Burjeel Holdings unveils Alkalma mental health platform in UAE & KSA

UAE—Burjeel Holdings, a prominent healthcare provider in the MENA region, has launched four specialist mental health centers under its new mental health and wellbeing platform, Alkalma.

This initiative comes through the integration of Aspris Healthcare facilities, marking a significant step in expanding mental health services across the UAE and Saudi Arabia.

The centers are strategically located in Dubai’s City Walk and Dubai Healthcare City, Abu Dhabi’s Al Bateen, and Riyadh’s King Abdullah Financial District, offering personalized and adaptable care for a wide range of psychological needs.

These centers provide various therapy formats, including individual, group, and family sessions, all aligned with Alkalma’s mission to create a value-driven mental healthcare ecosystem focused on prevention, accessibility, and overall wellbeing.

Collectively, they have an annual capacity to deliver approximately 90,000 consultations, addressing a critical need in the region where mental health issues affect up to one in five people each year but receive less than 5% of total health spending.

This gap is further widened by a shortage of clinical professionals and limited access to integrated care networks, challenges that Alkalma aims to overcome.

This launch is the first phase of a multi-year expansion strategy designed to establish Alkalma as a scalable platform in major urban markets.

The platform leverages Keralty’s globally recognized value-based care models, which emphasize prevention, early detection, and health risk management.

 Keralty, a Colombia-based healthcare leader with nearly five decades of experience, operates in nine countries, including the U.S., and supports over 500,000 individuals globally in behavioral health.

The joint venture between Burjeel Holdings and Keralty equally shares ownership and combines regional expertise with international best practices

John Sunil, CEO of Burjeel Holdings, highlighted that integrating these centers into their ecosystem is a pivotal step toward realizing their vision of a regional mental health platform grounded in clinical excellence and inclusivity.

 He emphasized that this integration will expand access to high-quality care and accelerate the delivery of meaningful health outcomes for patients and healthcare systems alike.

Dr. Emilio Herrera, CEO of Alkalma, underlined the importance of mental health by stating, “There is no health without mental health.”

He added that establishing a presence in the UAE and Saudi Arabia reflects their commitment to advancing national health priorities and delivering the highest quality care based on scientific evidence.

He described this launch as just the beginning of their efforts to serve the community better.

Shorooq, a leading regional investment manager, facilitated the strategic integration of the Aspris Healthcare facilities.

Mahmoud Adi, Founding Partner at Shorooq, expressed pride in seeing these centers become foundational to a regionally integrated mental health ecosystem, noting the transformative potential of private equity in healthcare sectors that directly impact people’s lives.

Looking ahead, Alkalma plans to fully integrate the centers under a unified brand, increase clinical capacity, and introduce a digital mental health platform aimed at reaching underserved populations.

Further expansion into new communities across the UAE and Saudi Arabia is underway as part of the joint venture’s regional scale-up plan.