Dubai-UAE: 18 January, 2015 – His Highness Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman of Dubai Silicon Oasis Authority (DSOA), today unveiled the commemorative plaque of the Fakeeh Academic Medical Center, a state-of-the-art smart hospital and medical university project, being developed by Saudi Arabia’s premier healthcare concept Dr Soliman Fakeeh Hospital (DSFH).
Hosted under the patronage and presence of His Highness Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, the ceremony was attended by Engineer Essa Al Haj Al Maidoor, Director General, Dubai Health Authority, Dr Mohammed Al Zarooni, Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Dubai Silicon Oasis Authority, Dr Mazen Fakeeh, President and Chairman of the Board of Directors at Dr Soliman Fakeeh Hospital and Emad Adnan Madani – KSA Consul General in Dubai as well as officials from the public and private sectors.
Estimated to be built at a cost of AED1 billion across 150,000 square meters at the integrated free zone park, the Fakeeh Academic Medical Center (FAMC) will be constructed in two phases. Phase 1 of the project is set for completion in 2017 and will include the delivery of a 150-bed state-of-the-art smart hospital. Meanwhile, Phase 2 of the project will be completed in 2019, and will step-up the capacity of the hospital with an additional 150-beds. This phase will also add an academic component to the project through the opening of the research-focused university.
Commenting on the landmark project, His Highness Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, said: “Dubai plans to attract 500,000 medical tourists a year and boost its economy by up to AED2.6 billion in the next five years. By hosting FAMC at DSO, we reiterate our complete support to this project throughout the implementation of the prestigious medical facility. The high-profile project seeks to implement the strategy put in place by the executive board for the promotion of Dubai as a leading destination for medical tourism. I am confident FAMC will serve as a hub for research and achieve medical milestones across a wide spectrum of healthcare issues. ”
The DSO-based medical center will be the first smart hospital in the region, comprising IT-enabled patient rooms fitted out with health-monitoring technology. The technology will ensure the hospital conforms to the highest standards of sanitation and significantly reduce possibilities of medical errors. In addition, it will simplify everyday operations and workflow, make documentation easier and free-up quality time for nurses to focus on personalized patient-care.
The 300-bed facility will offer robotics surgery and feature an automated medication dispensing system. The hospital will also include five centers of excellence that specialize in diabetes and endocrinology, muscles, bones and joints, emergency medicine, pulmonary medicine and cardiology.
Dr Mohammed Al Zarooni, said: “Since its establishment, Dubai Silicon Oasis has come a long way in providing a superior quality of life to its residents and business partners. We are confident DSOA’s partnership with the distinguished academic and medical institution will cascade sustainable benefits to the community. More importantly, the venture will contribute to enhancing the study of medical sciences in the UAE and the wider region.”
Dr Mazen Fakeeh, said: “We have chosen Dubai to be home to our largest projects outside of Saudi Arabia for a number of factors, foremost of which is the strong and growing relations between Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. In our decision, we also considered the solid economic and social ties between the two countries, the economic and cultural boom the UAE has been witnessing, and its success in attracting the most prominent global institutions and entities in various industries.
“The second phase of the project, which will be completed in 2019, will also include a best-in-class university established in partnership with one of the largest universities in the world. The medical university will deliver the latest curriculum through the most modern teaching methods. Poised to be the beacon of medical education in the region, the university will also provide student access to the academic hospital to conduct integrated research. The teaching facility will be located within smart buildings, offering the latest modern equipment and laboratories. The university will deliver quality education, supported by a network of international academics and a cadre of academically distinguished professors from around the world.”
Established in 1978, Dr Soliman Fakeeh Hospital is one of the largest private hospitals in the Middle East with a total capacity of 600 beds. A tertiary referral hospital located in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, DSFH is visited by 800,000 patients annually who are served by a medical team comprising 3,000 trained professionals. The hospital underwent extensive expansion in 1986 to offer advanced specializations including open-heart surgery and clinical consultations in neurosurgery, neurology, nephrology, as well as infertility.
A wholly-owned entity of the government of Dubai, DSO operates as a free zone technology park for large enterprises, medium and small companies looking to set up their offices in Dubai.
