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Dubai Health Board commends progress in Dubai’s scientific research ecosystem and its role in advancing human health
29 Apr 2026
Dubai Health’s Board of Directors convened a meeting chaired by His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman of the Dubai Health Board of Directors. During the meeting, held in the presence of His Highness Sheikh Mansoor bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice Chairman of the Dubai Health Board of Directors, the Board commended the progress of Dubai’s scientific research ecosystem, its growing international standing, and its role in advancing health for humanity and enhancing quality of life.
The meeting, held virtually, was attended by Board members 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, His Excellency Dr. Amer Sharif, and Dr. Hanan Al Suwaidi. The Board reviewed progress across care, learning and discovery, and discussed the continued development of Dubai’s health system.
Since the establishment of the Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences (MBRU) in 2016, scientists from Dubai Health and MBRU have published 2,362 papers in leading international peer-reviewed journals. A number of scientists have also been named to Stanford University’s list of the world’s top 2% most-cited scientists in each of the past four years, reflecting Dubai Health’s growing international standing within the global healthcare and scientific community.
His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum welcomed the Board members and commended their efforts to advance Dubai’s healthcare sector, strengthen its global leadership and enhance health outcomes, in line with the leadership’s vision for a future-ready healthcare system.
His Highness said: “We are proud of the remarkable progress of our healthcare system, the strong performance of Dubai Health’s research mission, and its contribution to advancing health for humanity and enhancing quality of life.I extend my sincere appreciation to our teams and scientists for their dedicated efforts and encourage them to continue this path in service of humanity.”
His Highness Sheikh Mansoor bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum said: “Dubai places a high priority on scientific research as a key pillar in advancing the healthcare system and enhancing the quality of its services. It plays a central role in driving medical innovation and strengthening efforts in prevention, diagnosis and treatment.”
His Highness added: “Dubai Health’s research achievements reflect the emirate’s steady progress in adopting the latest practices and applying knowledge to serve humanity, contributing to the development of a future-ready healthcare system that supports our ambitions for the years ahead.”
Global Presence and Cover Feature
In a step that reinforces Dubai’s position on the global scientific research map, scientists from Dubai Health and MBRU published a study in Nature Medicine, one of the world’s leading peer-reviewed medical journals, known for its rigorous and highly selective review standards. The journal publishes pioneering research that advances medical practice and helps shape health strategies worldwide. The cover of the issue, which features the study, presents a creative design by Maryam AlHathboor and Fatima Baobaid of the Dubai Health team. The artwork frames Dubai’s iconic skyline and landmarks alongside a representation of human DNA rendered in khoos, an Emirati weaving tradition based on woven palm fronds. This artistic approach reflects the UAE’s and Dubai’s position as a global model for innovation and a hub for science and knowledge.
Leadership Vision
Her Excellency Dr. Raja Easa Al Gurg, Member of the Dubai Health Board of Directors and Chairperson of the MBRU Council, said: “The progress achieved by Dubai Health and MBRU reflects the maturity of our integrated academic health system, where care, learning, and discovery work seamlessly to advance research and translate it into evidence-based care for patients.”
Her Excellency emphasised Dubai Health’s advanced research infrastructure and the integration between healthcare facilities and specialised laboratories, creating an environment for research aligned with the highest global standards.
His Excellency Dr. Alawi Alsheikh-Ali, Director-General of the Dubai Health Authority, said: “Dubai continues to build an integrated health system supported by a research infrastructure that combines clinical care, medical education, and research. This reinforces our ability to develop evidence-based care models and supports decision-makers in shaping effective health strategies.”
His Excellency added: “The publication of this study in Nature Medicine is a significant milestone in the maturity of Dubai’s research landscape and reflects the calibre of our national talent in building knowledge tailored to our population, while making a meaningful contribution to global medical science.”
His Excellency Dr. Amer Sharif, CEO of Dubai Health and President of MBRU said: “We are proud of the progress achieved, made possible by the vision of our leadership and the Board's continued support, which has strengthened the competitiveness of our research efforts. We remain committed to fostering an environment that empowers our talents to produce impactful outputs that serve our community and align with global healthcare advancements.”
10 Research Centres
Dubai Health and MBRU continue to advance their research contributions through an integrated academic health system, supported by 10 specialised research centres operating in synergy across multiple medical disciplines and enabling scientists to translate knowledge into practical applications.
Dubai Health Genomic Medicine’s Study Published in Nature Communications
In a step that further strengthens Dubai’s global standing in advanced scientific research, a research team at Dubai Health has published a new scientific study in the international medical journal Nature Communications, revealing innovative techniques for the detection and diagnosis of rare diseases using genomic medicine.
The study, titled "Long Read Sequencing Enhances Pathogenic and Novel Variation Discovery in Patients with Rare Diseases," provides a scientific framework to improve the diagnostic accuracy of rare diseases. It demonstrates how advances in clinical genetic testing can increase precision and lead to more effective medical tools, directly supporting the healthcare system and Dubai Health’s Patient First commitment.
Dr. Rasha Buhumaid, Dean of the College of Medicine and Graduate Medical Education at Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences (MBRU), the learning and discovery arm of Dubai Health, said: “This success reflects our commitment to fostering scientific research within Dubai Health and our strategic partnership between academic inquiry and clinical practice. It is a purposeful step toward developing medical practices that enhance wellbeing and elevate the quality of patient care."
She added: “Fatma’s achievement demonstrates the strength of our graduate programs and the vibrant research culture across our academic health system. Through our Master’s and PhD programs in Biomedical Sciences, MBRU is dedicated to preparing research professionals equipped with rigorous scientific thinking and advanced research skills, fostering a discovery-based learning environment that supports sustainable development in healthcare. These research-intensive programs combine rigorous academic training with hands-on experience across Dubai Health’s clinical and research facilities. Students benefit from competitive financial support, including full scholarships for PhD candidates and substantial aid for Master’s students, enabling them to pursue high-impact research.”
Diagnostic Accuracy
Fatma Rabea, Emirati PhD student at MBRU, and spokesperson for the research team, explained that the study plays a key role in enhancing the accuracy of diagnosing rare diseases by using modern techniques to uncover their genetic origins. This approach supports evidence-based treatment decisions and helps elevate the standard of care for these patients, empowering them through precise diagnosis.
Fatma noted that the study analyzed clinical samples, demonstrating that long-read genomic sequencing techniques significantly improved diagnostic accuracy for rare diseases by identifying genetic variants missed by traditional methods. This led to new diagnoses for approximately 10% of the cases studied, providing essential treatments and enhancing wellbeing.
The Hamdan Medical Research Award
The study was honored with the prestigious Arab Award for Research in Healthcare, as part of the Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation for Medical and Educational Sciences 2025 Medical Awards. This honor recognizes the meaningful contributions MBRU students make in advancing discovery and contributing to globally relevant research. This accolade recognizes the study's substantial scientific contribution to improving diagnostic precision for rare diseases, which directly enhances overall patient care.
To access the study, visit https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-025-57695-9.
Dubai Health hosts second edition of Dubai Health Research Conference 2025
The conference featured a series of scientific discussions, presentations, and workshops focused on research to improve health outcomes.
Dubai, UAE 10 December 2025: Dubai Health successfully convened the second edition of the Dubai Health Research Conference 2025. The event brought together physicians, experts, and academics to present the latest in medical research, reinforcing Dubai’s position in advancing scientific research.
His Excellency Dr. Alawi Alsheikh-Ali, Director General of the Dubai Health Authority, attended the conference and honored researchers recognized in the “Best Oral Presentation” and “Best Research Poster” categories. The event was also attended by Professor Ian Bruce, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for the Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences at Queen's University Belfast, and His Excellency Dr. Amer Sharif, Chief Executive Officer of Dubai Health and President of Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences (MBRU).
Held over three days at Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences, the conference featured a series of scientific discussions, presentations, and workshops focused on research to improve health outcomes.
The conference aimed to provide a platform for showcasing pioneering medical advancements and enhancing networking opportunities among researchers and healthcare specialists. It sought to support knowledge exchange through productive scientific dialogue and contribute to the professional development of physicians and healthcare professionals via workshops, seminars, and keynote presentations designed to expand expertise.
Professor Stefan Du Plessis, Dean of Research and Graduate Studies at Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences (MBRU), said: "The Dubai Health Research Conference 2025 demonstrates our commitment to creating an environment where research can flourish. It offers our clinicians, scientists, and trainees a platform to exchange knowledge and contribute to work that ultimately benefits our patients and community.”
Dr. Hamda Khansaheb, Director of Research Administration and Support at MBRU, stated: “The conference underscores our commitment to advancing an integrated culture of research and discovery across Dubai Health. By bringing together researchers, clinicians, and trainees, we are creating pathways that enable evidence-based discovery and contribute to improved patient outcomes. The breadth and quality of the work presented this year demonstrate the growing capability of our community and its dedication to advancing health for humanity.”
International Scientific Contributions
The conference featured distinguished international speakers who presented advanced scientific contributions. Professor Andrew Beggs, Professor of Cancer Genetics and Surgery in the Department of Cancer and Genomic Sciences at the University of Birmingham in the United Kingdom highlighted methods of developing precision medicine. Professor Manuel Salto-Tellez, Professor of Molecular Pathology at Queen’s University Belfast, explored the applications of personalized medicine in oncology.
The event also showcased the latest scientific research across Dubai Health’s integrated academic health system, connecting researchers, professionals, and trainees to improve clinical outcomes. Presentations highlighted clinical research in genomic medicine, digital health, artificial intelligence, microbiome science, and women’s health.