HRH Princess Haya Bint Al Hussein, wife of HH Sheikh Mohammad Ben Rashid Al Maktoum, vice president and prime minister of the UAE and ruler of Dubai, was appointed chairperson of the Dubai Healthcare City Authority (DHCA), according to a statement from the Royal Court on Sunday. The Princess pledged to implement Sheikh Mohammad’s vision by assessing previous shortfalls and “realigning Dubai Healthcare City to create an internationally renowned site and centre for integrated medical services”, the statement said. “The process of restructuring Dubai Healthcare City is a huge responsibility, one that I am extremely honoured - and grateful - to be entrusted with by HH Sheikh Mohammad,” the statement quoted the Princess as saying. “His original vision was to create a platform that would position DHCA as a reliable and credible partner to the international healthcare community. He meant for this project to be an investment that embodies his commitment to the service of his people and his country, whereby real estate would be a component that complements its sustainability, but never at the heart of its operation. HH Sheikh Mohammad considers the delivery of quality healthcare a benchmark for the development of Dubai,” the Princess said in the statement. Since its inception, DHCA has become home to two hospitals, over 90 outpatient medical centres and diagnostic laboratories with over 2000 licensed professionals, occupying 22 million square feet. At the heart of the city lies the Mohammad Ben Rashid Al Maktoum Academic Medical Centre, the core of academic research and patient care, the statement reads. In this new role, Princess Haya has already initiated communication with key stakeholders, such as Harvard Medical School, which has been a strategic partner since 2004 and “was instrumental in developing DHCA’s original strategy and framework for its regulatory structure”. It also served as a key player in taking steps to fill the research gap by establishing the Dubai Harvard Foundation for Medical Research. “This change comes at a very critical moment for Dubai Healthcare City, and together with HRH Princess Haya, we look forward to a move in the right direction and to further growth of the healthcare sector in the Middle East,” said Richard G. Mills, executive dean for administration, Harvard Medical School, in the statement. Sheikh Mohammad’s decree, issued last week, outlined specific guidelines for effective project implementation and strategic development within the initiative’s framework. Princess Haya will report directly to Sheikh Mohammad; she said she will work to establish a close relationship between DHCA and the Dubai Health Authority, two entities that will work together “to deliver excellence in healthcare across the board”, the statement said. Princess Haya pledged dedication to both developing the healthcare sector and improving the quality of life for individuals around the world. “Her work is testament to her commitment and has paved the way for her involvement in a number of projects, including the Princess Haya Hospital and the Princess Haya Biotechnology Centre in Jordan, the Sheikha Al Jalila Children’s Specialty Hospital in Dubai and the Walter Sisulu Paediatric Cardiac Foundation in South Africa,” concluded the statement.