Lupus Clinic Abu Dhabi launches one-stop multidisciplinary service
Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City, part of the PureHealth group, has opened a dedicated lupus clinic Abu Dhabi that uses a one-visit model to provide comprehensive assessment and treatment planning on the same day. The new clinic brings together specialists in rheumatology, nephrology, dermatology, neurology and hematology to reduce delays in diagnosis and streamline care for people living with systemic lupus erythematosus.
Who opened the clinic and how the one-visit model works
The clinic is hosted at Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City in Abu Dhabi and was announced by hospital leadership as an initiative to centralize autoimmune care. According to hospital officials, the one-visit model enables patients to see the multidisciplinary team, complete necessary investigations and receive a coordinated care plan without having to visit separate clinics over weeks.
Furthermore, officials said the model aims to shorten the time from first assessment to treatment decisions by convening the relevant experts in the same location and on the same day. This approach is designed to address the frequent fragmentation and delays that have affected patients with complex chronic conditions such as systemic lupus erythematosus.
Clinical team and services offered
The multidisciplinary team at the lupus clinic Abu Dhabi includes consultants in rheumatology, nephrology, dermatology, neurology and hematology. In addition to clinical assessment, the service provides coordinated diagnostic testing, medication review and immediate formulation of tailored treatment plans.
Moreover, the clinic features integrated care pathways for organ-specific involvement such as lupus nephritis and neuropsychiatric lupus, enabling faster specialist input when vital organs are at risk. Officials emphasized that shared decision-making and care coordination are core elements of the new service.
Specialised reproductive care for women with lupus
The clinic also offers a joint care model for women with lupus who are planning pregnancy, hospital representatives said. This service is intended to support safe pregnancy planning, preconception risk assessment, and close coordination between maternal-fetal medicine teams and lupus specialists.
In addition, the clinic’s reproductive pathway includes monitoring strategies to manage maternal and fetal risks and to provide continuity of care throughout pregnancy and the postpartum period. Officials noted that coordinated care can reduce complications and improve outcomes for both mother and child.
Addressing diagnostic delay and improving outcomes
Delayed diagnosis has long been a challenge for people with systemic lupus erythematosus, with some patients waiting years for a definitive diagnosis, physicians said. Dr. Abdulqader Al Musabi, Chief Medical Officer at Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City, said the clinic’s model places the patient at the centre of care and accelerates access to comprehensive services.
Dr. Mumtaz Khan, Consultant and Head of Rheumatology, explained that bringing multiple specialists together for same-day assessment shortens the pathway to accurate diagnosis and timely treatment initiation. Therefore, the clinic is expected to reduce diagnostic uncertainty and help clinicians make more timely, evidence-informed decisions.
Public health context and demand in the UAE
Systemic lupus erythematosus is a chronic autoimmune disease that can affect multiple organs including the kidneys and central nervous system. Globally, about 90 percent of diagnosed cases are women, and officials estimate there are roughly 16,500 people living with lupus in the United Arab Emirates.
Given the disease’s complexity and the concentration of specialist expertise required, authorities and clinicians have highlighted the importance of specialised services like the new lupus clinic Abu Dhabi for improving long-term health outcomes and reducing the burden on tertiary care.
Related clinical and operational benefits
Besides clinical advantages, the one-visit multidisciplinary model can improve patient experience by reducing travel and appointment burden, hospital representatives said. Additionally, coordinated care is expected to optimise use of diagnostic resources and limit duplicated testing.
What to watch next: monitoring outcomes and potential expansion
Hospital officials indicated they will monitor clinical outcomes, patient satisfaction and service metrics to evaluate the clinic’s impact. The statements suggest data-driven assessment will guide possible expansion of the model to other autoimmune conditions or additional locations in the region.
Meanwhile, clinicians emphasized that early referral by primary care providers and awareness of disease symptoms remain critical to maximising the benefit of specialised clinics. Therefore, the next steps include tracking referral patterns and outcomes to inform broader healthcare planning.
Conclusion: a coordinated step in autoimmune disease care
The launch of the lupus clinic Abu Dhabi marks a coordinated effort to streamline diagnosis and treatment for patients with systemic lupus erythematosus in the UAE. By combining multidisciplinary expertise and a one-visit model, Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City aims to reduce delays, support women who wish to conceive and improve overall patient outcomes.
Officials said stakeholders should watch for the clinic’s published outcome measures and potential service expansion plans in the coming months as indicators of its longer-term impact on autoimmune disease care in Abu Dhabi.