Dubai Health is testing a Virtual Intensive Care Unit (ICU) that uses artificial intelligence for round-the-clock monitoring of critical patients. The pilot, showcased at GITEX 2025, aims to spot early warning signs and alert doctors in real time, officials said.
The system has been trialled at AI Jalila Children’s Hospital. Smart cameras and data tools study patients’ movement, facial cues and skin tone to pick up discomfort or sudden changes. Alerts are sent to staff immediately so treatment can start without delay.
Hend Majed Al Abbar, Director of the AI Enablement Department at Dubai Health, said the Virtual ICU links AI-enabled cameras with the authority’s Salama electronic medical record platform. By combining video analytics with clinical data, the model is designed to boost patient safety and improve survival chances.
The AI also logs vital signs such as heart rate and blood pressure and tracks other physiological changes in real time, creating a continuous record for doctors.
Separately, Dubai Health is piloting “Virufy,” a mobile app that uses AI to analyse respiratory sounds to detect illnesses. Research for this project is under way at Nad AI Hamar and AI Barsha Clinics with support from Dubai Future Solutions’ Prototypes for Humanity programme. Data from these sites will be used to check how accurate the app is before any wider rollout.
Officials say these digital health projects mark a major step towards integrating AI in intensive care, with the goal of stronger safety, faster response and better clinical efficiency across the emirate.
