World Economic Forum white paper showcases Abu Dhabi

The World Economic Forum (WEF) has published a new white paper positioning Abu Dhabi among the world’s first health systems to establish intelligent, system-wide health infrastructure, reinforcing the emirate’s leadership in delivering innovative, prevention-focused healthcare.

Titled “A New Era for Digital Health: Abu Dhabi’s Leap to Health Intelligence,” the paper details how Abu Dhabi has developed a unified health system architecture that integrates clinical, genomic, financial, lifestyle, and environmental data.

The comprehensive approach enables earlier disease prevention, faster clinical interventions, and improved population health outcomes, while strengthening the long-term sustainability of the healthcare system.

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Addressing global digital health challenges

The report notes that despite substantial global investment in digital health, many healthcare systems struggle to scale innovation due to fragmentation, limited interoperability, and the absence of system-wide intelligence.

Abu Dhabi is presented as a practical and scalable model for overcoming these challenges by treating population health intelligence as foundational infrastructure; on par with essential utilities such as electricity grids or broadband networks.

Scale and impact of Abu Dhabi’s health intelligence

The white paper highlights several indicators demonstrating the scale and effectiveness of Abu Dhabi’s intelligent health system.

These include the integration of more than 100,000 data streams, the connection of 3.5 billion clinical records across over 3,000 healthcare facilities, and the analysis of 2 billion insurance claim activities using artificial intelligence to reduce waste and improve operational efficiency.

The paper also references the sequencing of more than 850,000 genomes under the Emirati Genome Program, positioning Abu Dhabi among the world’s leading national genomic initiatives.

Measurable improvements in health outcomes

According to the report, this system-level approach has translated into tangible improvements in care delivery. These include earlier cancer detection, more personalized prevention pathways, and faster emergency response times; most notably a 30 percent reduction in heart attack response times, outperforming global benchmarks.

Leadership insights

Mansoor Ibrahim Al Mansoori, Chairman of the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi, said: “True transformation happens when innovation meets scale. Health system intelligence lays the foundation that enables prevention and personalized health to become a reality at the population level.”

Shyam Bishen, Head of Health and Healthcare at the World Economic Forum (WEF) said: “Abu Dhabi’s story is ultimately a human one: Using connected data and responsible AI to predict risk earlier, prevent avoidable illness, and help people get the right care at the right time.

“We hope this white paper gives leaders everywhere a practical playbook and the confidence to scale what works.”

Brad Smith, Vice Chair and President of Microsoft, said: “Healthcare is entering a new era, one built on precision, speed and better access to care.

“In Abu Dhabi, AI is helping clinicians diagnose faster and giving policymakers real-time insights so they can act sooner, and communities can stay healthier.”

A blueprint for global health transformation

Serving as both a case study and a practical reference, the paper offers guidance for governments and healthcare leaders seeking to modernize health systems, enhance resilience, and shift from reactive models of care toward prevention-led approaches.

Global collaboration through digital health initiatives

The paper was co-authored by the World Economic Forum and the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi, with contributions from Microsoft, M42, Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi Health Data Services, and the Abu Dhabi Investment Office.

The publication forms part of the Forum’s Digital Healthcare Transformation (DHT) initiative under the Pathfinder Network.

The DHT initiative provides a global platform for public-private collaboration on digital health, artificial intelligence, and data, supporting CEOs, ministers, and senior leaders across healthcare, technology, and policy.

It brings together more than 200 organizations worldwide, aligning international institutions, governments, and the private sector around the shared goal of improving health outcomes through innovation.