Dubai Health

Dubai Health has announced that it has earned Joint Commission International (JCI) enterprise accreditation across its integrated academic health system, recognizing its commitment to the highest international standards of healthcare quality across its institutional and academic operations, as well as its hospitals, contributing to an elevated patient experience.

Dubai Health has become the first integrated academic health system in the UAE to earn this accreditation, widely regarded as a global benchmark for healthcare quality and patient safety. The accreditation follows a rigorous evaluation by JCI, which assessed Dubai Health's central administrative functions against 149 standards, achieving 100% compliance. Its medical education and hospital operations also demonstrated exceptional performance, attaining 99.7% compliance rate across 1,170 standards.

At the institutional level, the assessment covered quality and performance improvement, governance and leadership, as well as system alignment and integration. At the academic and hospital levels, the evaluation assessed standards related to patient-centred care, patient safety, medical education and professional training, reflecting the maturity of Dubai Health's model and the seamless integration of care, learning and discovery. 

This also marks the first time that all five Dubai Health hospitals; Rashid Hospital, Dubai Hospital, Hatta Hospital, Latifa Hospital, and Al Jalila Children's Hospital, have undergone the JCI Academic Medical Center (AMC) accreditation survey simultaneously, successfully achieving accreditation. 

This achievement builds on the five hospitals’ continued commitment to quality and patient safety, having previously received JCI accreditation over the years.

Dr. Amer Sharif, CEO of Dubai Health and President of Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences (MBRU) said: "As the first integrated academic health system in the UAE to receive JCI enterprise accreditation, we are proud to see our collective efforts acknowledged across our hospitals, academic and institutional operations. This milestone reinforces our commitment to continuous improvement and to creating better experiences and outcomes for the patients and communities we serve."
He added: "I extend my sincere appreciation to all our teams whose dedication made this possible. This success represents another step in our journey to advance health for humanity and further position Dubai and the UAE at the forefront of healthcare quality and institutional excellence."

Dr. Hanan Al Suwaidi, Deputy CEO and Chief Academic Officer of Dubai Health and Provost of MBRU, said: "Achieving JCI AMC accreditation reflects how closely medical education and healthcare delivery are connected across Dubai Health. It also highlights the quality of our education and clinical training programs, and our academic approach that brings together care, learning, and discovery. This integration enables us to nurture future healthcare professionals who contribute to advancing the standards of care."

Global Benchmark

Dr. Entesar Al Hammadi, Chair of Patient Safety and Quality at Dubai Health, said: "At Dubai Health, quality and patient safety are embedded in everything we do. Achieving internationally recognized accreditations reflects our ongoing focus on continuous improvement across our institutional, academic, and clinical operations. It also reinforces our ability to deliver consistent, safe care and ensure our healthcare system remains aligned with global best practices."

She added: "We pursued JCI accreditation because it is recognized globally as a benchmark for quality and patient safety. The accreditation process helped align practices across our healthcare and academic facilities and provided valuable opportunities to benchmark our performance against international standards. This achievement reflects our culture of continuous improvement and supports our mission to advance patient safety practices, in line with our “Patient First" promise.”

The Gold Seal of Approval 

JCI is one of the world's leading healthcare accreditation bodies. Its Gold Seal of Approval® is widely recognized as a symbol of excellence in healthcare quality and patient safety.
JCI accreditation involves a rigorous evaluation process that assesses how healthcare organizations deliver care, ensure patient safety, and continuously improve their services. Its standards help create safer healthcare environments, promote consistency in care delivery, support better patient outcomes, and elevates patient experience across healthcare systems.

For medical students, the journey to becoming a physician extends far beyond the classroom. It is shaped by experiences that broaden their perspectives and deepen their understanding of healthcare in diverse settings. Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences (MBRU) is the heart of Dubai Health, enabling learning and discovery to advance health for humanity. Its Summer Scholars Program offers students placements in research laboratories, clinical observerships, and community service initiatives across leading medical and academic
institutions across the UAE and abroad. 

Professor Rasha Buhumaid, Dean of the College of Medicine and Graduate Medical Education at MBRU, said: “The Summer Scholars Program reflects MBRU's commitment to preparing graduates who are ready to contribute to healthcare in the UAE and internationally. Through these placements, our students gain early exposure to different health systems, research projects, and medical innovations. They return with new skills and professional networks that enrich their studies at MBRU and, ultimately, the care they will provide to patients."

This summer, MBRU students traveled to leading institutions, including the University of Pennsylvania[RB2.1] [RB3.1]in the United States, McGill University in Canada, and Université Paris Cité in France. Although each placement differed in setting and scope, every experience broadened students’ perspective on healthcare and research beyond the UAE.

Exploring Neurosurgery at an Ivy League

For Krish Bhatia, the opportunity to join the Department of Neurosurgery at Penn Medicine for four weeks offered experience across surgical, clinical, and research domains.

Bhatia said: "I visited the operating theater and observed multiple functional and structural neurosurgeries. A particular neurosurgery that comes to mind is the bilateral deep brain stimulation, where the surgeon precisely maneuvers through the complex anatomy of the brain and electrically stimulates a specific nucleus to control tremors in patients with Parkinson's and essential tremor. What was remarkable to see is that these patients are awake during the procedure, and in real time, there is an immediate effect."

Bhatia also shadowed physicians in patient history-taking, neurological and physical examinations, and the presentation of findings. He participated in a crash course in neuroscience at the University of Pennsylvania’s Restore Lab, learning how to analyze neural signals across different frequency bands.

He added: "This was an unforgettable experience for me. I really want to pursue neurosurgery and become a compassionate, ambitious, and competent neurosurgeon.”

AI and Medicine in Paris

Abdullah Al Dhaheri, Maha Alramahi, and Hannah-Grace Hamouda were competitively selected to represent MBRU at the Artificial Intelligence and Digital Innovation in Medicine Summer School hosted by Université Paris Cité Medical School as part of the International Innovation Camp.

The two-week program brought together students from diverse disciplines to examine how AI is applied across multiple specialties, including radiology, pediatrics, and emergency medicine. Alongside an international cohort, the students explored how AI can support clinical decision-making and improve patient outcomes. Hannah-Grace noted the significance of gaining exposure to AI and precision medicine early in her medical education. "We came back to Dubai not only with new knowledge but with a much broader understanding of the kind of doctors we hope to become," she said.

Reflecting on the experience, Abdullah Al Dhaheri noted that artificial intelligence helps support physicians and reduce time spent on administrative tasks, allowing them to focus on patient care. He emphasized the importance of human oversight in the use of AI in medical practice, verifying the accuracy of its outputs, and adhering to patient data protection and information privacy standards.

Clinical Care and Community Service in the U.S. Capital Region

Saud Mahmoud spent two weeks at Virginia University of Integrative Medicine in the United States as part of the program, where he was introduced to integrative approaches to patient care[RB4.1]. He also visited Georgetown University and MedStar Georgetown University Hospital in Washington, D.C., where he observed how physicians and students work together to deliver healthcare.

While in the U.S. capital region, he volunteered with free community acupuncture clinics offered through Bread for the City, which supports low-income residents of Washington, D.C., and Inova Health System’s Life with Cancer program, which supports people affected by cancer.[RB5.1]

Mapping the Road to Residency in Canada

Moza Al Janahi spent her summer at McGill University in Canada, where she learned about the medical residency pathway in Canada, including what is expected of international medical graduates. The program enabled her to connect with graduates of MBRU. Reflecting on the program, Al Janahi said, “It was especially meaningful to connect with MBRU graduates thriving beyond the university and the UAE. Hearing firsthand about their experiences as residents at McGill, their daily lives in Montreal, and the steps that brought them there made the pathway feel much more tangible and achievable.”

In a meeting chaired by His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Dubai Health, and attended by His Highness Sheikh Mansoor bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice Chairman of the Board, the Dubai Health Board of Directors convened to review the latest developments on two landmark projects, the Hamdan Bin Rashid Cancer Hospital and the new Diabetes Center, and discuss future initiatives.

Held at Dubai Health headquarters, the meeting was also attended by Her Excellency Dr. Raja Easa Al Gurg, His Excellency Abdulla Abdul Rahman Al Shaibani, His Excellency Walid Saeed Al Awadhi, His Excellency Mohammed Hassan Al Shehhi, Professor Sir Ian Andrew Greer, Dr. Amer Sharif, and Dr. Hanan Al Suwaidi.

The Board commended the advances made on the Hamdan Bin Rashid Cancer Hospital, including construction progress, the development of the hospital's global partnerships strategy, and the appointment of a Chair of Cancer Care.

The hospital will be a landmark addition to Dubai's healthcare landscape, offering comprehensive care that meets the highest international standards, with a patient- and family-centered approach that elevates the overall treatment experience.

The Board also reviewed progress on the new Diabetes Center, which was approved in November 2024 and is set to open early next year. The facility will expand access to preventive care, advance treatment programs, and promote early detection and healthier lifestyles.

His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum welcomed the Board members and acknowledged their commitment to advancing strategic projects that support the Dubai 2040 Urban Master Plan, which aims to develop vibrant, healthy, and inclusive communities in line with the city's growth.

His Highness said: “As Dubai continues to grow, developing future-ready healthcare infrastructure is essential to meeting the needs of our population, and fulfilling our leadership's vision of a sustainable, integrated health system that places people and their quality of life at the forefront of priorities.”
His Highness also expressed his appreciation for the dedication of Dubai Health's teams and his confidence in their ability to continue raising the bar for healthcare services, reinforcing Dubai's position as a leading healthcare destination.

His Highness Sheikh Mansoor bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum said: “We are committed to building an integrated academic health system that unites clinical care, medical education, and research, fostering a culture of innovation and knowledge. We are working to develop specialized medical talent, advance research, and translate findings into practical applications that improve diagnosis, treatment, and patient outcomes.”
Her Excellency Dr. Raja Easa Al Gurg said: “The Hamdan Bin Rashid Cancer Hospital and the new Diabetes Center are meaningful additions to Dubai's healthcare landscape. Together, they will support early detection, advance care pathways, and improve the experience of patients and their families.”

Memorandum of Understanding

Following the meeting, His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum and His Highness Sheikh Mansoor bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum witnessed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Dubai Health and the Mohammed Bin Rashid Housing Establishment (MBRHE).
The agreement aims to facilitate Dubai Health employees' access to housing services by simplifying procedures, providing direct channels for requests and inquiries, and organizing awareness workshops on available services and initiatives, helping improve the employee experience.

By supporting employees with their housing needs, the MoU also aims to attract and retain young national talent in Dubai's healthcare sector, providing the stability that enables them to thrive professionally and play an active role in shaping the future of health in Dubai.

His Excellency Mohammed Hassan Al Shehhi, CEO of MBRHE, said: “Our partnership with Dubai Health reflects our commitment to making housing services more accessible and supporting employees' well-being and family stability. By simplifying procedures, providing direct channels for inquiries, and organizing awareness workshops, we aim to make it easier for Dubai Health employees to benefit from available housing services and initiatives.”
He added: “This agreement also reflects the importance of collaboration between government entities in delivering services that put people first and contribute to a better quality of life, in line with Dubai's vision to advance public services and community well-being.”

Dr. Amer Sharif, CEO of Dubai Health, said: “We are committed to building partnerships that support our employees' well-being and family stability, while making it easier for them to access services that meet their needs. We believe in creating a motivating work environment for our people, and value our collaboration with MBRHE in making housing services more accessible and contributing to their quality of life.”