In a major win for employee welfare and government efficiency, the UAE has launched an enhanced version of the ‘Ajr wa Aafya’ bundle, dramatically simplifying medical-related processes for government employees and new job candidates.

The initiative, which translates to “Reward and Wellbeing”, is a core component of the UAE’s ambitious Zero Government Bureaucracy Programme. It aims to eliminate redundant steps and enhance the quality of life for federal workers by leveraging digital integration and artificial intelligence.

Goodbye Bureaucracy, Hello Efficiency

The revamped ‘Ajr wa Aafya’ Bundle streamlines six key services related to sick leave, medical reports, and pre-employment fitness screening. The improvements are delivering tangible time savings:

• Sick Leave Approvals: Processing time for sick leave requests requiring a medical committee review has been reduced by a massive 55%.
• New Employee Medical Fitness: The time taken for medical fitness examinations for new hires is 41% faster.
• Procedure Streamlining: The overall number of procedures has been reduced from 34 to just 21, with unnecessary requirements eliminated.

This transformation is achieved through linking government systems, specifically the Ministry of Health and Prevention (MoHAP), Federal Authority for Government Human Resources (FAHR), and Emirates Health Services (EHS), to create a single, seamless digital workflow.

The Dual Focus: Reward and Wellbeing

The updated ‘Ajr wa Aafya’ package replaces complex paperwork, ensuring that employees can focus on their health and return to work without administrative delays.

Key Services in the Bundle:

• Attestation of sick leaves and medical reports.
• Processing of sick leave requests (5 days or less, and more than 5 days).
• Patient companion’s leave requests (inside and outside the UAE).
• Pre-Employment Medical Fitness Screening for new federal candidates.

This move further cements the UAE’s position as a global benchmark for government excellence, efficiency, and a commitment to employee well-being.

Dubai Healthcare City (DHCC) is set for a major transformation, with the announcement of a Dh1.3 billion development plan for its Phase 1 zone, a project designed to strengthen Dubai’s position as a global healthcare and investment hub.

The expansion will feature a LEED Platinum-certified office tower, a state-of-the-art medical complex, and upgraded infrastructure built to support long-term growth and innovation in the healthcare sector.

Issam Galadari, CEO of Dubai Healthcare City Authority, said the initiative aligns with the Dubai Economic Agenda (D33) and the UAE Net Zero Strategy 2050, emphasising the integration of sustainability, smart design, and innovation across the city’s medical ecosystem.

The upcoming 13,000-square-metre office tower, spanning nine floors and three basement levels, will provide flexible commercial spaces designed to meet international sustainability standards. Meanwhile, the 5,800-square-metre medical complex will include surgical centres, laboratories, diagnostics, and outpatient facilities, all built for future adaptability.

Supporting developments will include Salik-integrated smart car parks with EV charging stations and full accessibility features.

Construction is set to begin in December 2025, with completion expected by November 2027.

The UAE is about to take a giant leap in healthcare and urban transport with its first hospital air taxi hub. Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, in partnership with Archer Aviation, will convert its existing helipad so both helicopters and electric air taxis can take off and land, a dual-use vertiport.

This means patients, visitors, and even urgent medical shipments like donor organs can travel within minutes, cutting down long car journeys that can take up to 90 minutes to just 10–30 minutes.

Faster Travel for Patients and Visitors

The new hub will use Archer’s electric aircraft, Midnight, a four-passenger plane that is quieter and produces less pollution than traditional helicopters. It’s designed for short trips, so patients can reach nearby destinations quickly or fly between hospitals when time is critical.

Building on Abu Dhabi’s Air Taxi Network

Earlier this year, Abu Dhabi tested flying taxis at the Cruise Terminal, where pilotless electric aircraft successfully took off, landed, and cruised above the marina. The Cleveland Clinic hub will expand this network, making it the first hospital in the UAE with its own air taxi service.

When Can You Expect Flights?

Archer plans to launch passenger flights in Abu Dhabi later this year, working with Abu Dhabi Aviation for pilot training, operations, and community awareness. Midnight aircraft are designed for rapid back-to-back flights, meaning short waits between trips.

A Glimpse Into the Future

This hospital air taxi hub shows how the UAE is combining healthcare, technology, and smart urban mobility. Residents and patients can soon expect quicker, cleaner, and quieter travel, marking a new chapter in how people move across the emirates.