A global playbook for health intelligence4 Abu Dhabi’s experience shows that health intelligence is not only achievable but replicable. Translating the model into other settings requires a deliberate balance of technology, governance and culture. This section distils the elements that have underpinned Abu Dhabi’s success and identifies the lessons most relevant to governments and payers seeking to build their own PHI systems. Every transformation comes with challenges. Building an intelligent health system requires not only technology but trust, coordination and sustained commitment. Abu Dhabi’s journey shows that while innovation continues to advance, the greatest risk lies in piecemeal implementation without the necessary infrastructure, policy and governance foundations. Abu Dhabi’s enablers are mutually reinforcing – political will secures resources; governance builds trust; infrastructure and partnerships translate trust into capability; and a data-literate culture ensures that intelligence is used, not just stored.The success of Abu Dhabi’s intelligent health system rests on six interdependent enablers that together convert data into trust, investment and capability: 1. Leadership and political will: Clear vision and alignment with national priorities. There is a commitment of risk-weighted, multi-year investment that is non-discretionary, recognizing that, while upfront capital is required, the multiplier effect of health intelligence creates a net increase in financial resources over time. Political alignment ensures continuity and scale, even when short-term projects might otherwise have led to piecemeal projects. 2. Governance and data sovereignty: Robust privacy, regulation and sovereign data policies that ensure trust. Frameworks are designed to ensure that data is not locked away; clear rules on access, accountability and secondary use make it possible for multiple stakeholders (from government agencies to private providers and international research partners) to work within the ecosystem. Balance between control and usability has enabled Abu Dhabi to expand participation without undermining public trust. 3. Infrastructure investment: Building interoperable digital architecture, supported by sustainable funding models. Rather than one-off projects, Abu Dhabi has built models that support continuous upgrades, integration of new data sources and resilience against cyber and operational risks. 4. Public–private partnerships: Employing expertise and innovation from across sectors to accelerate progress. The emphasis is on partnerships rather than one-off procurement. By co-developing solutions, the system has accelerated knowledge transfer and local adaptation. This approach spreads risk and cost across stakeholders and demonstrates how PHI can be built even in regions where large capital outlays are not feasible. 5. Capacity and culture: Upskilling the health workforce and promoting a data-driven mindset across all levels. This includes the development of distributed ownership, where responsibility for intelligence is not centralized in IT departments, but rather extended across providers, insurers and regulators. The expectation is not just that intelligence exists, but that it actively informs choices. 6. Diverse data sources: The system moves beyond clinical records and claims. By deliberately integrating environmental, transport and education data alongside health datasets, the system captures the full set of determinants that shape outcomes. This changes the quality of insight: environmental data supports forecasting and preparedness; transport data reveals structural risks in mobility, and urban planning and education data highlights long- term drivers of the workforce. Abu Dhabi’s enablers are mutually reinforcing – political will secures resources; governance builds trust; infrastructure and partnerships translate trust into capability; and a data-literate culture ensures that intelligence is used, not just stored.4.1 Key enablers A New Era for Digital Health: Abu Dhabi’s Leap to Health Intelligence 24

A New Era for Digital Health 2026