Dubai: Dubai Health's Board of Directors convened a meeting chaired by H.H. Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman of the Dubai Health Board of Directors. During the meeting, held in the presence of H.H. 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.
According to Emirates News Agency, the meeting, held virtually, was attended by Board members Dr. Raja Easa Al Gurg, Abdulla Abdul Rahman Al Shaibani, Walid Saeed Al Awadhi, Mohammed Hassan Al Shehhi, Professor Sir Ian Andrew Greer, 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.
H.H. 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.
H.H. Sheikh Ahmed stated: '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.'
H.H. Sheikh Mansoor bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum emphasized that Dubai places a high priority on scientific research as a key pillar in advancing the healthcare system and enhancing the quality of its services. He noted that it plays a central role in driving medical innovation and strengthening efforts in prevention, diagnosis, and treatment.
In an effort to reinforce Dubai's position on the global scientific research map, scientists from Dubai Health and MBRU published a study in Nature Medicine, a leading peer-reviewed medical journal. The cover of the issue features a creative design by Maryam AlHathboor and Fatima Baobaid of the Dubai Health team, showcasing Dubai's iconic skyline alongside a representation of human DNA rendered in khoos, an Emirati weaving tradition.
Dr. Raja Easa Al Gurg highlighted the maturity of Dubai's integrated academic health system, emphasizing the seamless collaboration between care, learning, and discovery to advance research and translate it into evidence-based care for patients.
Dr. Alawi Alsheikh-Ali, Director-General of the Dubai Health Authority, remarked on Dubai's ongoing efforts to build an integrated health system supported by research infrastructure that combines clinical care, medical education, and research. He noted that the publication in Nature Medicine is a milestone reflecting Dubai's research landscape and national talent.
Dr. Amer Sharif, CEO of Dubai Health and President of MBRU, expressed pride in the progress achieved through the vision of leadership and the Board's support, which has strengthened the competitiveness of research efforts. He reaffirmed the commitment to fostering an environment that empowers talent to produce impactful outputs that serve the community and align with global healthcare advancements.
Dubai Health and MBRU continue to advance their research contributions through an integrated academic health system, supported by 10 specialized research centers operating in synergy across multiple medical disciplines, enabling scientists to translate knowledge into practical applications.
