PureHealth has held the groundbreaking ceremony for the SEHA New Corniche Hospital for women and newborns, which forms part of Abu Dhabi’s first dedicated medical city for women’s and children’s healthcare.
Construction of the new hospital is underway. The facility will form part of a specialized medical city focused on women’s and children’s health services, which will also include Sheikh Khalifa Medical City, where plans are being developed to establish a Center of Excellence for pediatric care.
The medical city will also include a dedicated rehabilitation facility and a specialized mental health center for women and children.
The project is being implemented in line with directives approved in 2024 by Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council, to establish a dedicated healthcare destination focused on women’s and children’s medical services.
The ceremony was attended by HE Mansoor Ibrahim Al Mansoori, Chairman of the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi; HE Dr. Noura Khamis Al Ghaithi, Undersecretary of the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi; Shaista Asif, Group Chief Executive Officer of PureHealth; Rashed Saif Al Qubaisi, Group Chief Operating Officer of PureHealth; Saeed Jaber Al Kuwaiti, Group Chief Executive Officer of SEHA; Asma Ali Al Halaseh, Chief Executive Officer of SEHA Corniche Hospital; and other senior healthcare officials.
HE Dr. Noura Khamis Al Ghaithi said that the project reflects Abu Dhabi’s continued focus on expanding healthcare services for women, children, and families.
Al Ghaithi noted that the new hospital will contribute to the provision of specialized care and support the emirate’s healthcare development objectives.
The wider medical city is planned to provide more than 35 pediatric subspecialties covering areas including oncology, transplant medicine, diabetes, allergy and immunology, neurorehabilitation, and behavioral sciences.
The aim is to bring a broad range of specialized services together within an integrated healthcare environment.
Shaista Asif Group CEO PureHealth
“The SEHA New Corniche Hospital has been designed to reflect the needs of mothers and newborns, ensuring care that is compassionate and centered around families. PureHealth is proud to help build an environment that will continue to serve our community for generations to come and strengthen Abu Dhabi’s global leadership in healthcare.”
Saeed Jaber Al Kuwaiti, Group Chief Executive Officer of SEHA, highlighted that, “This new chapter ensures mothers and newborns receive the highest level of care in an environment designed entirely around their needs. Together with Sheikh Khalifa Medical City and Salma Children’s Rehabilitation Hospital, The SEHA New Corniche Hospital reflects our commitment to excellence and to positioning Abu Dhabi at the forefront of women’s and newborns’ healthcare.”
Hospital capacity and facilities
Corniche Hospital has been serving the community since 1977 and has recorded more than 300,000 births. The hospital accounts for a significant share of births in Abu Dhabi and operates the UAE’s largest Level III neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).
It also provides specialized services through programs focused on adolescent and behavioral healthcare.
The new hospital will extend these services through a purpose-built facility designed for women’s and newborn healthcare. The project is being delivered by Rafed, PureHealth’s healthcare procurement and infrastructure arm.
Upon completion, the SEHA New Corniche Hospital will provide 357 beds across a built-up area of approximately 108,000 square meters and nine floors.
The facility will include a 25-bed antenatal unit with six induction rooms, 11 intensive care unit beds, two ICU isolation rooms, 34 neonatal intensive care unit beds, 80 special care baby unit beds, 148 postpartum and gynecology rooms, four isolation rooms, 44 VIP suites, and three royal suites.
