UAE’s Health Research Surges Three Times Faster than Global Average, Aims for Advancement

Credits By: The Gulf News

The Ministry of Health and Prevention (MoHAP) has announced that health research in the UAE is flourishing at an impressive rate, three times faster than the global average. According to the “Landscape of Health Research Report in the UAE 2017-2022,” health research outputs in the country have seen a remarkable increase of 25.2% during this period.

The UAE is a leading collaborator in health research among GCC countries, with 80% of its health research conducted in partnership with international institutions.

The report, prepared by the National Center for Health Research in collaboration with Elsevier, was unveiled at an event in Dubai, attended by esteemed officials, including Dr. Amin Hussain Al Amiri and representatives from health and academic institutions.

The report sheds light on the prevailing trends of health-related research in the UAE, identifying areas of expertise and potential avenues for further growth. It analyzes studies published in esteemed journals, using verified quantitative indicators to evaluate the performance of institutions. The report benchmarks health research and clinical trials in the UAE against the GCC and G20 economic countries.

The Ministry intends the report to serve as a reliable resource for decision-makers in the health sector, aiming to enhance effective health policies on various significant health topics, from chronic diseases and global epidemics to technology applications and modern medical advancements. The UAE is committed to continuously reviewing and strengthening cooperation and knowledge exchange with academic, health, and private sector institutions regionally and globally.

The report reveals that medicine is the most prominent subject in health research published in the UAE, followed by biochemistry, genetics, molecular biology, pharmacy, toxicology, and pharmaceuticals. Dentistry receives exceptional emphasis, with health research publications in the UAE being more than double the worldwide percentage.

Notably, 19% of health research in the UAE ranks within the top 10% of research published on the Scopus platform, and UAE health research has been cited more frequently than its counterparts in the GCC, G20, and other countries, surpassing the global average citation rate by 74%.

The UAE University and the University of Sharjah have been instrumental in advancing health research, publishing over 2,500 research papers between 2017 and 2022. Moreover, the country has conducted over 200 clinical trials involving more than 250 disease cases, establishing itself as the second-largest participant in clinical trials among GCC nations.

The National Health Research Strategy has played a crucial role in achieving these milestones, aiming to foster a strong culture of health research and encouraging the active involvement of Emirati scientists and researchers while adhering to global best practices.

The Ministry is collaborating with health and academic authorities to create a robust bioethical research framework and a collaborative ecosystem for sharing knowledge and resources related to biomedical research. This commitment is directed toward supporting scientific biomedical research and finding sustainable solutions for health challenges.

Dr Khalil Qayed highlights the value of bibliometric analytical data in published research, serving as a reliable resource for policymakers, healthcare providers, researchers, and research management professionals. The report’s findings will pave the way for devising strategies focused on specific health research domains, improving competitiveness indicators for Research and Development, and attracting more investments in biomedical research and development in the UAE.

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