Abu Dhabi Health Data Services Recognized as Global Reference Site

Healthcare Interoperability Milestone

Abu Dhabi Health Data Services (ADHDS), part of the M42 group, received formal recognition from SNOMED International as a Global Reference Site for Data Standardisation and SNOMED CT implementation. The designation was formalized through a Memorandum of Understanding signed at the 8th ZIMAM Digital Health Forum by ADHDS CEO Kareem Shahin and SNOMED International CEO Don Sweete. The recognition follows the success of Malaffi, the first Health Information Exchange in the MENA region to achieve comprehensive SNOMED CT deployment at scale. Malaffi connects over 3,000 healthcare facilities with more than 52,000 authorized users accessing 3.5 million clinical records. The system spans multiple clinical domains including diagnoses, allergies, chronic diseases, family history, social history, and diagnostic procedures.

Technical Excellence and Cost Efficiency

ADHDS embedded SNOMED CT directly at the source EMR level rather than using third-party terminology servers, ensuring clinical data accuracy at the point of entry. This architectural approach has eliminated ongoing maintenance and licensing costs while improving clinical data quality across Abu Dhabi's healthcare ecosystem. The implementation encompasses 90+ different electronic medical record systems, maintaining semantic consistency across diverse platforms. The standardized data infrastructure enables AI-driven healthcare applications, advanced analytics, predictive modeling, and improved clinical decision-making. Real-time population health surveillance, disease registries, and evidence-based policymaking are now supported through the robust data foundation.

Regulatory Framework and Strategic Support

The success stems from the Department of Health Abu Dhabi's coding standards guidance issued in November 2021, combined with the UAE's SNOMED International membership. "The success of Malaffi's SNOMED CT implementation demonstrates how public-private partnerships can drive transformational change in healthcare delivery," said Ibrahim Al Jallaf, Executive Director of Digital Health Sector at DoH.

As a Global Reference Site, ADHDS will share proven methodologies, governance frameworks, and best practices to advance digital transformation initiatives across the UAE and broader Middle East region. The organization's expertise in multi-stakeholder collaboration and quality assurance processes provides a scalable blueprint for healthcare systems seeking effective data standardization solutions.

Don Sweete, CEO of SNOMED International, noted that "ADHDS and Malaffi represent the gold standard for healthcare data standardisation implementation," highlighting their achievement in maintaining semantic consistency across thousands of facilities. The recognition positions Abu Dhabi at the forefront of AI-driven healthcare innovation in the region.