Imagine walking into any hospital in the UAE, and the doctor already has access to your full medical history—no paperwork, no re-examinations, no guesswork. That’s the power of Riayati, the UAE’s groundbreaking National Unified Medical Record (NUMR) platform. As the UAE accelerates its digital health transformation, this platform emerges as a central pillar in connecting healthcare data across all seven emirates—securely, intelligently, and efficiently. Whether you’re a healthcare professional, a policymaker, or a curious citizen, understanding this platform is crucial in grasping how the UAE is shaping a more integrated and patient-centric healthcare ecosystem.

What is Riayati?

Riayati is the UAE Ministry of Health and Prevention’s (MoHAP) flagship health information exchange (HIE) platform. It is designed to create a centralized, unified health record for every UAE resident. It connects public and private healthcare providers across the country, enabling real-time sharing of patient data, such as:

Medical history
Lab results
Imaging records
Prescriptions
Allergies
Diagnoses

In essence, Riayati is the digital bloodstream of the UAE’s healthcare sector, ensuring continuity of care regardless of where you seek treatment.

The Vision Behind Riayati

The UAE’s national vision aligns with the UAE Centennial 2071 and Digital Government Strategy, both of which aim to enhance quality of life and develop world-class healthcare services. Riayati plays a critical role in:

Improving health outcomes by facilitating faster, more accurate diagnoses
Reducing duplication of services, such as unnecessary lab tests
Empowering patients to be active participants in their health journey
Enabling evidence-based policy making through health data analytics

MoHAP’s overarching goal is to build a “Connected Health Ecosystem”, and Riayati is the cornerstone of this transformation.

Riayati vs. NABIDH and Malaffi: Key Differences

While Riayati operates at the national level, it coexists with NABIDH (Dubai) and Malaffi (Abu Dhabi)—the health information exchanges operating at the emirate level.

Feature	Riayati	NABIDH (Dubai)	Malaffi (Abu Dhabi)
Scope	Nationwide	Emirate-level (Dubai)	Emirate-level (Abu Dhabi)
Managed by	MoHAP	Dubai Health Authority	Department of Health – Abu Dhabi
Integration	Integrates with NABIDH & Malaffi	Focused on DHA facilities	Focused on Abu Dhabi providers
Target Audience	All UAE healthcare entities	Dubai-based providers	Abu Dhabi-based providers

Interoperability between these platforms is a key part of the UAE’s healthcare strategy. Riayati acts as the central hub that links all emirate-specific platforms into a single national network.

Core Features of the Riayati Platform

Riayati is not just a data repository—it’s a dynamic, intelligent platform with several integrated components:

1. Unified Medical Record (UMR)

Each patient has a unique, lifelong health record accessible across all licensed facilities in the UAE.

2. Clinical Decision Support System (CDSS)

It offers real-time alerts, such as drug interactions or allergy warnings, helping doctors make safer decisions.

3. E-Referral and E-Prescription Integration

Healthcare providers can seamlessly refer patients or send prescriptions electronically across the network.

4. Public Health Reporting Dashboard

Enables real-time data monitoring for disease surveillance and outbreak response.

5. Mobile and Patient Portal Integration

Patients can access their health records through future integrations with mobile apps and portals.

Benefits for Healthcare Providers

If you’re a healthcare provider, Riayati simplifies your workflows and boosts efficiency:

Faster diagnosis and treatment through instant access to patient history
Reduced administrative burden by automating referrals and data entry
Improved care coordination across specialties and facilities
Compliance with MoHAP and data-sharing mandates

Healthcare providers connected to Riayati are positioned as leaders in offering value-based, patient-centered care.

Benefits for Patients

For you, as a patient, Riayati offers peace of mind and control over your health information:

One record, everywhere – no more repeating your medical history at every clinic
Safer care – doctors can see allergies, past medications, and diagnoses
Better experience – reduced wait times and fewer redundant tests
Health empowerment – greater visibility into your own health journey

As a resident or citizen, your health story travels with you—securely and accurately.

How Riayati Supports Public Health and Policy Making

Riayati isn’t just about individual care. It’s a powerful tool for population health management.

Disease surveillance – Early detection of epidemics or chronic disease trends
Data-driven policymaking – Informs national health strategies and resource allocation
Research enablement – Supports ethical, anonymized health data research
Health equity monitoring – Helps assess disparities in healthcare access and outcomes

By aggregating data at a national level, Riayati helps the government make smarter, faster public health decisions.

Privacy, Security, and Compliance

Given the sensitivity of health data, Riayati adheres to strict data governance frameworks:

HIPAA-aligned security protocols
Role-based access control (RBAC) for healthcare professionals
Patient consent management
End-to-end encryption of all data in transit and at rest
Compliance with UAE’s health data regulations and MoHAP cybersecurity standards

Patients retain control over who sees their data, ensuring a balance between privacy and accessibility.

Challenges and Future Roadmap

Despite its success, Riayati is not without its challenges:

Challenges:

Integrating legacy systems from older hospitals
Ensuring data accuracy across sources
Training healthcare professionals on platform usage
Standardizing terminologies (e.g., ICD-10, SNOMED CT)

Roadmap:

Full integration with NABIDH and Malaffi for seamless nationwide access
AI integration for predictive healthcare analytics
Wearable and remote monitoring data inclusion
Patient mobile app for direct access to personal health records

Riayati represents a monumental leap in how healthcare is delivered, documented, and coordinated across the UAE. From hospitals and clinics to patients and policymakers, every stakeholder benefits from a unified, secure, and intelligent health information exchange. As the UAE progresses toward becoming a global leader in digital health, this system stands as a testament to innovation, collaboration, and patient empowerment. Whether you’re seeking care in Dubai, Sharjah, or Ras Al Khaimah, Riayati ensures that your health journey continues without interruption.

FAQs

1. What is Riayati in UAE healthcare?

Riayati is the UAE’s national health information exchange platform, developed by MoHAP to unify patient records across all healthcare providers nationwide.

2. How is Riayati different from NABIDH and Malaffi?

Riayati operates at the national level, while NABIDH (Dubai) and Malaffi (Abu Dhabi) are emirate-level platforms. It connects them for a unified national record.

3. Is my data on Riayati secure and private?

Yes, Riayati uses advanced encryption, access controls, and adheres to strict data privacy regulations set by MoHAP.

4. Can patients access their own Riayati health records?

Currently, access is primarily for healthcare providers, but MoHAP is working on patient-facing portals and mobile apps.

5. Which facilities are connected to Riayati?

Most major public and private healthcare providers across the UAE are either already connected or in the process of integrating with this platform.