ABSTRACT
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is a federation of seven emirates. The capital and largest emirate is Abu Dhabi, followed by Ajman, Dubai, Fujairah, Ras al-Khaimah, Sharjah, and Umm al-Quwain. Since independence in 1971, the UAE has focused on the delivery of high-quality healthcare. This chapter focuses on the improvement story of the Abu Dhabi health system and its transformation from a fully government-funded sector to a predominantly private sector in just 1 decade. The Health Authority—Abu Dhabi (HAAD) was mandated to regulate the healthcare industry and to develop Abu Dhabi's health policy, while Abu Dhabi Health Services Company (SEHA) was made responsible for managing government-owned healthcare facilities. Sharjah is expected to establish a health authority and implement policies in line with Abu Dhabi. A transparent public reporting system is currently being developed, with the HAAD working on an Abu Dhabi Healthcare Quality Index, which could guide public decision-making about service providers.
