The UAE has invested heavily in child-friendly hospitals over the past decade, with JCI accreditation and international-standard pediatric treatment now widely available across Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Recent years have brought genuine expansion in dedicated pediatric oncology and cardiology units, minimally invasive robotic surgery for children, advanced pediatric intensive care with ECMO support, child-friendly virtual reality for pain management, and family-centred care programmes with integrated psychological support. Here are seven of the country’s most respected pediatric hospitals, along with the practical details to help you choose.
1. Al Jalila Children’s Specialty Hospital — Oud Metha, Dubai
What it is: The first dedicated children’s hospital in the United Arab Emirates, Al Jalila Children’s was ordered to be built by Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum as a gift to the children of the UAE, celebrating his daughter Al Jalila’s first birthday. Founded in 2016, this 200-bed tertiary and quaternary care facility is a flagship institution of Dubai Health, built specifically to provide the highest level of pediatric care in the country.
Services offered: The hospital covers a genuinely comprehensive range of pediatric subspecialties: pediatric neurosciences, pediatric heart care, child and adolescent mental health, cancer and blood disorders, kidney care, cardiology, endocrinology, pulmonology, rheumatology, genetics, plastic surgery, orthopedics, gastroenterology, oncology, dermatology, emergency care, transplant services, oral/maxillofacial care, rehabilitation, PICU/CICU/NICU, radiology (general, interventional, and neuro), otolaryngology, infectious disease, and general surgery. The hospital’s genomics programme, Little Falcon, has been recognised by Nature for harnessing “super-speedy” genomics to deliver more precise, patient-centric care.
Timings: Operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Connectivity: Located on Oud Metha Road, Al Jaddaf, Dubai, on a campus adjacent to Latifa Hospital, accessible from Sheikh Zayed Road in the area opposite Wafi Mall and the Raffles Hotel. Dubai Healthcare City is in the immediate vicinity. Oud Metha Metro Station on the Green Line is close by, with several connecting RTA bus routes serving the area directly, including routes to Al Ghubaiba, Business Bay, and Dubai Healthcare City.
Nearby areas: Al Jaddaf, Oud Metha, Wafi Mall, and Dubai Healthcare City — all within a few minutes’ drive, with Al Garhoud (7 minutes), Za’abeel 1 (10 minutes), and Al Karama (12 minutes) also close by.
2. Reem Hospital — Al Reem Island, Abu Dhabi
What it is: A leading pediatric hospital in Abu Dhabi, Reem Hospital’s pediatric department offers comprehensive in-patient and out-patient care for children of all ages, from newborns to young adults, delivered by some of the best pediatricians in the capital.
Services offered: Regular check-ups for monitoring growth and development, preventive care including vaccinations and immunizations, and assessment and treatment for any signs of illness or behavioural change. The department is supported by an outstanding laboratory and imaging centre, with a focus on family-centred care and a child-friendly environment maintained to the highest standards of hygiene and infection control.
Timings: Standard hospital outpatient hours for pediatric consultations; 24/7 emergency and inpatient care as standard for a full-service hospital.
Connectivity: Located on Al Reem Island, a mixed-purpose community connected to Abu Dhabi island by bridge — reachable by car, taxi, or public bus, with no metro access given Abu Dhabi’s current transit infrastructure.
Nearby areas: Al Reem Island’s residential towers and Reem Mall, a major nearby shopping and entertainment destination.
3. Sheikh Khalifa Medical City — Abu Dhabi
What it is: Part of the Abu Dhabi Health Services Company (SEHA) network and managed by Cleveland Clinic, Sheikh Khalifa Medical City has recently expanded its pediatric offering with new oncology and cardiology wings, positioning it among the most advanced pediatric care centres in the capital.
Services offered: Advanced pediatric oncology and cardiology treatment, alongside the hospital’s broader specialty network — a genuinely significant recent expansion aimed at reducing the need for families to travel abroad for complex pediatric cancer or heart conditions.
Timings: Standard hospital outpatient hours for pediatric consultations; 24/7 emergency and inpatient services.
Connectivity: Reachable by car, taxi, or public bus; Abu Dhabi has no operational metro system, so private or public road transport is the only option.
Nearby areas: Positioned within Abu Dhabi’s central medical district.
4. Emirates Hospitals Group — Multiple Locations (Dubai)
What it is: The Department of Pediatrics at Emirates Hospitals provides compassionate, high-quality healthcare for infants, children, and adolescents across multiple Dubai locations, with a pediatric team comprising over 15 consultants and specialists, including US, UK, and French Board-Certified pediatricians with more than 200 years of combined experience.
Services offered: A full spectrum of advanced pediatric services, from preventive care to complex diagnostics and treatment, supported by cutting-edge technology and a suite of subspecialty clinics. The group’s pediatric specialists cover conditions ranging from childhood obesity and iron deficiency anemia to more complex developmental and chronic conditions, with several consultants offering public education content on topics like vaccine safety.
Timings: Standard outpatient hours across branches; call 800 444 444 or book online for appointment scheduling.
Connectivity: Branches are located in Jumeirah, Dubai Healthcare City, Motor City, Dubai Marina, Business Bay, and Palm Jumeirah, giving families flexibility to choose the most conveniently located branch — Dubai Healthcare City is reachable via nearby metro stations on the Green Line, while other branches are best reached by car or taxi.
Nearby areas: Varies significantly by branch, spanning some of Dubai’s most established residential and business districts.
5. American Hospital Dubai — Oud Metha
What it is: One of Dubai’s most established private hospitals, American Hospital Dubai offers pediatric care as part of its broader internationally accredited specialty network, drawing on decades of reputation across cardiology, oncology, and other advanced specialities.
Services offered: General and specialised pediatric care, benefiting from the hospital’s wider multidisciplinary infrastructure — useful for children whose conditions may require input from multiple specialities beyond pediatrics alone.
Timings: Standard hospital outpatient hours; 24/7 emergency care as standard for a full-service hospital.
Connectivity: Located in Oud Metha, close to Al Jalila Children’s Hospital and reasonably close to Oud Metha Metro Station on the Green Line.
Nearby areas: Oud Metha, Dubai Healthcare City, and Wafi City.
6. Latifa Hospital — Al Jaddaf, Dubai
What it is: A large public hospital and part of the Dubai Health Authority (DHA) network, Latifa Hospital sits on a shared campus adjacent to Al Jalila Children’s Hospital, offering more affordable pediatric and maternity care alongside its broader services.
Services offered: General pediatric care as part of its wider outpatient and inpatient services, alongside its established maternity ward — a useful, more budget-accessible option for families in the same medical district as Al Jalila Children’s.
Timings: 24-hour emergency coverage; outpatient appointments follow standard government hospital hours.
Connectivity: Located on Oud Metha Road in Al Jaddaf, reachable via Oud Metha Metro Station on the Green Line.
Nearby areas: Al Jaddaf, Oud Metha, and the wider Dubai Healthcare City medical corridor.
7. Burjeel Medical City — Mohammed Bin Zayed City, Abu Dhabi
What it is: A quaternary care hospital treating adults and children across 60 medical specialities, Burjeel Medical City is one of Abu Dhabi’s largest and most comprehensive healthcare facilities, having performed the first living-donor pediatric liver transplant in the UAE.
Services offered: Advanced pediatric care as part of its quaternary-level specialty mix, benefiting from the hospital’s broader complex-care infrastructure spanning organ transplants, oncology, and neurosurgery alongside standard pediatric services.
Timings: Standard hospital outpatient hours for pediatric consultations; 24/7 emergency and surgical care.
Connectivity: Located in Mohammed Bin Zayed City, reachable by car, taxi, or public bus; no metro station serves the area.
Nearby areas: Mohammed Bin Zayed City’s broader medical and residential district.
How to Choose the Right Pediatric Hospital
With so many strong options across the UAE, a few practical factors can help guide your decision. First, consider the complexity of your child’s condition — for advanced or rare pediatric conditions requiring specialised subspecialty care, dedicated children’s hospitals like Al Jalila Children’s or quaternary centres like Burjeel Medical City and Sheikh Khalifa Medical City offer the deepest multidisciplinary infrastructure. Second, check for a child-friendly environment specifically, since anxiety management and a comfortable setting genuinely matter for pediatric outcomes — most hospitals on this list emphasise family-centred care and psychological support as part of their approach. Third, factor in location and accessibility for routine visits, particularly for chronic conditions requiring frequent follow-up — a hospital’s proximity to home or work can meaningfully reduce the logistical burden over time. Finally, for families travelling from abroad, look for hospitals with dedicated international patient coordinators and transparent package pricing, a service several of the facilities above have specifically developed given the UAE’s growing role in pediatric medical tourism.
FAQs — Best Pediatric Hospitals in the UAE
Q1. Which is the first dedicated children’s hospital in the UAE? A: Al Jalila Children’s Specialty Hospital in Oud Metha, Dubai, founded in 2016 as the country’s first tertiary and quaternary care facility built exclusively for children.
Q2. Is there a metro station near Al Jalila Children’s Hospital? A: Yes — Oud Metha Metro Station on the Green Line is nearby, with several connecting RTA bus routes serving the surrounding Dubai Healthcare City and Al Jaddaf area.
Q3. Is there a metro station near Abu Dhabi’s pediatric hospitals? A: No — Abu Dhabi doesn’t currently have an operational metro system. Facilities like Reem Hospital, Sheikh Khalifa Medical City, and Burjeel Medical City are all reached by car, taxi, or public bus.
Q4. What pediatric subspecialties are available at Al Jalila Children’s Hospital? A: A genuinely comprehensive range, including pediatric neurosciences, cardiology, oncology, orthopedics, gastroenterology, dermatology, rehabilitation, and PICU/CICU/NICU care, among many others.
Q5. Do UAE pediatric hospitals treat international patients? A: Yes — many, including Al Jalila Children’s, Reem Hospital, and Sheikh Khalifa Medical City, have well-established international patient programmes, drawing families from Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, India, Nigeria, Ethiopia, Russia, and Kazakhstan.
Q6. What recent advances have UAE pediatric hospitals made? A: Expansion of dedicated pediatric oncology and cardiology units, adoption of minimally invasive robotic surgery for children, growth of advanced pediatric intensive care with ECMO support, and introduction of child-friendly virtual reality for pain management.
Q7. Where can I find more affordable pediatric care in Dubai? A: Latifa Hospital, a public DHA-run facility located on the same campus as Al Jalila Children’s Hospital, offers more budget-accessible pediatric and maternity care compared to Dubai’s private hospital network.