Burjeel Holdings and etisalat sign UAE employee healthcare MoU
Burjeel Holdings has signed a memorandum of understanding with telecommunications group etisalat to give etisalat employees and their dependants structured access to Burjeel's network of hospitals and medical centres across the UAE. The agreement was signed at the Abu Dhabi Future Health Summit 2026 on 21 October.
The MoU was executed by Omran Al Khoori, President of Business Development and Board Member at Burjeel Holdings, and Ali Al Mansoori, Group Chief People and Culture Officer at etisalat, in the presence of Burjeel Chairman and Chief Executive Shamsheer Vayalil.
What the agreement covers
Under the terms of the deal, eligible etisalat employees and their families will receive priority appointment scheduling, round-the-clock assistance via a centralised helpline, and a dedicated point of contact to help navigate Burjeel's facilities. Preferential pricing on eligible services not covered by standard health insurance is also included, along with medication delivery and dedicated support for senior management.
A notable element of the collaboration is its focus on preventive care. Both parties have committed to promoting Burjeel's Integrated Family Health Assessment System (IFHAS), a periodic screening programme designed to detect chronic conditions early. The agreement also covers virtual and in-person health awareness sessions addressing physical and mental well-being, joint community health campaigns, and corporate social responsibility initiatives.
Al Khoori said the collaboration was designed to extend support "beyond treatment to preventive health, early detection, and personalized assistance that can make a meaningful difference to long-term health and quality of life." Al Mansoori framed the deal within the UAE government's Year of the Family initiative, describing employee well-being as a strategic priority for etisalat.
Market context
Corporate health partnerships of this type are becoming increasingly common across the GCC as large employers seek to supplement mandatory insurance schemes with broader occupational health programmes. Burjeel Holdings, which listed on the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange in 2022, operates one of the largest private super-specialty hospital networks in the region, making it a natural partner for large corporate clients seeking to consolidate employee healthcare provision.
The UAE's healthcare sector has seen sustained investment in preventive and digital health infrastructure in recent years, with both federal and emirate-level policy frameworks emphasising early detection and chronic disease management. For Burjeel, corporate MoUs of this kind serve as low-capital volume commitments, generating appointment throughput across its network without the capital intensity of facility expansion. etisalat, now trading as e&, employs tens of thousands of staff across the UAE, making it a sizeable beneficiary pool. The partnership does not involve a disclosed financial value, and no exclusivity terms were referenced in the release. Near-term milestones to watch include the rollout of IFHAS screenings to etisalat employees and any expansion of the agreement to cover etisalat's international workforce.