Intensive Care in the UAE

Intensive care is an essential component of modern medicine, as it provides care for a subgroup of very sick patients. These patients often have complex medical histories and require need close monitoring and advanced organ support not available outside the intensive care unit. Furthermore, due to the high disease burden, multiple specialties and service providers from different backgrounds are often involved in delivering multidisciplinary care to achieve better outcomes for patients. Having very sick patients concentrated geographically in one area, with proximity to supporting services such as operating rooms, diagnostic and interventional imaging, a high caregiver-patient ratio, and advanced equipment, makes intensive care delivery logistically and financially challenging. As such, efficient utilization of such a scarce and costly service is of paramount importance. In this chapter, we describe intensive care in the United Arab Emirates, including the historical background, the epidemiology of critically ill patients, intensive care delivery, community perceptions and needs, and intensive care training. We conclude with intensive care outcomes and a future outlook.