Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City Opens Dedicated Healthcare Pathways for 50,000 Pensioners

A new partnership between the medical city and Abu Dhabi Pension Fund ensures specialised care, priority appointments and wellness initiatives for the nation's retired civil and military servants.

The relationship between a nation and those who have served it does not conclude when their working years end. Rather, it evolves into a commitment to their wellbeing and dignity in the years that follow. This understanding underpins a new collaboration between Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City and the Abu Dhabi Pension Fund, a partnership designed to ensure that more than 50,000 civilian and military pensioners have seamless access to specialised healthcare tailored to their evolving needs.

The memorandum of understanding establishes a framework of practical support. SSMC will create dedicated pathways for pensioners, including priority appointment booking and dedicated telephone lines, streamlining their access to the medical city’s multidisciplinary services. Beyond these operational arrangements, the collaboration embraces a broader vision of healthy ageing, encompassing preventive care, health awareness and wellness initiatives that extend into community events organised by the pension fund.

Marwan Al Kaabi, Chief Executive of SSMC, articulated the medical city’s perspective on this partnership. He emphasised that accessibility to timely, specialised healthcare represents far more than a transactional service. Rather, it reflects an understanding that healthy ageing preserves not merely physical health but also independence and quality of life, supporting individuals as their circumstances and requirements shift over time. This philosophy aligns with SSMC’s established reputation: as we reported in October, the medical city was recognised among the world’s finest for oncology care, demonstrating the calibre of expertise now available to pensioners through this agreement.

Khalaf Abdullah Al Hammadi, Director General of the Abu Dhabi Pension Fund, framed the initiative within a broader institutional philosophy. The Fund’s responsibility, he noted, extends beyond financial stability to encompassing the full wellbeing of those it serves. The partnership reflects a commitment to building strategic collaborations that deliver tangible value, strengthen family bonds and address the growing healthcare needs of the nation’s retired citizens and their families.

The timing of this agreement carries symbolic weight. It aligns with the UAE’s Year of Family, recognising that support for pensioners extends across generations, enabling families to address healthcare needs with greater confidence and peace of mind.

What it means for Abu Dhabi

For Abu Dhabi’s pensioner community, this partnership represents a tangible improvement in healthcare accessibility. The dedicated pathways and priority appointment systems acknowledge the specific requirements of those who have contributed decades to national development, ensuring their medical needs receive appropriate attention and prompt response. The integration of preventive healthcare and wellness initiatives reflects a forward-looking approach to serving this population across the full spectrum of their health journey.

More broadly, the collaboration exemplifies the UAE’s commitment to building comprehensive support systems that honour service and contribution. By connecting a world-class medical institution with the structured framework of the pension fund, Abu Dhabi creates a model of integrated care that extends beyond hospitals into community wellness and family wellbeing. This partnership also builds upon SSMC’s broader mission: the medical city recently partnered with the National Media Authority to advance public health literacy across the UAE, demonstrating its expanding role in the nation’s healthcare ecosystem.

Source: WAM