UAE health ministry unveils six-year climate adaptation plan for health sector

Climate change as a health threat

Climate change is no longer solely an environmental concern; it has become a pressing health issue. Increasingly hot and humid days elevate the risks of heat exhaustion and heatstroke, placing extra strain on the cardiovascular and respiratory systems. Dust storms and degraded air quality can trigger asthma and aggravate pre-existing conditions. Shifting climatic patterns may alter the distribution of certain infectious diseases, while extreme weather events can disrupt hospitals, medical supply chains and access to care, as well as affecting mental wellbeing.

The plan represents a shift from a reactive health system that treats illness after it occurs to a preventive model that anticipates risks and averts harm before it reaches communities.

Launch and official remarks

The initiative was announced during the Abu Dhabi Future Health Summit, attended by Ahmed Ali Al Sayegh, Minister of Health and Prevention; Dr. Alanoud Abdullah Alhaj, Assistant Undersecretary for the Green Development and Climate Change Sector at the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment; Dr. Hussain Al Rand, Assistant Undersecretary for the Public Health Sector at MoHAP; along with officials and representatives of relevant entities.

Developed in cooperation with the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment, health authorities and specialised partners, the plan is part of broader national efforts to strengthen the integration of health and environmental policies. It is also aligned with the UAE National Climate Change Adaptation Plan.

“Guided by the directives of our wise leadership, the UAE places the protection of people and their quality of life at the heart of its health system,” said Ahmed Ali Al Sayegh. “As our climate changes, the risks to our health change with it. Heat, dust and extreme weather affect people’s health in very real ways. Our responsibility is to anticipate these risks and protect our communities before people fall ill.”

Al Sayegh added: “This plan brings together data, expertise and institutions to build early warning systems and prepare our health services for the health impacts of climate-related events. Successful health adaptation to climate change depends on aligning efforts across the health, environmental and research sectors and turning scientific knowledge into preventive action that protects the community. This will also support the implementation of the UAE’s global commitments, foremost among them the COP28 UAE Declaration on Climate and Health, while contributing to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals.”

Six priority health areas

The plan is based on an assessment of climate-related health risks specific to the UAE’s climatic conditions, including rising temperatures and humidity, dust storms and weather events, and their potential effects on human health and healthcare services. It concentrates on six areas: heat-related illnesses such as heat exhaustion and heatstroke; cardiovascular diseases aggravated by extreme heat; respiratory diseases linked to dust and poor air quality; vector-borne diseases spread by insects like mosquitoes, whose patterns may shift with changing conditions; water- and food-borne diseases that can increase when high temperatures compromise food and water safety; and mental health affected by the stress and disruption of extreme weather events.

These priorities provide a basis for developing targeted preventive measures suited to each risk, while supporting early detection of changes in disease patterns and the factors influencing them. Special attention is given to protecting populations who are more vulnerable to climate-related complications and ensuring health institutions are prepared to respond to evolving health needs.

Practical measures and implementation

The plan focuses on practical actions that help people protect themselves and keep care accessible. These include early heat and air-quality warnings so people can take protective measures before exposure leads to illness, as well as prepared healthcare facilities, resilient medical supply chains and coordinated emergency plans to ensure essential care continues during disruptions.

Implementation priorities include developing surveillance systems for climate-sensitive diseases and improving the integration of health and environmental information to detect early risk indicators. This will enable health services to prepare for potential shifts in disease patterns and treatment requirements. In the short term, priorities include extreme heat and air quality, early warning systems and the continuity of essential care.

The plan measures success not only by how well the health system responds to a crisis, but by how much harm it prevents before it occurs. “The plan helps the health sector turn climate-risk assessments into practical steps that protect people’s health,” said Dr. Hussain Al Rand. “This includes developing the skills of healthcare professionals, expanding specialised research, improving emergency preparedness and increasing the resilience of healthcare facilities. The next phase will focus on coordination among relevant entities and implementing priorities against precise indicators, helping to ensure continuity of services, protect populations most vulnerable to climate impacts and enhance the effectiveness of the health response nationwide.”

The plan contributes to the objectives of the “We the UAE 2031” vision and reflects the country’s commitment to a health system that protects people from the health effects of a changing climate.