Abu Dhabi is pushing for a systemic rethink of global healthcare

As global healthcare systems continue to face pressure from rising costs, ageing populations and fragmented delivery models, Abu Dhabi is making a case for a fundamental rethink one that goes beyond innovation and focuses on system-wide intelligence.

At the 2026 annual meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Mansoor Al Mansoori, Chairman of the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi, addressed global leaders on the need for a transformation in how healthcare systems are designed, governed and delivered. He highlighted the shift from isolated innovation and fragmented silos towards a more integrated, system-level approach to health intelligence.

Speaking at the high-profile gathering, Al Mansoori noted that despite rapid advancements in healthcare innovation, outcomes have not kept pace. Many systems, he observed, remain disconnected and continue to prioritise treatment over prevention.

“Health is our greatest wealth. Focusing on health leads to prosperous economies and societies,” he said.

In Abu Dhabi, health is increasingly being viewed as an integrated, intelligent infrastructure centred around people. The system is designed to be AI-driven and proactive, prioritising care before illness occurs. According to Al Mansoori, this vision allows the transition from traditional “sick care” models to systems that predict risks, prevent disease, and respond more effectively to restore well-being.

He emphasised that Abu Dhabi’s approach is already delivering results, enabling more targeted prevention at both individual and population levels, improving emergency response times, and supporting earlier diagnosis.

The discussion builds on the ongoing partnership between the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi and the World Economic Forum, where Abu Dhabi serves as a Global Pathfinder in the Forum’s Digital Healthcare Transformation (DHT) initiative. Ahead of Davos, the Forum released a white paper titled “A New Era for Digital Health: Abu Dhabi’s Leap to Health Intelligence.”

The report outlines Abu Dhabi’s transition from digital innovation to a more comprehensive model of health intelligence, backed by measurable outcomes. It argues that intelligent health systems should be treated as essential infrastructure—similar to energy or telecommunications—and positions Abu Dhabi’s model as a practical framework for governments seeking to move beyond traditional healthcare systems through integrated data, strong governance and public–private partnerships.

Through continued collaboration with the World Economic Forum, the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi is engaging with global stakeholders to promote strategies focused on prevention, healthy ageing and system resilience. The broader goal is to support a global shift from fragmented healthcare systems to more adaptive, intelligence-driven models.