Abu Dhabi: The Ministry of Health and Prevention (MoHAP), in collaboration with health authorities and AstraZeneca, has unveiled the National Guideline for Lung Cancer Screening and Diagnosis to promote early detection and timely treatment of lung cancer in the UAE.
The guideline aims to provide high-quality healthcare services based on international standards and scientific evidence, while establishing a preventive and proactive health system that supports longer, healthier lives.
The launch took place during a two-day conference in Dubai, attended by Dr. Hussain Abdul Rahman Al Rand, Assistant Undersecretary for the Public Health Sector at MoHAP, members of the National Committee for Cancer Control, and representatives from health authorities involved in developing the guideline.
National Scientific Guideline for Sustainable Health.
Using artificial intelligence, early diagnosis, and an advanced screening system, the guideline enhances the accuracy of lung cancer detection and treatment, developing evidence-based healthcare services and maintaining the… pic.twitter.com/3llND7XHdi— وزارة الصحة ووقاية المجتمع – MOHAP UAE (@mohapuae) November 12, 2025
These included the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi Public Health Centre (ADPHC), Emirates Health Services (EHS), Dubai Health Authority (DHA), Dubai Health, Sheikh Khalifa Specialty Hospital (SKSH) in Ras Al Khaimah, Emirates Oncology Society, AstraZeneca, and leading cancer specialists nationwide.
The guideline provides an integrated framework to define high-risk populations, screening eligibility, and data documentation requirements for the lung cancer screening program. It ensures safe, high-quality care, facilitates timely referrals for diagnosis and treatment, evaluates the national lung cancer status, identifies opportunities for early detection, and offers evidence-based recommendations to reduce incidence and mortality.
Applicable to all primary healthcare centers and hospitals offering early cancer detection services, the guideline targets individuals aged 50 to 80 years who meet specific risk criteria. Eligible individuals can be invited for screening through primary healthcare visits, smoking cessation centers under the National Tobacco Control Program, or pre-register electronically via approved health platforms and licensed institutions.
Dr. Hussain Abdul Rahman Al Rand stressed that the launch of the National Guideline for Lung Cancer Screening and Diagnosis demonstrates the UAE’s commitment to preventive and proactive healthcare, while strengthening national efforts to reduce non-communicable diseases and cancer-related deaths.
The guideline provides a unified framework of clinical standards and evidence-based scientific tools that enable early diagnosis, improve treatment outcomes, and enhance patients’ quality of life, Al Rand noted.
The Assistant Undersecretary emphasized that addressing lung cancer requires a comprehensive approach, one that includes raising public awareness about its risks, intensifying efforts to reduce smoking, and improving air quality, in line with ‘We the UAE 2031’ and the UN Sustainable Development Goals 2030.
UAE attaches the highest priority to reducing tobacco-related chronic diseases through national legislation and preventive health policies, including the excise tax on tobacco products and the regulation of electronic nicotine products, which have contributed to a measurable decline in tobacco use nationwide.
Dr. Al Rand reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to developing an integrated national early detection system, leveraging innovation and artificial intelligence to safeguard public health and strengthen the UAE’s position as a regional and global model for preventive healthcare.
For her part, Dr. Buthaina Bin Belaila, Head of the Non-Communicable Disease and Mental Health Department, MoHAP, said that cancer is the third leading cause of death among non-communicable diseases after cardiovascular disease and injuries in the UAE, accounting for 12.4 percent of total deaths in 2023.
Bin Belaila noted that despite the heavy burden posed by cancer, most cases are preventable through early detection, and that the guideline aims to enable healthcare providers to diagnose lung cancer early and initiate prompt treatment, thereby improving patient outcomes and reducing mortality rates.
Artificial intelligence will play a vital role in implementing the standards and procedures outlined in the guideline by supporting image analysis and diagnostic confirmation with radiology specialists, Dr. Buthaina added.
The guideline will also incorporate artificial intelligence and computer-aided diagnostic (CAD) systems to support imaging analysis, confirm diagnoses, reduce medical errors, and streamline workflows across screening centers, ensuring efficient and accurate implementation of the national standards.
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