UAE Integrative Medicine Council unveils strategic vision to drive healthcare sustainability at World Health Expo 2026
ABU DHABI, UAE – 10February 2026: The UAE Integrative Medicine Council (UAEIMC) is participating in the World Health Expo (WHX), from February 9 to 12 at the Dubai Exhibition Centre in Expo City, where itis unveilingits strategic visiontoadvance the sustainability of the healthcare sector and contribute to the UAE’s ambition to become a global hub for Traditional, Complementary and Integrative Medicine (TCIM).
The UAEIMC is part of the national platform ‘Emirates Health’, a consortium of UAE’s health authorities bringing together various UAE health stakeholders.
The unveiling of the Council’s vision aims to chart the future of the integrative healthcare sector while highlighting a suite of strategic initiatives designed to fulfil its core mission: establishing a balanced healthcare system. This system bridges Traditional, Complementary and Integrative Medicine (TCIM) to promote wellness and longevity through evidence-based practices, advanced research, innovation, talent development, and international cooperation.
This launch follows the Council’s adoption of its strategic roadmap last January, which is built upon seven key pillars: robust governance, integrated service delivery, comprehensive insurance coverage, education and capabilitybuilding, advanced research and innovation, growth through local and international collaboration, and community engagement and awareness.
Sheikha Salama bint Tahnoon bin Mohammed Al Nahyan Chair of the Council said, “Today marks a strategic milestone in our journey to empower the Council’s national mandate. We are developing an integrated healthcare model that prioritizes patient safety and elevates service quality, ultimately shaping the future of healthcare across the UAE and extending its impact far beyond our borders to the world,”
Sheikha Salama added: “Our presence at the World Health Expo aligns with our commitment to international engagement on platforms where innovation and knowledge converge with scientific evidence. As we witness a global shift from curative care toward resilient, holistic, and preventive health models, science-based integrative approaches are emerging as fundamental pathways for the evolution of healthcare systems.”
Showcasing Innovation, Research and Strategic Direction
World Health Expo is the world’s largest network of healthcare events. As part of the event programme, panel discussions at UAEIMC’s booth will explore the future of integrative medicine through a dual focus on education and innovation, with stakeholders and healthcare leaders in integrative medicine. Discussions will examine how integrative medicine can be embedded across higher education and professional development, to strengthen physician and healthcare professionals’ competencies and support continuous learning. The programme will also include a panel discussion on the growing emphasis on research, clinical validation and data quality, with insights on Emirati Traditional Medicine, herbal and natural products, safety and quality frameworks and emerging applications such as AI-enabled evidence generation.
The UAEIMC will present twoinitiatives at WHX developed in collaboration with key national and international stakeholders, reflecting a system-wide approach to innovation and knowledge integration.
Interactive Traditional Medicine Educational Platform ‘Dr Layla’:
Developed by Dubai Medical University (DMU), the ‘Dr Layla Initiative’ is an artificial intelligence-enabled research and educational platform, that consolidates traditional and herbal medical knowledge into an interactive digital system. Represented as a virtual faculty member, the platform is positioned as the world’s first AI doctor specialising in traditional medicine and medicinal plants.
‘Dr Layla’delivers structured knowledge across disciplines that have historically been passed down orally with limited formal documentation including Traditional Chinese Medicine, African Traditional Medicine and Emirati Traditional Medicine.This initiative supports the preservation, standardisationand responsible clinical application of traditional knowledge within preventative and integrative healthcare settings.
AI-Powered Research and Development of Traditional Chinese Medicine Solutions
In collaboration with Emirates Drug Establishment (EDE), the Council will showcasea demonstration powered by XtalPi, a Chinese specialist company in intelligent laboratory solutions.The platform represents the world’s first automated system for the development of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) drugs, introducing a next-generation approach to pharmacological evaluation and regulatory-aligned safety assessment.
Another showcase includes the ‘I-D-E-A Platform’, developed by Jingtai Technology, an intelligent system enabling end-to-end separation, analysis, and evaluation of active ingredients in TCM. The platform supports the creation of chemical libraries, active-ingredient screening and unmanned monitoring through advanced data analytics, ensuring efficacy, traceability,and safety across the entire TCM research and drug-development chain.
Advancing Integrative Medicine in the UAE
The UAE Integrative Medicine Council was established to position the UAE as a global leader in integrative healthcare, that seamlessly combines traditional and complementary practices with conventional medical care.
Guided by a unified strategic framework, the Council’s work is anchored across seven pillars: robust governance, integrated service provision, equitable access, education and capability building, cutting-edge research and innovation, growth through collaboration, and community engagement and acceptance. Together, these pillars support the safe, ethical and evidence-based integration of TCIM within the UAE’s healthcare system, while fostering international collaboration and knowledge exchange.
In addition toits technology and research showcases at WHX, the Council will convene strategic dialogue through the Al Shifaa Summit for Integrative Medicine, reinforcing its role as a national platform for advancing integrative medicine.
First established in 2025 as part of the Future Health Summit, Al Shifaa Summit for Integrative Medicine will return this year bringing together policymakers, academics, clinicians, researchers and innovators to explore the future of integrative healthcare, supporting the UAE’s vision of a globally recognised, integrated health ecosystem.
The UAEIMC reaffirms its commitment to shaping the future of integrative medicine by bridging tradition and science to deliver holistic, patient-centred care aligned with global best practices.
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Notes to Editors
About the UAE Integrative Medicine Council
The UAE Integrative Medicine Council leads a national shift toward a comprehensive healthcare model that seamlessly integrates conventional medical treatments with evidence-based traditional and complementary practices. By expanding patient choice and prioritising prevention alongside cure, the Council promotes a more holistic journey toward healthier, longer lives for all.
The Council was established by HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, and the UAE Cabinet, in September 2025 to ensure effective governance of the integrative medicine ecosystem.
Chaired by Sheikha Salama bint Tahnoon Al Nahyan, the Council exists to unlock the benefits of integrative medicine. By bringing together senior stakeholders from across government, the Integrative Medicine Council prioritises prevention as much as cure, merges heritage with innovation and serves communities.