Interview: Dr. Abdulaziz Al Mheiri
What are key health-related investment opportunities for local and global private sector entities?
DR. ABDULAZIZ AL MHEIRI: Since its inception, the SHA’s strategy has been to attract and build a sustainable health care community for treatment in Sharjah and beyond. With the growing population of Sharjah and the Northern Emirates, which is expected to reach 2.7m by 2025, there is an acute need for additional medical facilities. The focus is on attracting multi-level health care investors to the emirate, varying from specialised clinics and hospitals to complementary and alternative medical centres, research centres and rehabilitation centres. There is significant investment potential in stand-alone facilities that cater to cardiovascular, neurology, orthopaedic, oncology and lifestyle disease management units. Such centres are crucial for attracting patients from across the MENA region, which, in turn, encourages investment.
How do you assess the development of local health care infrastructure and facilities?
AL MHEIRI: The most significant health care project for the emirate is Sharjah Healthcare City (SHCC), which is being developed under the SHA. It is a single platform where global investors can start their operations in health care in the region. The SHCC is expected to single-handedly meet the health care demands of the GCC. This will allow for the assessment of the development needs of medical infrastructure to meet the future demand of residents in Sharjah and the UAE and the wider region.
Sharjah’s government has independent initiatives to improve and modernise the local health industry. Key programmes include the announcement of University Hospital Sharjah (UHS) satellite hospitals in the various cities of the emirate and the Jawaher Boston Medical Distract – a collaboration between BEEAH Group, and US-based Mass General Brigham Hospitals Network and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.
In what ways can international partnerships aid in the development of medical talent and research?
AL MHEIRI: The local government is keen on global partnerships to develop the health care system, and several memoranda of understanding (MoUs) were signed in recent years with international stakeholders in this regard. In June 2023 the SHA signed an MoU with Italy’s consultancy firm Assolombarda to collaborate with hospitals and research centres in the Lombardi region. Previously, the SHA signed such agreements with South Korea’s Ministry of Health. Today, we have the Himchan-UHS Spine and Joint Centre from South Korea operating in the UHS.
To what extent can Sharjah compete as regional and medical tourism destination?
AL MHEIRI: Positioned between Europe, Africa and Asia, as well as between the Gulf and Indian Ocean, the emirate is an ideal centre for trade and commerce. Domestically, Sharjah acts as a gateway to the Northern Emirates, while its sea and air connectivity enables access to key emerging markets in the MENA region and Asia. Sharjah is well connected to trans-emirate and GCC road networks, with its airline, Air Arabia, linked to nearly all countries in the MENA region and the Indian sub-continent. Sharjah is already established on the global tourism map for its cultural attractions, and these factors encourage us to promote health tourism using the proposed and existing health care institutions in the emirate.
The World Health Organisation’s re-certification of Sharjah as a healthy city in February 2022 is also encouraging. The title is not limited to the health sector but rather an integrated system of standards, services and initiatives that improve the quality and lifestyle of all segments of society, including increasing green spaces, providing walking paths, preserving buildings and heritage, and reviving markets and cities, among others.
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