Dubai Health is testing an innovative “Virtual ICU” system that uses artificial intelligence (AI) to monitor critical patients in real-time, enhancing the responsiveness of healthcare staff. The system, currently being trialled at Al Jalila Children’s Hospital, uses AI cameras to track patient movements, facial recognition, and skin tone, alerting nurses at the first sign of distress. This initiative is part of Dubai’s wider effort to digitise healthcare.
Hend Majed Al Abbar, Director of the AI Enablement Department at Dubai Health, explained the technology’s functionality. “The AI cameras are placed in the ICU and are monitoring the movements of the patients, facial recognition, and the colour of the skin. In case of any signs of discomfort or movements that might put the patient in danger, it will send alerts to the nursing station so they can respond quickly,” she said.
The Virtual ICU system integrates with Salama, Dubai Health’s electronic medical record platform, to track vital signs such as heart rate and blood pressure. This seamless integration enables quicker and more efficient interventions. The system is also being monitored remotely by a command centre at the National Children’s Hospital in Washington DC.
Currently in the testing phase, the Virtual ICU will go live in December at Al Jalila Children’s Hospital. “After that, we will study the impact after implementation and see how we can scale it up to other ICUs in our hospitals,” Al Abbar added. Virtual ICUs are gaining traction worldwide, combining visual analytics with clinical data to enable early intervention, which can reduce both patient mortality and the length of ICU stays.
In addition to the ICU pilot, Dubai Health is also exploring AI applications in the detection of respiratory diseases. One such project, Virufy, is an AI-powered smartphone app that analyses the sounds of a patient’s breathing and cough to predict respiratory conditions. The app is being tested at the Nad Al Hamar and Al Barsha clinics. “It will predict what type of respiratory disease a person might have,” said Al Abbar. The project is part of a collaboration with Dubai Future Solutions’ Prototypes for Humanity programme and is still in its research phase.
Both the Virtual ICU and Virufy mark significant steps towards AI-assisted healthcare in Dubai, where machine learning is being used to support clinicians rather than replace them. These advancements aim to offer quicker responses, earlier risk detection, and more personalised care for patients. With the potential for faster, more accurate diagnoses and interventions, these technologies could significantly improve patient outcomes across Dubai’s healthcare system.
For more on Dubai’s digital healthcare push, see how Dubai Police is partnering with the Department of Finance to enhance digital payments in the healthcare sector here. Additionally, the recent developments in healthcare innovation come as Dubai continues to embrace digital transformation across various sectors, such as the introduction of a fully digital real estate transaction portal in Abu Dhabi here.
