Healthcare spending in UAE to hit $34bn by 2027: DHCC report

The report was release during the Arab Health Conference. WAM
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Updated 30 January 2024
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Healthcare spending in UAE to hit $34bn by 2027: DHCC report

RIYADH: Healthcare spending in the UAE is expected to reach 126 billion dirhams ($34 billion) by 2027, according to official projections.

The report, which was released by the Dubai Healthcare City Authority during the Arab Health Conference on Jan. 29, states that public sector spending in the healthcare division will account for 104 billion dirhams by 2027, representing a compound annual growth rate of 7.5 percent. 

Private sector spending will also hit 22 billion dirhams during the same period, signifying a CAGR of 8.8 percent, state news agency WAM reported. 

The analysis noted that Dubai Healthcare City has evolved as the sector’s investment hub in the Emirates. The free zone’s turnover is expected to increase significantly between 2020 and 2024, at an estimated CAGR of 16 percent. 

The rise in investments in DHCC is aligned with the Emirates’ vision to serve a projected population of 5.8 million by 2040. 

“We are constantly striving to ensure collaborations to extend health care services and attract investments that directly contribute to achieving the goals of the Dubai 2040 Urban Master Plan,” said Chief Financial Officer at DHCA, Allae Al-Manini. 

He added: “Our commitment extends to developing strategic partnerships, establishing community health clinics and pioneering innovative co-living concepts. As the healthcare landscape continues to evolve, we remain at the forefront, exemplifying unparalleled growth and dedication to creating a holistic healthcare and wellness ecosystem.” 

The report added that the workforce operating within DHCC increased from 10,000 in 2021 to 11,500 in 2024. 

DHCC’s operating ecosystem also has 481 registered facilities, including advanced diagnostic procedures, specialized treatments, surgical procedures and the first Russian clinic in Dubai – Kandinsky. 

The newly released report also highlighted DHCC’s ongoing expansion of Phase 2, which is designed to complement the healthcare ecosystem with preventive care, wellness and urban lifestyle.

Encompassing approximately 22 million sq. feet, Phase 2 of this project has attracted strategic investments worth 1.03 billion dirhams from 2019 to date. 

Arab Health Conference is touted to be one of the largest healthcare events in the Middle East region. 

The event began in Dubai on Jan. 29 and will run through Feb. 1. 


Saudi Arabia leads outcome-based education to prepare future-ready generations: Harvard Business Review

A Harvard sign is seen at the Harvard University campus in Boston, Massachusetts, on May 27, 2025. (AFP)
Updated 10 February 2026
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Saudi Arabia leads outcome-based education to prepare future-ready generations: Harvard Business Review

  • The Riyadh-based school group developed a strategy that links every classroom activity to measurable student competencies, aiming to graduate learners equipped for the digital economy and real-world contexts

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s education system is undergoing a sweeping transformation aligned with Vision 2030, shifting from traditional, input-focused methods to outcome-based education designed to equip students with future-ready skills, Harvard Business Review Arabic reported.

The transformation is being adopted and spearheaded by institutions such as Al-Nobala Private Schools, which introduced the Kingdom’s first national “learning outcomes framework,” aimed at preparing a generation of leaders and innovators for an AI-driven future, the report said.

Al-Nobala has leveraged international expertise to localize advanced learning methodologies.

The Riyadh-based school group developed a strategy that links every classroom activity to measurable student competencies, aiming to graduate learners equipped for the digital economy and real-world contexts. The school’s group approach combines traditional values with 21st-century skills such as critical thinking, communication, innovation and digital fluency.

According to the report, the shift addresses the growing gap between outdated models built for low-tech, resource-constrained environments and today’s dynamic world, where learners must navigate real-time information, virtual platforms, and smart technologies.

“This is not just about teaching content, it’s about creating impact,” the report noted, citing how Al-Nobala’s model prepares students to thrive in an AI-driven world while aligning with national priorities.

The report noted that Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Education has paved the way for this shift by transitioning from a centralized controller to a strategic enabler, allowing schools such as Al-Nobala to tailor their curriculum to meet evolving market and societal needs. This is part of the long-term goal to place the Kingdom among the top 20 global education systems.

Al-Nobala’s work, the report stated, has succeeded in serving the broader national effort to link education outcomes directly to labor market demands, helping to fulfill the Vision 2030 pillar of building a vibrant society with a thriving economy driven by knowledge and innovation.

Last February, Yousef bin Abdullah Al-Benyan, Saudi Arabia’s minister of education, said that the Kingdom was making “an unprecedented investment in education,” with spending aligned to the needs of growth and development. He said that in 2025, education received the second-largest share of the state budget, totaling $53.5 billion.