National Policy to Expand Healthcare for People With Disabilities

The Ministry of Health and Prevention has introduced a national policy aimed at improving healthcare services and wellbeing for people with disabilities across the UAE.
The framework sets out measures to expand access to preventive care, specialised treatment and rehabilitation services while supporting innovation in disability-related healthcare.
Seven strategic priorities underpin the policy. These include strengthening governance and partnerships across the health sector, expanding preventive healthcare throughout different stages of life, and ensuring accessible services including mental health support. The framework also calls for integrated habilitation and rehabilitation systems designed to improve quality of life, safer healthcare environments that encourage social participation, improved health information systems and disability statistics, and greater support for research and innovation in specialised care.
Implementation priorities include stronger coordination between federal and local authorities, expanded collaboration with international partners and improved institutional capacity within the health sector. Plans also emphasise developing specialised skills among healthcare professionals and increasing community engagement by involving people with disabilities and organisations representing them in the design of health programmes and services.
Expected outcomes include broader access to preventive, therapeutic and rehabilitation services, expanded early screening programmes for newborns and strengthened premarital screening and genetic counselling services. The policy also calls for the completion of a national disability data registry to support evidence-based planning and future healthcare initiatives.