close to their families and support networks. The centres have also contributed to a 60% reduction in the need for treatment abroad, reflecting Abu Dhabi’s expertise in delivering advanced care for the most complex medical conditions, equivalent to that offered by the world’s leading medical centres.

This impact extends far beyond numbers. The Centres of Excellence initiative was recognised with the Strategic Impact Initiative Award, part of the Abu Dhabi Award for Excellence in Government Performance, reflecting its success in driving meaningful improvements in healthcare outcomes and enhancing quality of life across the community.

Advancing the Healthcare Ecosystem Through Integrated Specialised Care

The Centres of Excellence represent an advanced model of specialised healthcare built around multidisciplinary integration, bringing together different medical specialties within a unified framework focused on clinical outcomes and patient experience.

Through this model, the management of complex conditions has evolved beyond isolated or fragmented interventions into a coordinated multidisciplinary approach, supported by advanced infrastructure and modern technologies, including AI-enabled solutions.

This integrated approach has contributed to improving diagnostic accuracy, accelerating clinical decision-making, increasing recovery rates, and reducing complications, directly enhancing quality of care, with patient satisfaction rates exceeding 90%.

International Accreditations Reinforcing Trust and Quality of Care

International accreditations have formed a key pillar of the Centres of Excellence programme, with the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi ensuring that participating centres meet the highest global standards in quality and patient safety.

This commitment has been reflected through several healthcare facilities receiving prestigious accreditations from leading international organisations, reinforcing their ability to deliver care aligned with global best practices.

In stroke care, both Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi and SEHA Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City have emerged as leading examples after receiving Comprehensive Stroke Center Certification from the American Heart Association. The recognition reflects the strength of their specialised programmes and their ability to manage critical cases using advanced technologies, including AI-supported solutions that accelerate diagnosis and improve treatment outcomes. SEHA Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City’s programme, part of PureHealth Group, is further supported by Joint Commission International-accredited education and research programmes, among the few of their kind in the region.

In cardiac care, SEHA Sheikh Khalifa Medical City, part of PureHealth Group, strengthened its position as a Centre of Excellence in paediatric cardiac surgery after becoming the first healthcare facility in the UAE to receive the Joint Commission International Clinical Care Programme Certification for paediatric cardiac surgery. The accreditation reflects excellence in quality and patient safety, education efforts, clinical expertise, and advanced research capabilities.

Meanwhile, Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi received accreditation from the American College of Cardiology for its cardiac catheterisation laboratory with percutaneous coronary intervention capabilities. The hospital also became the first in the Middle East to introduce the pioneering procedure to correct mitral valve regurgitation, a life-threatening heart defect, further reinforcing its capabilities as a Centre of Excellence for adult cardiac care.

Abu Dhabi Stem Cells Center has also strengthened its position as a leading centre for cellular therapies after receiving two international accreditations from the Foundation for the Accreditation of Cellular Therapy (FACT) and the Association for the Advancement of Blood and Biotherapies (AABB), reflecting its commitment to the highest standards in this advanced field of medicine.

Research and Innovation: From Consuming Knowledge to Producing It

The role of the Centres of Excellence extends beyond treatment delivery, playing a key role in advancing scientific research and medical innovation.

The centres have recorded a 200% increase in research activity since their launch, supported 17 clinical trials across multiple specialties, reflecting Abu Dhabi’s transformation from a consumer of medical knowledge into an active contributor to its advancement.

The Abu Dhabi Stem Cells Center has emerged as a clear example of this direction after delivering the Middle East’s first genetically modified immune cell (CAR-T) therapy for lupus, marking a scientific milestone that opens new horizons for advanced therapies.

The centre is also collaborating with Yas Clinic Khalifa City to develop innovative treatment programmes, including Tumor-Infiltrating Lymphocyte (TIL) therapy, one of the latest advanced immunotherapy approaches. A specialised laboratory has been established for tumour sample processing, while ethical approvals for clinical protocols have been secured in preparation for future clinical trials aligned with the highest international standards.

In parallel, the Centres of Excellence have contributed to introducing advanced AI-enabled medical technologies aimed at improving diagnostic precision and supporting clinical decision-making, marking another important step towards a smarter and more proactive healthcare model.

Building Capabilities to Sustain Excellence

Investment in healthcare talent remains one of the key pillars underpinning the sustainability of the Centres of Excellence.

The centres have implemented four training programmes supporting 29 fellows, 36 medical students, 12 residents, and three multidisciplinary observership opportunities. These efforts aim to build a new generation of healthcare professionals capable of managing complex cases according to the highest international standards through practical knowledge transfer and advanced clinical training.

Human Impact Reflecting the Strength of the Ecosystem

Patient stories continue to reflect the true impact of the Centres of Excellence, which have transformed the lives of many patients who previously required treatment abroad.

At Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, major milestones have been achieved in organ transplantation, including robotic lung transplant procedures and highly complex combined heart-lung transplants, alongside the launch of paired kidney exchange programmes. These achievements position the hospital among a select group of global centres capable of performing such highly specialised procedures.

The human stories behind these achievements have been equally powerful, including a patient who travelled across several countries seeking treatment before successfully undergoing a lung transplant in Abu Dhabi, alongside other complex cases that received life-saving procedures and experienced significant improvements in quality of life.

At SEHA Sheikh Khalifa Medical City, paediatric cardiac surgery programmes have demonstrated an advanced model of integrated care, with multidisciplinary teams managing highly complex congenital heart conditions through multi-stage treatment pathways that contributed to positive clinical outcomes.

The hospital has also utilized Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) technologies and introduced a technology-enabled home monitoring programme for children between cardiac surgeries, providing continuous clinical support for families.

Meanwhile, SEHA Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City, part of PureHealth, has made significant progress in burn care through the adoption of advanced technologies, including innovative artificial tissue solutions to improve recovery outcomes, skin graft technologies that provide immediate wound coverage, and advanced imaging systems for precise burn depth assessment. The hospital has also received international accreditation in rehabilitation, reflecting continued progress in service quality.

At the Abu Dhabi Stem Cells Center, gene and cellular therapies have delivered life-changing outcomes for patients. Several thalassemia patients who previously depended on regular blood transfusions have been able to stop them following gene therapy treatment, marking a significant improvement in their quality of life and reflecting the growing potential of these advanced therapies. The centre also performed a lifesaving urgent bone marrow transplant for two-month-old infant diagnosed with severe congenital immunodeficiency, a rare disorder in which a child is born without the ability to defend the body against infection.

Towards a More Integrated and Proactive Health Future

The Centres of Excellence in Abu Dhabi continue to strengthen their role as a key pillar in advancing the healthcare ecosystem by bringing together clinical excellence, scientific research, innovation, and capability building within a unified model of care.

As these efforts continue, Abu Dhabi is moving towards a more advanced and proactive healthcare model that places patients at the centre of the system, enhances quality of life, and reinforces the Emirate’s position as a global destination for advanced healthcare.

Healthcare facilities interested in learning more about the Abu Dhabi Centres of Excellence standards can visit: www.doh.gov.ae/resources/standards.aspx.