A major milestone in women’s and children’s healthcare has been reached in Abu Dhabi as PureHealth officially celebrated the groundbreaking of the New Corniche Hospital – SEHA, a specialized facility dedicated to women’s health and neonatal care.
The project marks the beginning of construction for what will become the region’s first fully integrated and specialized medical city focused on women, children, and newborns. Designed to provide world-class healthcare services, the development reflects Abu Dhabi’s long-term commitment to supporting families and advancing specialized medical care.
A Comprehensive Medical City for Women and Children
The New Corniche Hospital – SEHA will serve as a cornerstone of the future medical city, which will also include Sheikh Khalifa Medical City, a dedicated pediatric rehabilitation facility, and a specialized mental health center for women and children.
The initiative aligns with the vision announced in 2024 by His Highness Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council, to establish a fully integrated medical destination focused on women’s and children’s healthcare.
Strengthening Family-Centered Healthcare
The groundbreaking ceremony was attended by senior healthcare leaders, including Mansoor Ibrahim Al Mansoori, Chairman of the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi; 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, Chief Executive Officer of SEHA; and Asma Ali Al Helsa, Chief Executive Officer of Corniche Hospital – SEHA.
Dr. Noura Khamis Al Ghaithi highlighted the importance of investing in women’s and children’s health, emphasizing that strong families are the foundation of thriving communities. She noted that the project reflects Abu Dhabi’s commitment to providing specialized, world-class healthcare services while supporting family well-being across generations.
More Than 35 Pediatric Subspecialties
The future medical city will offer more than 35 pediatric subspecialties, ranging from oncology and organ transplantation to diabetes care, allergy and immunology services, neurological rehabilitation, and behavioral sciences.
This broad spectrum of services is expected to position Abu Dhabi as one of the most advanced destinations for women’s and children’s healthcare in the Middle East.
Designed Around Mothers, Babies, and Families
According to PureHealth Group CEO Shaista Asif, the New Corniche Hospital – SEHA has been carefully designed to meet the unique needs of mothers, newborns, and children.
The facility will combine advanced medical capabilities with compassionate, family-centered care, ensuring that patients receive highly specialized treatment in an environment tailored to their physical and emotional needs.
Building on Nearly Five Decades of Excellence
Corniche Hospital has played a vital role in family healthcare since 1977. Over the past five decades, the hospital has recorded more than 300,000 births, with one in every three babies born in Abu Dhabi delivered at the facility.
The hospital is home to the largest and most advanced Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit in the United Arab Emirates and manages nearly half of Abu Dhabi’s neonatal intensive care cases. It has also pioneered specialized care pathways for adolescents and children with autism through its Behavioral Sciences Unit.
The new facility is designed to build on this legacy while introducing enhanced clinical services and innovative healthcare technologies.
State-of-the-Art Facilities
The New Corniche Hospital – SEHA will feature 357 beds across a total built-up area of 108,000 square meters and nine floors.
Key facilities will include 25 antenatal care rooms, six induction rooms, 11 intensive care beds, two intensive care isolation rooms, 34 neonatal intensive care beds, 80 special care nursery units, 148 postnatal and gynecology rooms, four dedicated isolation rooms, 44 VIP suites, and three royal suites.
Supporting Women Through Every Stage of Life
The wider medical city is designed to provide continuous care throughout every stage of a woman’s and child’s healthcare journey. Services will support women before pregnancy, during maternity, throughout newborn care, and into childhood and adolescence.
By bringing these services together within one integrated healthcare ecosystem, Abu Dhabi aims to strengthen family health outcomes, support women’s well-being, and reinforce its position as a global leader in specialized healthcare.
