Abu Dhabi breaks ground on SRH expansion to create UAE’s largest rehabilitation hospital

UAE—Specialized Rehabilitation Hospital (SRH), part of Capital Health, has begun construction of a major expansion in Abu Dhabi that will significantly strengthen rehabilitation and specialty healthcare services across the UAE.

The new development marks the hospital’s next phase of growth and is expected to transform SRH into the country’s largest integrated rehabilitation hospital when it becomes operational by the end of 2028.

The groundbreaking ceremony gathered senior officials from government and healthcare sectors, such as Dr. Fayeza Saif Nasir Alyafe, Executive Director of the Healthcare Quality Sector at the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi; Khalifa Al Mazrouei, Group Chief Investment Officer of Abu Dhabi Capital Group (ADCG); Abubaker Seddiq Al Khoori, Group CEO of ADCG; and Dr. Mishal Al Qasimi, CEO of the Specialized Rehabilitation Hospital and Health Shield Medical Center.

Expanding rehabilitation and specialty care

The extension will be built next to the existing hospital and will substantially increase SRH’s ability to deliver integrated rehabilitation and specialty services.

The expanded facility will combine inpatient rehabilitation, outpatient specialty clinics, orthopaedic and musculoskeletal care, neurosciences, sports medicine, physical medicine, and cardiac rehabilitation within a single coordinated care model.

Once completed, the hospital will have more than 230 inpatient rehabilitation beds, over 30 outpatient clinics and treatment rooms, and approximately 12 Bayt Al Qudra rehabilitation gyms.

This expansion will give SRH the highest number of inpatient rehabilitation beds, outpatient rehabilitation clinics, and rehabilitation gyms under one roof in the UAE.

The project will also introduce new outpatient services in neurology, sports medicine, physical medicine, and cardiac rehabilitation for both adults and children.

Patients will benefit from integrated diagnostic, treatment, and rehabilitation pathways without needing referrals to multiple facilities.

In addition, the expansion includes advanced operating theatres, including an “Operating Room of the Future,” designed to support complex orthopaedic and musculoskeletal procedures while ensuring a seamless transition from surgery to rehabilitation.

Supporting Abu Dhabi’s healthcare ambitions

Abubaker Seddiq Al Khoori said investments in specialized healthcare are essential for strengthening the resilience and long-term sustainability of health systems.

He noted that the expansion demonstrates ADCG’s confidence in Abu Dhabi’s vision for advanced healthcare and its commitment to building institutions capable of delivering world-class specialized services while reducing the need for patients to seek treatment abroad.

Khalifa Al Mazrouei added that SRH has earned a strong reputation for rehabilitation outcomes and clinical excellence.

He said the new development will enable the hospital to serve more patients from across the UAE and the wider region while supporting Abu Dhabi’s ambitions to become a leading destination for medical tourism through integrated surgical, rehabilitation, and outpatient services.

Dr. Mishal Al Qasimi explained that the hospital’s 2026 organizational theme, “Growth Through Learning,” has guided every aspect of the expansion.

According to him, the project builds on lessons learned from patients, families, and multidisciplinary teams to create more responsive systems and improve care for individuals with increasingly complex rehabilitation needs.

Aligned with wider healthcare development

The expansion supports Abu Dhabi Vision 2030 by improving access to specialized care, enhancing patient outcomes, and strengthening healthcare infrastructure.

It also complements the emirate’s broader investment in advanced healthcare facilities.

Earlier this month, Abu Dhabi also broke ground on the new SEHA Corniche Hospital, part of the emirate’s dedicated medical city for women and children’s healthcare, highlighting continued investment in specialized treatment centers and integrated models of care.