February 23, 2026
Methodology About Newsletter
WE THE UAE 2031
The Vanderbilt Terminal for the UAE's National Transformation
INDEPENDENT GLOBAL INTELLIGENCE FOR THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
UAE GDP: AED 2.03T ▲ 5.7% | Non-Oil GDP Share: 84.3% ▼ -5.2pp | FDI Inflows: $45.6B ▲ 48.7% | GDP Growth: 4.0% ▲ -0.3pp vs 2023 | Inflation: 1.7% ▼ +0.0pp vs 2023 | Female Participation: 55.1% ▲ +0.6pp vs 2023 | Population: 11.0M ▲ 4.8% | Emiratisation Rate: 12.5% ▲ 2.1pp | Global Competitiveness: #7 ▲ 3 places | Clean Energy Capacity: 7.2 GW ▲ 18.4% | ADX Index: 9,842 ▲ 4.7% | DFM Index: 4,621 ▲ 6.2% | UAE GDP: AED 2.03T ▲ 5.7% | Non-Oil GDP Share: 84.3% ▼ -5.2pp | FDI Inflows: $45.6B ▲ 48.7% | GDP Growth: 4.0% ▲ -0.3pp vs 2023 | Inflation: 1.7% ▼ +0.0pp vs 2023 | Female Participation: 55.1% ▲ +0.6pp vs 2023 | Population: 11.0M ▲ 4.8% | Emiratisation Rate: 12.5% ▲ 2.1pp | Global Competitiveness: #7 ▲ 3 places | Clean Energy Capacity: 7.2 GW ▲ 18.4% | ADX Index: 9,842 ▲ 4.7% | DFM Index: 4,621 ▲ 6.2% |

Definition

MOHAP, the Ministry of Health and Prevention, is the federal government ministry responsible for overseeing public health policy, healthcare regulation, pharmaceutical oversight, and disease prevention programs across the United Arab Emirates. The ministry sets national health standards, licenses healthcare professionals and facilities, manages federal hospitals and clinics, and coordinates the UAE’s response to public health emergencies. MOHAP works alongside emirate-level health authorities in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and other emirates that operate their own healthcare systems.

UAE Context

The UAE’s healthcare system is a multi-layered structure in which MOHAP provides federal regulatory oversight while individual emirates maintain significant operational autonomy. Abu Dhabi’s Department of Health and Dubai’s Health Authority each manage local healthcare delivery, but MOHAP sets national standards for drug registration, professional licensing, and health data reporting. The ministry operates a network of hospitals and primary care centers, particularly in the northern emirates. MOHAP played a central coordinating role during the COVID-19 pandemic, managing the national vaccination campaign that achieved one of the highest per-capita vaccination rates globally.

Key Data

  • Established: 1971 (as Ministry of Health); rebranded to MOHAP in 2016
  • Federal hospitals and clinics: Approximately 15 hospitals and 80 primary care centers
  • Regulatory scope: Drug registration, professional licensing, health data standards
  • Key programs: National vaccination campaigns, chronic disease prevention, mental health initiatives
  • Headquarters: Dubai

Significance for Vision 2031

MOHAP’s evolving mandate toward prevention-focused healthcare directly supports Vision 2031’s human capital development goals. The ministry’s investments in digital health records, telemedicine infrastructure, and preventive care programs aim to improve population health outcomes while reducing long-term healthcare costs. A healthy, productive workforce is foundational to the economic diversification and knowledge economy targets embedded in the national vision.