Abu Dhabi outlines blueprint for healthy living in Future Health whitepaper
 

(ABU DHABI) - Future Health – A Global Initiative by Abu Dhabi has published a whitepaper with the McKinsey Health Institute (MHI) and Healthy Living at the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi examining the potential health and economic benefits of addressing modifiable health risks.

Released on the sidelines of the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA 81), The Future of Healthy Living: A $16.4 Trillion Opportunity estimates that addressing behavioral, metabolic and environmental risk factors could generate an additional $16.4 trillion in annual global gross domestic product (GDP) by 2050, equivalent to 9% of projected global GDP that year.

The publication follows the adoption of the UN Political Declaration on Noncommunicable Diseases and Mental Health in December 2025, as governments consider how to translate international commitments into national policies and interventions.

According to the whitepaper, addressing the identified risk factors could avert 1.5 billion disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) in 2050, equivalent to approximately 47% of the projected global disease burden. The potential benefits vary by country, depending on factors such as population demographics, the prevalence of specific health risks and progress already made in reducing them.

H.E. Dr. Noura Khamis Al Ghaithi, Undersecretary of the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi, said health systems need to place greater emphasis on preventing disease and addressing risk factors before they lead to illness.

“As people live longer and the burden of non-communicable diseases continues to rise, the way we think about health must evolve. The future of health cannot be built around treating illness alone; it requires a system that can anticipate risk, intervene earlier, and create the conditions for people to remain healthy throughout their lives,” she said.

Five-step framework for governments

The whitepaper proposes a five-step framework for governments seeking to improve population health: establish a clear ambition; identify the greatest health and economic opportunities; develop a coordinated portfolio of interventions; implement and scale effective measures; and use data and feedback to assess progress and adapt policies.

It also examines Abu Dhabi’s approach to prevention, which involves coordinating activity across government, the private sector, and communities, with interventions spanning the environments in which people live, learn, work and exercise.

More than 28 initiatives are being implemented across settings including food retail, schools, workplaces, and community infrastructure, with a focus on nutrition, physical activity and other factors that influence health.

The approach reflects a wider finding cited in the publication: previous MHI research identified 23 modifiable drivers of health, 19 of which fall outside the formal healthcare system. This suggests that improving population health requires action beyond clinical services, including measures addressing the social, commercial, and physical environments that influence everyday behavior.

Interventions target everyday environments

Among the examples highlighted in the whitepaper are newly introduced standards affecting the placement and promotion of food and beverage products in physical and digital supermarkets. The measures target prominent locations such as store entrances, checkout areas, and end-of-aisle displays, to influence purchasing decisions while keeping products available.

Other initiatives address food advertising, nutrition and physical activity in schools, healthier dining, nutritional information, and community opportunities for exercise.

H.E. Dr. Ahmed AlKhazraji, Executive Director of Healthy Living, said the program focuses on using evidence and behavioral science to influence the environments in which people make everyday health-related decisions.

“By bringing government, businesses and communities together, and using evidence and behavioral science to guide our approach, we are reshaping the environments where people live, learn, work and move so that healthier choices are easier and more accessible,” he said.

Data also plays a role in the program’s planning and evaluation. According to the whitepaper, Abu Dhabi draws on information relating to food environments, physical activity, wellness, and population health to identify priorities and assess interventions. Technology platforms and resources, including Malaffi, Sahatna and disease registries, support the management and linking of health information.

Focus on cross-sector collaboration

Lars Hartenstein, Partner and Director of Longevity at McKinsey Health Institute, said reducing modifiable risk factors could improve health outcomes while supporting workforce participation and productivity.

“Our analysis demonstrates that addressing modifiable risk factors could add years of healthy life while strengthening economic participation and productivity. Achieving that impact will require coordinated action across sectors to address the wider factors that influence health every day,” he said.

The whitepaper is part of Future Health’s Abu Dhabi Blueprints series, which examines developments and areas of expertise in the emirate’s health sector. Future Health says the findings will also inform discussions at the Abu Dhabi Future Health Summit, scheduled for 20–22 October 2026.

The full whitepaper is available [here].
                                    
                                 

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