Emirates Health Services signed 11 memoranda of understanding with local and international partners during the World Health Expo Dubai 2026, which took place from Feb. 9 to 12. The agreements focus on exchanging knowledge, adopting global best practices and supporting the shift to preventative, AI-driven and family-centered care models in line with the Year of Family 2026, according to a report by the Emirates News Agency (WAM). EHS Director-General Dr. Yousif Mohamed AlSerkal described the participation as a milestone in strengthening a resilient national health system.
EHS participated under the theme “Healthcare Inspired by Tomorrow’s Vision,” highlighting projects that deploy artificial intelligence in medical decisions and prioritize integrated patient experiences over traditional service delivery. The entity also emphasized empowering families to improve quality of life while anticipating health risks rather than reacting to them. According to WAM, these efforts translate national health strategies into sustainable impact across the UAE population.
AlSerkal said, “We were committed to ensuring our participation reflects a clear national vision for a more prepared, resilient, and sustainable health system.” He added that the projects and partnerships extend a strategy transitioning from response-based models to those investing in prevention, risk anticipation and artificial intelligence. The director-general told WAM that EHS would convert the expo outcomes into programs raising the competitiveness of the national health sector and the UAE’s global position in innovative healthcare.
The 11 MOUs were inked with the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society, Harvard Pilgrim Health Care, the University of North Carolina, New York University Abu Dhabi, Erasmus University Medical Centre, Apollo Hospitals, Boston Children’s Hospital and NYU Langone Health, along with other global institutions. A WAM dispatch stated that these pacts will strengthen the partnership ecosystem and enable application of international standards within the UAE. The agreements were signed on the sidelines of EHS’s strategic showcase at the event.
EHS organized a session titled Youth Innovation for Healthcare in the presence of representatives from the Federal Youth Authority. The gathering explored ways to equip young people with technology to create impactful health projects and position them as partners in developing future solutions. WAM reported that the initiative formed part of broader community engagement at the expo to involve youth in shaping healthcare advancements.
Two innovations created by EHS youth were featured at the exhibition stand. Decode Me is a smart tool that analyzes facial expressions to determine emotional states and generate practical indicators supporting public health and wellbeing. Beat your Best integrates physical and mental health elements into an interactive device that motivates regular physical activity among young users in an engaging format, the news agency detailed.
EHS hosted the 4th Healthcare Excellence Symposium during the expo, with sessions covering genomics, gene therapy, precision medicine and artificial intelligence applications in practice. The event provided a venue for specialists to share expertise on developments in specialized care. Organizers of the World Health Expo have reported that the gathering drew more than 270,000 healthcare professionals along with 4,800 exhibitors from over 180 countries.
