New global research suggests the UAE is leading a healthcare shift where artificial intelligence and medical expertise work hand in hand.
Residents in the UAE are among the world’s most confident healthcare consumers, combining high levels of trust in medical professionals with a growing reliance on artificial intelligence to support their health decisions.
According to the 2026 Edelman Trust Barometer Special Report: Trust and Health, the UAE recorded the highest levels of confidence in finding health information and making informed healthcare decisions among the 16 countries surveyed. Seven in 10 respondents said they feel confident navigating health information and making choices about their wellbeing.
The findings also highlight how quickly AI has become part of everyday life for many people in the UAE. Nearly 59 per cent of respondents said they use AI to help manage their health, significantly higher than the global average of 35 per cent. The data suggests that AI is moving beyond experimentation and becoming a regular tool for researching symptoms, understanding health information and supporting personal wellness decisions.
Despite the growing role of technology, trust in healthcare professionals remains remarkably strong. Almost nine in 10 UAE residents surveyed said they trust their doctor to provide truthful information about health issues and guidance on protecting public health. This places physicians among the most trusted sources of health information in the country.
The report indicates that many consumers no longer view technology and medical expertise as competing sources of advice. Instead, AI is increasingly being used as a complementary tool alongside professional healthcare guidance.
Trust extends beyond doctors to the wider healthcare ecosystem as well. The study found that 90 per cent of UAE respondents trust local and national health authorities, compared with a global average of 69 per cent. Such confidence helps create an environment where new healthcare technologies and innovations can be adopted more readily.
Taken together, the findings paint a picture of a healthcare landscape in which residents feel empowered to seek information, doctors continue to command trust and technology is becoming a routine part of health decision-making.
As healthcare systems worldwide grapple with declining trust and the spread of misinformation, the UAE appears to be demonstrating how confidence in medical professionals and confidence in emerging technologies can grow side by side, helping shape a more informed and connected healthcare future.
