Health & Education

Sustainably Healthy

Rashid Hospital Project

The first phase in the grand transformation of Rashid Hospital is scheduled for completion in 2Q2015. While also addressing the city's healthcare needs, Rashid Hospital's reconstruction will be an emblem of sustainability and green technology utilization.

As Dubai continues along the path of population expansion through attracting additional visitors and residents to the city, the Dubai Health Authority (DHA) has identified increasing the capacity of its hospitals as a number one objective. A key part of DHA’s health strategy for 2013-25 is the $800 million expansion of Rashid Hospital, which will not only triple its capacity, but also represent a significant step forward in sustainability and green initiatives.

Open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, Rashid Hospital stands out as one of the most prominent and reputable emergency centers in the Gulf region and internationally, providing medical facilities for emergency, trauma, critical, and ambulatory care. In 2014, it was featured on the top 10 list of Germany’s polytrauma registry, the largest polytrauma registry worldwide consisting of more than 300 trauma centers. Since its operational beginning in 2006, Rashid Hospital has seen its patient intake per annum almost double from 86,000 in 2006 to 166,000 in 2013. Currently, Rashid Hospital works at 100% capacity, meaning medical staff at the center treat between 480 and 550 patients a day on average.

In recognition of the impending capacity overload, the DHA has decided to adopt a multi-step plan designed by Goodby Silverstein & Partners (GS&P). The plan is designed to utilize pre-engineering concepts to keep the hospital functional while expansion is underway. The first step of the Rashid Hospital expansion is the $44 million, 160-bed expansion to the Trauma Centre scheduled for completion by 2Q2015. This also includes an expansion of an additional 116 beds in its outpatient facility.

The $800 million master plan, scheduled for completion in time for World Expo 2020, has been developed to provide state-of-the-art services to locals and medical tourists alike. This includes six new specialized health centers, one four-star and another five-star hotel, villas for consulting physicians, accommodation for 5,400 members of staff and their families, a mosque with a capacity for 150 worshippers, and landscaping and open spaces for children and families. The existing hospital will be demolished and each seven-story tower replacing it will have 300 beds with a total capacity of 900 beds.

Rashid Hospital’s complex design will collect and process rainwater. Green roofs will improve energy efficiency by absorbing the sun’s heat, while rooftop solar panels will generate energy. The GS&P design minimizes heat gain though the use of geothermal systems to provide indoor cooling.