Healthcare across the UAE and Saudi Arabia has moved past small AI trials. Government policy, hospital systems, medical software, robotics, genomics, and virtual care now form a larger digital health strategy.
The UAE has approved a national policy for digital healthcare and artificial intelligence, while Saudi Arabia has placed AI within its wider Health Sector Transformation Program. Both markets now focus on real clinical use, stronger regulation, and better access to care.
The UAE Cabinet approved the National Policy for Advancing Digital Healthcare Services and Artificial Intelligence in the Healthcare Sector in May 2026. The policy covers preventive, curative, rehabilitative, and operational healthcare.
It also sets priorities for smart health infrastructure, AI skills, data security, ethics, and governance. The Cabinet also approved plans for a federal law that will cover AI health systems, licensing, accreditation, safety, legal liability, patient rights, and health data.
Abu Dhabi has also taken AI into the operating room. In May 2026, the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi announced an emirate-wide intelligent surgical network with Johnson & Johnson. The network will connect operating rooms and support surgical AI with technology from Amazon Web Services, NVIDIA, and Core42. The system will also support clinical research and help doctors gain more data from surgical procedures.
Another major UAE development is the Abu Dhabi Biobank, which opened in April 2026. The platform links biological samples with genomic, lifestyle, and clinical data. This structure can help doctors spot health risks earlier and select more personalized care. Abu Dhabi now has a clear path from large-scale health data to precision medicine, with AI as a key tool for analysis and risk assessment.
Saudi Arabia has built a large digital health base that can support wider AI use. The 2025 Health Sector Transformation report, released in June 2026, showed more than 31 million Sehhaty users. Seha Virtual Hospital had reached more than 365,000 beneficiaries through 241 connected healthcare facilities. Primary healthcare coverage also reached 97.5% of population clusters across the Kingdom.
That digital network gives Saudi Arabia a strong base for AI-assisted care. The Ministry of Health has already used AI for clinical decision support, virtual care, health advice, and personalized recommendations. The wider system also supports remote access to specialists, which can help patients in areas far from major medical centers.
Saudi Arabia has also created a clear route for health technology companies to move from an early idea to clinical use. The Ministry of Health Sandbox has supported 342 innovative solutions and helped 25 solutions complete tests and validation. The program covers digital health, AI, the Internet of Things, biotechnology, and 3D printing.
Saudi Arabia has taken another important step with AI medical software. In September 2026, the Saudi Food and Drug Authority granted marketing authorization to two locally developed AI medical products, Dental IQ and SAARIA.
Dental IQ analyzes dental X-rays and helps identify dental caries, periodontal disease, and structural changes in teeth and nearby tissues. The approval followed a review of technical documents and clinical evidence covering safety, performance, and effectiveness.
Remote care also has a new role. Saudi Arabia launched its Saudi Remote Robotic Surgery Program in August 2026. The first phase covered seven procedures across bariatric, general, obstetric and gynecologic, and thoracic surgery. Seha Virtual Hospital has also reported 11 consecutive remote robotic surgeries across specialized fields. Such systems can connect specialist teams with patients in other regions without the need for physical travel.
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The next stage will place more attention on prediction rather than simple diagnosis. AI can combine medical records, genomic data, scans, vital signs, and patient history to spot risk earlier. Abu Dhabi's Biobank gives this model a strong foundation, while Saudi Arabia's large digital health network offers a broad base for remote and data-driven care.
The clearest shift across both countries is the move from isolated AI tools to connected health systems. The UAE is pairing AI with genomics, smart hospitals, surgical systems, and health regulation.
Saudi Arabia is pairing AI with virtual hospitals, medical software, digital health platforms, and robotic surgery. The result is a regional health model where AI can influence prevention, diagnosis, treatment, surgery, and long-term care as part of one connected system.