Emirates Health Services wins Global Patient Safety Award for AI imaging project
In short
Emirates Health Services has won the Global Patient Safety Award 2026 in the National Health Authority category, the inaugural edition of the award, as the sole winner in that category. The award recognised its project “The Future of Medical Imaging: Detection to Prediction”, which uses artificial intelligence to analyse medical images, and which EHS said could shorten diagnosis times and improve accuracy. EHS received the award during UNIFY 2026, the Joint Commission's annual conference in Washington, DC, represented by Dr Amina Al Jasmi, Director of its Radiology Department.
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Emirates Health Services has received the Global Patient Safety Award 2026 in the National Health Authority category, in the inaugural edition of the award, according to the state news agency WAM and the English-language title Aletihad. Both reports said EHS was the sole winner in that category. [ 1 , 2 ]
The award recognised the project “The Future of Medical Imaging: Detection to Prediction”, which uses artificial intelligence to analyse medical images, help specialists detect medical conditions more efficiently and anticipate potential risks. Aletihad reported that the project is applied in the early detection of breast cancer, tuberculosis screening, stroke diagnosis and the proactive diagnosis of osteoporosis. EHS said the solutions could shorten diagnosis times, improve accuracy and efficiency, support early detection and allow timely clinical intervention. [ 1 , 2 ]
EHS received the award during UNIFY 2026, the Joint Commission's annual conference, held in Washington, DC. The organisation was represented by Dr Amina Al Jasmi, Director of its Radiology Department, who led its delegation to the ceremony, the reports said. [ 1 , 2 ]
Dr Abdullah Al Naqbi, Executive Director of Supporting Health Services at EHS, said the award reflected the progress the UAE has made in developing healthcare models based on innovation and future-focused technologies, according to both reports. He said being the sole global winner in the category demonstrated the maturity of EHS's approach to converting artificial intelligence from a promising technology into practical solutions that affect healthcare quality and patient safety. He added that EHS was continuing to develop a more proactive, efficient and sustainable healthcare system in which innovation strengthens the capabilities of healthcare professionals, supports clinical decision-making and contributes to better health outcomes. [ 1 , 2 ]
WAM reported that Al Jasmi said the recognition celebrated the efforts behind the development and implementation of the model, and its impact on patient safety, clinical outcomes and the efficiency and quality of diagnostic services. [ 2 ]
Why it matters
The award is international recognition for a UAE federal health authority's use of artificial intelligence in diagnostic imaging, and EHS presents it as evidence that AI is moving from a promising technology into clinical practice. The documents give no figures on how widely the project is deployed or what it has changed in patient outcomes, so its practical effect on care cannot be measured from them.
Key facts
- Emirates Health Services received the Global Patient Safety Award 2026 in the National Health Authority category, the award's inaugural edition. [ 1 , 2 ]
- EHS was the sole winner in that category, the reports said. [ 1 , 2 ]
- The award recognised its project “The Future of Medical Imaging: Detection to Prediction”, which uses artificial intelligence to analyse medical images, help specialists detect conditions more efficiently and anticipate potential risks. [ 1 , 2 ]
- EHS said the solutions could shorten diagnosis times, improve accuracy and efficiency, support early detection and allow timely clinical intervention. [ 1 ]
- The organisation received the award during UNIFY 2026, the Joint Commission's annual conference in Washington, DC. [ 1 , 2 ]
- Dr Amina Al Jasmi, Director of the Radiology Department at EHS, led its delegation to the ceremony. [ 1 , 2 ]
- Dr Abdullah Al Naqbi, Executive Director of Supporting Health Services at EHS, said the win showed the maturity of the organisation's approach to turning AI into practical solutions affecting healthcare quality and patient safety. [ 1 , 2 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- Emirates Health Services won the Global Patient Safety Award 2026 in the National Health Authority category, in the inaugural edition of the award. [ 1 , 2 ]
- The award recognised the project “The Future of Medical Imaging: Detection to Prediction”, which uses artificial intelligence to analyse medical images. [ 1 , 2 ]
- EHS was the sole winner in the National Health Authority category. [ 1 , 2 ]
- The award was received during UNIFY 2026, the Joint Commission's annual conference in Washington, DC, with Dr Amina Al Jasmi leading the EHS delegation. [ 1 , 2 ]
Still unclear
- Whether the AI imaging project is in routine clinical use, at what scale, and what patient outcomes it has produced. Neither document gives deployment figures, patient numbers or outcome data; both are truncated award announcements.
- The clinical areas the project covers — early detection of breast cancer, tuberculosis screening, stroke diagnosis and proactive diagnosis of osteoporosis. Listed only by Aletihad; the official WAM report does not name the clinical applications.
- How many organisations were considered for the inaugural award and what other categories existed. Both documents say EHS was the sole winner in its category but do not say how many entrants there were or what other categories were awarded.