Abu Dhabi's main maternity hospital is to be replaced by a state-of-the-art medical centre for women and children that aims to be “the best in the world”.
Corniche Hospital – which is renowned for delivering more than 6,000 babies a year – will be replaced by a seven-floor hospital, three times the size of the current building.
It will feature 215 patient rooms, 20 labour and delivery rooms, a foetal medicine unit designed for high-risk pregnancies, plus 90 cots for newborns in the neonatal intensive care unit, officials.
There will also be underground parking, while a bridge will connect the new hospital to Sheikh Khalifa Medical City, to allow easy access for patients.
Construction is currently under way, with the project set for completion in 2027.
The existing Corniche Hospital building, which opened its doors to patients in 1977, will become a heritage centre on the same site, said officials.
Dr Paul Bosio, chief medical officer at Corniche Hospital, said the new medical centre aims to continue the hospital's legacy, through enhancing services to match the best in the world.
“Corniche Hospital has been a cornerstone in Abu Dhabi's healthcare journey,” he told The National.
“Our commitment to the community has been unwavering.
Corniche Hospital is one of the longest-serving hospitals in the country, used by generations of women.
The maternity hospital opened to expectant mothers in 1984, seven years after the facility itself.
The new hospital's architecture will be inspired by Burj Khalifa in Dubai, with the design drawing inspiration from the hymenocallis flower – also called the spider lily – that grows across the UAE.
This will be complemented by an intricate veil design draped delicately over the upper levels of the new hospital, to provide a touch of femininity to the building.
“Our design philosophy for the new Corniche Hospital is a mirror of our approach to health care – deeply rooted in the community's culture, yet forward-looking and innovative,” Dr Bosio said.
He added that the new patient rooms will be a significant upgrade to the hospital's current 180-bed set up.
“Each room will be a luxurious private single room, reflecting our commitment to patient privacy and individualised care.
“There will no longer be shared rooms for patients, with a major highlight being single rooms with NICU cots for mothers to remain next to their pre-term babies.”
The NICU's 90 cots compares with 64 at present.
“For the first time, mothers will have the opportunity to stay with their newborns in the NICU, enhancing the care experience and fostering early bonding,” Dr Bosio said.
The hospital's labour and delivery unit will also be expanded.
“We are planning to have up to 20 labour and delivery rooms, several of which will be equipped with birthing pools.
“This expansion is geared towards offering a diverse range of birthing experiences, prioritising comfort and choice for mothers.”
The hospital, which sits adjacent to Sheikh Khalifa Medical City, aims to use its proximity to enhance its capabilities, especially in managing complex cases.
“This collaboration with SKMC is a strategic advantage, allowing us to pool resources and expertise, and offering comprehensive care,” Dr Bosio said.
The introduction of a state-of-the-art foetal medicine unit is another key feature, which will be equipped for sophisticated in-utero surgeries.
“We're focusing on providing specialised care for high-risk pregnancies. This includes managing complex conditions and performing advanced procedures to treat foetuses in utero.”
The Foetal Medicine Unit at Corniche Hospital is among few centres globally that offer advanced foetal surgeries. Its most common procedure is separating vessels shared between twins in the womb.
Last year, surgeons performed more than 300 foetal procedures, with one of their most unusual cases involving a baby whose blood supply was feeding into a large tumour in the placenta.
“Our goal is to remain Abu Dhabi's primary provider of maternity care while also positioning ourselves as a leader in maternity and neonatal care globally,” said Dr Bosio.
“Our vision is to be acknowledged as the best in the world, a vision that this new facility brings us closer to realising.
“We are already the best in Abu Dhabi, what we want now is to be the best in the world.”
More on animal trafficking
New UK refugee system
- A new “core protection” for refugees moving from permanent to a more basic, temporary protection
- Shortened leave to remain - refugees will receive 30 months instead of five years
- A longer path to settlement with no indefinite settled status until a refugee has spent 20 years in Britain
- To encourage refugees to integrate the government will encourage them to out of the core protection route wherever possible.
- Under core protection there will be no automatic right to family reunion
- Refugees will have a reduced right to public funds
Lexus LX700h specs
Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor
Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 790Nm from 2,000-3,600rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 11.7L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh590,000
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
What can victims do?
Always use only regulated platforms
Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion
Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)
Report to local authorities
Warn others to prevent further harm
Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence
How has net migration to UK changed?
The figure was broadly flat immediately before the Covid-19 pandemic, standing at 216,000 in the year to June 2018 and 224,000 in the year to June 2019.
It then dropped to an estimated 111,000 in the year to June 2020 when restrictions introduced during the pandemic limited travel and movement.
The total rose to 254,000 in the year to June 2021, followed by steep jumps to 634,000 in the year to June 2022 and 906,000 in the year to June 2023.
The latest available figure of 728,000 for the 12 months to June 2024 suggests levels are starting to decrease.
8 UAE companies helping families reduce their carbon footprint
Greenheart Organic Farms
This Dubai company was one of the country’s first organic farms, set up in 2012, and it now delivers a wide array of fruits and vegetables grown regionally or in the UAE, as well as other grocery items, to both Dubai and Abu Dhabi doorsteps.
www.greenheartuae.com
Modibodi
Founded in Australia, Modibodi is now in the UAE with waste-free, reusable underwear that eliminates the litter created by a woman’s monthly cycle, which adds up to approximately 136kgs of sanitary waste over a lifetime.
www.modibodi.ae
The Good Karma Co
From brushes made of plant fibres to eco-friendly storage solutions, this company has planet-friendly alternatives to almost everything we need, including tin foil and toothbrushes.
www.instagram.com/thegoodkarmaco
Re:told
One Dubai boutique, Re:told, is taking second-hand garments and selling them on at a fraction of the price, helping to cut back on the hundreds of thousands of tonnes of clothes thrown into landfills each year.
www.shopretold.com
Lush
Lush provides products such as shampoo and conditioner as package-free bars with reusable tins to store.
www.mena.lush.com
Bubble Bro
Offering filtered, still and sparkling water on tap, Bubble Bro is attempting to ensure we don’t produce plastic or glass waste. Founded in 2017 by Adel Abu-Aysha, the company is on track to exceeding its target of saving one million bottles by the end of the year.
www.bubble-bro.com
Coethical
This company offers refillable, eco-friendly home cleaning and hygiene products that are all biodegradable, free of chemicals and certifiably not tested on animals.
www.instagram.com/coethical
Eggs & Soldiers
This bricks-and-mortar shop and e-store, founded by a Dubai mum-of-four, is the place to go for all manner of family products – from reusable cloth diapers to organic skincare and sustainable toys.
www.eggsnsoldiers.com
The Penguin
Starring: Colin Farrell, Cristin Milioti, Rhenzy Feliz
Creator: Lauren LeFranc
Rating: 4/5
Wicked: For Good
Director: Jon M Chu
Starring: Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo, Jonathan Bailey, Jeff Goldblum, Michelle Yeoh, Ethan Slater
Rating: 4/5
When Umm Kulthum performed in Abu Dhabi
Known as The Lady of Arabic Song, Umm Kulthum performed in Abu Dhabi on November 28, 1971, as part of celebrations for the fifth anniversary of the accession of Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan as Ruler of Abu Dhabi. A concert hall was constructed for the event on land that is now Al Nahyan Stadium, behind Al Wahda Mall. The audience were treated to many of Kulthum's most well-known songs as part of the sold-out show, including Aghadan Alqak and Enta Omri.
