UAE and Israel to exchange research as part of new healthcare agreement

Countries to work together on the pandemic, protecting medical data, cybersecurity, medical education and AI

Covid-19 vaccination programmes in the UAE and Israel are among the fastest and most efficient globally. Bloomberg

The UAE and Israel signed an agreement aimed at enhancing the quality of healthcare in both countries.

The deal will involve the two countries co-operating on several areas related to health, including fighting the coronavirus pandemic, protecting medical data, cybersecurity, medical education, innovation and the use of artificial intelligence and other fields of advanced technology.

The agreement, which was announced by the Emirates Health Services Establishment, was signed by its director general Dr Yousif Al Serkal, and Israeli Health Minister Yuli Edelstein, in the presence of Abdulrahman Al Owais, Minister of Health and Prevention.

Dr Al Serkal said the agreement would enhance the protection of health data for patients and involve the exchange of research between the two countries.

"The UAE and Israel have proven their superior prowess in the healthcare field, as the Covid-19 vaccination programmes in the two countries are among the fastest and most efficient globally," he said.

"It is natural for the two countries to develop their technical co-operation given that they are the most technologically advanced in the Middle East region."

Dr Al Serkal said the co-operation will contribute to supporting international efforts to combat the pandemic and help to find creative solutions to the emerging challenges facing the health sector.

He said the UAE and Israel "will seek to facilitate cross visits by experts and to set up major economic and health projects, in addition to strengthening co-operation between medical institutions".

The UAE and Israel signed the Abraham Accord last September and established direct diplomatic relations.

The two countries also signed several bilateral agreements, including a reciprocal visa-waiver deal.