The UAE provides advanced healthcare for newborns, children, and teenagers. Today, families can access specialist paediatric hospitals and large medical centres offering intensive care, complex surgery, cardiology, neurology, and neonatal services.
However, the best hospital depends on a child’s medical condition. A newborn may require advanced neonatal intensive care, while a child with a heart condition needs specialist paediatric cardiology or cardiac surgery. Therefore, parents should consider subspecialty expertise, emergency services, intensive care facilities, and insurance coverage.
Here are five paediatric hospitals and medical centres worth considering in the UAE in 2026.
1. Al Jalila Children’s Hospital
Al Jalila Children’s Hospital is a dedicated paediatric hospital within the Dubai Health system. It provides medical and surgical care for children from birth to 18 years and remains the UAE’s only standalone children’s hospital.
The hospital covers numerous paediatric specialities and provides a child-focused clinical environment. Moreover, its emergency department operates 24 hours a day throughout the year, supporting children who require urgent assessment and specialist treatment.
In the Best Specialized Hospitals Middle East 2026 ranking, Al Jalila Children’s ranked first in the region for paediatrics. Therefore, it stands out for families seeking specialist children’s healthcare in Dubai.
Key highlights:
- UAE’s only standalone children’s hospital
- Care from birth to 18 years
- 24-hour emergency department
- Specialist paediatric services
2. Sheikh Khalifa Medical City
Sheikh Khalifa Medical City is a major Abu Dhabi healthcare centre with extensive paediatric specialist services. Its clinical network includes experts across paediatric surgery, gastroenterology, allergy and immunology, ophthalmology, and other child health fields.
One of SKMC’s notable strengths is paediatric cardiac care. Its Cardiac Sciences Institute is recognised as a Centre of Excellence for Pediatric Cardiac Surgery and provides Abu Dhabi’s only paediatric cardiac surgery service.
Furthermore, the Children’s Heart Institute manages complex congenital heart conditions and provides neonatal and infant open-heart surgery. Advanced cardiac and respiratory support through ECMO is also available.
Key highlights:
- Advanced paediatric subspecialties
- Pediatric cardiac surgery
- Complex congenital heart care
- ECMO support
3. Burjeel Medical City
Burjeel Medical City provides comprehensive paediatric care for newborns, infants, children, and teenagers in Abu Dhabi. Its child health services combine emergency medicine, advanced diagnostics, surgery, rehabilitation, and more than 15 paediatric subspecialties.
The medical city also provides a Level III NICU and round-the-clock paediatric intensive care. Moreover, its Level IV Pediatric ICU supports critically ill children with advanced ventilation, continuous renal replacement therapy, and ECMO.
For children and teenagers with cancer or blood disorders, Burjeel Medical City has a dedicated 24-bed paediatric haemato-oncology unit. Therefore, the hospital may suit families dealing with complicated or multidisciplinary medical conditions.
Key highlights:
- More than 15 paediatric subspecialties
- Level III NICU
- Level IV Pediatric ICU
- Paediatric oncology services
4. Danat Al Emarat Hospital for Women & Children
Danat Al Emarat in Abu Dhabi provides specialist healthcare for women and children. Its dedicated children’s services cover newborns, infants, and young patients with different medical requirements.
A major feature is its Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. According to the hospital, the NICU is one of the largest and most advanced in Abu Dhabi and can care for more than 100 babies every month.
Specialist neonatologists, nurses, and therapists care for premature and critically ill newborns. Additionally, the hospital’s children’s healthcare environment supports families who need paediatric expertise alongside maternity and neonatal services.
Therefore, Danat Al Emarat can be particularly relevant for newborn and early childhood care.
Key highlights:
- Specialist women and children’s hospital
- Advanced neonatal intensive care
- Premature baby care
- Dedicated children’s services
5. Mediclinic City Hospital
Mediclinic City Hospital in Dubai provides comprehensive paediatric medicine alongside several child health subspecialties. Its services focus on early diagnosis, preventive care, and treatment for children of different ages.
Specialist services include paediatric neurology and pulmonology. For example, its neurologists assess conditions affecting the brain, spinal cord, muscles, and nerves, while respiratory specialists treat asthma, pneumonia, sleep apnoea, and other breathing conditions.
Additionally, the hospital has a six-bed Paediatric Intensive Care Unit providing 24-hour specialised care for critically ill children. The unit manages serious infections, seizures, respiratory distress, and patients recovering from complex paediatric surgery.
Key highlights:
- Comprehensive paediatric medicine
- Paediatric neurology
- Paediatric pulmonology
- 24-hour intensive care
How to Choose a Pediatric Hospital in the UAE
Before choosing a hospital, identify the type of specialist care your child requires. Al Jalila Children’s Hospital provides a dedicated paediatric environment, while SKMC has advanced expertise in children’s cardiac surgery.
Meanwhile, Burjeel Medical City may suit complex cases requiring several paediatric specialists. Danat Al Emarat provides strong neonatal care, whereas Mediclinic City Hospital offers specialist child health and intensive care services.
Additionally, parents should check emergency availability, insurance approvals, specialist appointments, and referral requirements. Most importantly, seek urgent medical care when a child has severe breathing difficulty, loss of consciousness, a serious injury, or other potentially life-threatening symptoms.
FAQs
Q: Which is a dedicated children’s hospital in the UAE?
A: Al Jalila Children’s Hospital is the UAE’s only standalone children’s hospital and provides care for patients from birth to 18 years.
Q: Which UAE hospital provides pediatric cardiac surgery?
A: Sheikh Khalifa Medical City provides paediatric cardiac surgery and operates Abu Dhabi’s only service of this type.
Q: Does Burjeel Medical City have a Pediatric ICU?
A: Yes. Burjeel Medical City provides 24/7 paediatric intensive care and advanced critical care support.
Q: Is Danat Al Emarat suitable for newborn care?
A: Yes. Danat Al Emarat provides specialist neonatal intensive care for premature and critically ill newborns.
Q: Does Mediclinic City Hospital provide pediatric intensive care?
A: Yes. Mediclinic City Hospital has a six-bed PICU providing specialised care around the clock.
