At World Health Expo (WHX) Tech 2025, Dubai Health announced a series of new and strengthened collaborations with leading institutions across academic, technology, and government. These partnerships underscore the integrated academic health systems’ commitment to driving innovation in healthcare delivery, research and education.

Dr. Hanan Al Suwaidi, Chief Business Officer and Acting Chief Academic Officer at Dubai Health, said: “We are grateful to WHX Tech 2025 for creating a platform that brings together leaders in healthcare and technology to spark ideas and strengthen partnerships. These collaborations reflect our mission as an integrated academic health system, where care, learning, discovery, and giving come together to advance health for humanity. Through these concerted efforts, we are opening new pathways to advance technology-driven healthcare innovation.”

Siemens Healthineers

Through an MOU, Dubai Health and Siemens Healthineers will establish a strategic innovation partnership. The agreement provides a basis for collaboration on defining innovation programs, including the Design4Change Innovation Week program set for February 2026. A separate workstream will focus on co-designing a sustainability in healthcare program for the Dubai Health Leadership Academy.

Ayman Al Hussein, Country Head, Siemens Healthineers UAE, said: “We are pleased to join forces with Dubai Health to foster innovation and build capabilities that will shape the future of healthcare in the region. This partnership, anchored in the Siemens Healthineers SHIFT ecosystem, provides the basis for defining innovation programs such as the Design4Change Innovation Week in February 2026, as well as collaboratively designing the Dubai Health Leadership Academy program aimed at building sustainable talent in healthcare. Together, these initiatives reflect our shared commitment to advancing sustainable, patient-centered solutions.

Dubai Future Foundation (DFF)

The Healthcare Sandbox, a new pilot initiative under Sandbox Dubai, was launched through a collaboration between Dubai Future Foundation, Dubai Chambers, Dubai Health Authority, Dubai Digital Authority, and Dubai Health. The initiative will provide a platform for the development and testing of a wide range of technologies and use cases across healthcare. This collaboration builds on Dubai Health’s broader partnership with DFF, whose ‘Research, Development, and Innovation Program’ supports high-impact research projects in the city. Among its 2024 recipients was PainDetect, an MBRU-led project advancing AI-driven tools for objective pain measurement.

Prototypes for Humanity

Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences (MBRU), which leads the learning and discovery arms of Dubai Health, entered an MOU with Dubai Future Solutions - Prototypes for Humanity to advance the research and development of health science startups, with their solutions to be tested and validated across Dubai Health’s healthcare facilities. One such initiative is with Virufy, an AI-powered mobile application designed for the rapid and cost-effective prescreening of infectious respiratory diseases. The collaboration unites Dubai Health and Nafasy.AI, a Dubai venture set up by Prototypes for Humanity to advance the technology developed by the teams at Virufy and the University of Washington, to build scalable tools for public health protection.

Dubai Institute of Design and Innovation (DIDI)

Building on their collaboration since 2019, Dubai Institute of Design and Innovation (DIDI) and MBRU will continue their productive partnership on innovation and design thinking to develop healthcare solutions. The partnership will include faculty and student exchanges, joint research and projects, such as the Design4Health Bootcamp.

Mohammed Abdullah, President of Dubai Institute of Design and Innovation (DIDI) shared:
“At DIDI, we believe that design thinking and innovation are powerful catalysts for shaping the future of healthcare. By embedding AI into the way our students ideate, prototype, and co-create, we are equipping the next generation of designers with the tools to address complex challenges and deliver meaningful impact. Our ongoing collaboration with MBRU reflects our shared commitment to reimagining healthcare solutions—where creativity meets technology, and human-centered design drives sustainable change for the world and humanity at large.”

Schneider Electric & Microsoft

Dubai Health also signed agreements to collaborate with Schneider Electric and Microsoft to drive innovation in healthcare facilities, focusing on 'Intelligent Hospital' initiatives that enhance operational efficiency.

Huawei

In addition to new agreements, Dubai Health continues to be Huawei’s partner of choice for the testing and validation of its latest healthcare technologies. Building on earlier work with smartwatch health features, the partnership brings together expertise in healthcare and technology to advance innovative digital health solutions.

His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman of the Dubai Health Board of Directors, officially inaugurated Dubai Health’s Center for Innovation and Technology.

The center combines clinical expertise, research, and innovative technologies to shape the future of healthcare, and advance health for humanity.

The inauguration was held as part of the Dubai Health Board of Directors meeting, chaired by His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, and attended by Board members including Her Excellency Dr. Raja Easa Al Gurg, His Excellency Abdulla Abdul Rahman Al Shaibani, Professor Sir Ian Andrew Greer, His Excellency Walid Saeed Al Awadhi, His Excellency Mohammed Hassan Al Shehhi, and Dr. Amer Sharif, CEO of Dubai Health.

His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed conveyed his sincere appreciation to His Excellency Professor Alawi Alsheikh-Ali, Director General of the Dubai Health Authority, for his valuable contributions to Dubai Health and for his instrumental role in laying the foundation for Dubai’s first academic health system. His Highness wished him continued success in his new responsibilities.

During the meeting, Board members reviewed key achievements and were briefed on the progress of projects aimed at enhancing patient care and elevating the quality of healthcare.
His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed welcomed the Board members, commending their efforts to advance healthcare in alignment with Dubai’s Social Agenda 33.

His Highness stated: “We are progressing steadily toward a future where innovation and advanced technology are at the core of healthcare delivery. The Center for Innovation and Technology at Dubai Health serves as a strategic platform that brings together expertise, talent, and forward-thinking ideas to develop solutions that make a real difference in people’s health. I extend my appreciation to Dr. Raja Easa Al Gurg and Dr. Amina Al Rostamani for their generous contributions to the establishment of this pioneering center.”

Deserving recognition
His Highness honoured Dr. Raja Easa Al Gurg, Chairperson of the Easa Saleh Al Gurg Charity Foundation, and Dr. Amina Al Rostamani, Board member at the AW Rostamani Group, in recognition of their support in establishing Dubai Health’s Center for Innovation and Technology. His Highness expressed his sincere appreciation for their valuable community efforts in advancing care, medical education, and research.

The Dubai Health Board of Directors also expressed their gratitude to Her Excellency Dr. Raja Easa Al Gurg and Her Excellency Dr. Amina Al Rostamani for their generous contributions to the Center for Innovation and Technology and commended their well-deserved recognition for their pivotal role in advancing community philanthropy.

Her Excellency Dr. Raja Easa Al Gurg thanked His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed for the honour, noting that supporting such initiatives builds on the values instilled by her late father, whose contributions left a lasting mark on community service and the spirit of giving. She emphasised that the establishment of the center will foster innovation and continuous development in the healthcare system by enabling research teams to advance and adopt emerging technologies.

Her Excellency Dr. Amina Al Rostamani expressed her pride in being honoured by His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed. She said: “I am privileged to have contributed to the establishment of the Center for Innovation and Technology at Dubai Health, which aims to accelerate the adoption of smart solutions in healthcare and strengthen Dubai’s position in medical sciences through strategic partnerships. Social responsibility is deeply rooted in our community and remains an essential driver of the sustainable development led by our wise leadership.”

His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed toured the Center for Innovation and Technology in the company of Her Excellency Dr. Raja Easa Al Gurg and Her Excellency Dr. Amina Al Rostamani, the center’s primary benefactors, as well as members of the Dubai Health Board of Directors. They were joined by Peter Hall, President of IMEA at Informa Markets, and Hal Wolf, President and CEO of HIMSS. During the visit, His Highness was briefed on the latest innovative projects designed to enhance the quality of care.

Strategic partnerships
The Center for Innovation and Technology was established through the generous contributions of the Easa Saleh Al Gurg Charity Foundation and the AW Rostamani Group, which made a joint donation of AED10 million through Al Jalila Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Dubai Health. 

The center’s launch coincides with the first edition of WHX Tech 2025, the Global Health Technology Exhibition, taking place from 8–10 September 2025 at the Dubai World Trade Centre. During the event, Dubai Health will announce a series of new collaborations with leading academic, technology, and government partners to advance projects at the center. These partnerships include Dubai Future Foundation, Prototypes for Humanity, Dubai Institute of Design and Innovation, Siemens Healthineers, Schneider Electric, and Huawei. 

The Center for Innovation and Technology is committed to transforming bold ideas into real-world solutions that enhance patient care, drive medical advancements, and improve lives, in line with Dubai Health’s ‘Patient First’ promise. It also serves as an educational and research platform, enabling clinicians, scientists, learners, and innovators to pioneer breakthroughs that shape the future of healthcare.

Dr. Yacine Hadjiat, Director of The Center for Innovation and Technology at Dubai Health, said: “The Center for Innovation and Technology brings together talent from across disciplines, and provides the environment and resources needed to reimagine healthcare delivery. It is designed not only to advance technology but also to inspire bold thinking, foster collaboration, and accelerate discoveries that ultimately serve patients and improve lives.”

Designed in line with the world’s leading health innovation hubs, the center houses advanced laboratories and technologies for developing, testing and validating solutions. This includes the Extended Reality and Brain Interface Lab (XR BCI), the Robotics and Sensors Lab, Artificial Intelligence and Data Lab, Design Lab, a User Experience Room, and spaces for collaboration.

To support the transition from discovery to application, the center also offers comprehensive services through its Technology Transfer Office (TTO), enabling innovators to protect intellectual property and build partnerships.

Students from Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences (MBRU), the learning and discovery arm of Dubai Health, have once again made an impact on the global stage at the ‘Design for Change’ international bootcamp, organized by Queensland University of Technology (QUT). The 2025 edition convened more than 100 participants from six countries, Australia, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Taiwan, and the UAE, under the theme ‘Sustainability in Healthcare.’ Medical, nursing, design, and engineering students were immersed in this interdisciplinary and intercultural environment to develop innovative solutions that advance sustainability in the healthcare sector.

This year, MBRU’s Year 5 Doctor of Medicine (MD) student Sara Vidha and her team received the Best Problem-Solving Award for their solution to enhance energy efficiency in radiology departments. Krish Bhatia, a Year 2 MD student, and his team were nominated for the Best Team Strategy. This builds on MBRU’s success from last year’s bootcamp, where student projects received international recognition from Prototype4Humanity, and another earned Gold at the 2024 UNESCO Future Designer International Innovation Design Awards.

Dr. Yacine Hadjiat, Associate Professor of Innovation in Health Science and Digital Health at MBRU, and Head of Innovation and Digital Health, commented: “It’s truly inspiring to witness our students collaborate with peers from medicine, nursing, design, and engineering at this innovation bootcamp each year. Their ability to work across disciplines and cultures to develop sustainable, patient-centered solutions reflects the kind of innovation we strive for at Dubai Health. I congratulate all our students for their dedication, ingenuity, and for representing our university at this international program.”

The achievements of MBRU students at the International Innovation Bootcamp reflect a broader effort of Dubai Health to embed innovation across every level of its academic health system. As the learning and discovery arm of Dubai Health, MBRU contributes to this vision by equipping learners with the skills to apply innovation principles and design thinking methodologies. This commitment will continue to evolve with the opening of a Center for Innovation and Technology, a dedicated hub that will bring together students, clinicians, scientists, and industry partners to co-develop real-world solutions that improve health outcomes and patient experiences.