Hospital records unmatched growth in advanced electrophysiology procedures with 100 high-complexity atrial fibrillation ablations
Abu Dhabi, UAE, May 2026: Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City (SSMC), a flagship hospital in the UAE for serious and complex care and a subsidiary of PureHealth, the largest healthcare group in the Middle East, has seen strong growth in specialist heart rhythm procedures, completing more than 400 catheter and device-based cardiac interventions in 2025. This included 100 procedures to treat atrial fibrillation (AFib), the most common long-term heart rhythm disorder.
AFib causes the heart to beat quickly and irregularly and, if not properly treated, can increase the risk of stroke, heart failure, and other serious complications. At SSMC, these cases were treated using pulse field ablation, a newer approach to heart rhythm correction that uses carefully controlled electrical energy to disrupt faulty signals in the heart while limiting impact on surrounding tissue.
SSMC combines pulse field ablation with three-dimensional cardiac mapping, allowing doctors to see and treat abnormal heart rhythms with greater accuracy. This combination supports safer procedures, improves precision, and helps reduce procedure time and radiation exposure for both patients and clinical teams.
This progress highlights the hospital’s growing capability in advanced cardiac rhythm care and its focus on bringing complex, specialised treatments closer to patients in the UAE. The use of pulse field ablation alongside 3D mapping also aligns with wider efforts to improve outcomes in high-acuity care by strengthening safety, efficiency, and clinical consistency in complex cardiac procedures.
Commenting on this progress, Dr. Abdulqader Almessabi, Chief Medical Officer at SSMC, said: “Our commitment to excellence drives us to expand access to highly specialised care that meets the evolving needs of our community. The continued growth in electrophysiology volumes, especially in atrial fibrillation ablation, highlights not only the clinical capabilities we have built but also our ambition to position the UAE among global leaders in complex cardiovascular care. We are proud of the expertise demonstrated by our teams and remain focused on advancing patient outcomes through innovation, collaboration, and compassionate care.”
Atrial fibrillation ablation is among the most technically demanding types of cardiac ablation, requiring precision, multidisciplinary coordination, and advanced technology. By performing close to 100 cases annually, SSMC’s EP team has built numbers that align with international centres, supporting both clinical proficiency and patient outcomes.
Dr. Yousef Alattar, Consultant and Chair of the Cardiology Division at SSMC, said: “Performing more than 400 catheter and device-based cardiac interventions, including nearly 100 atrial fibrillation ablation procedures last year is a testament to the dedication, skill, and collaborative spirit of our cardiology and electrophysiology teams. Atrial fibrillation ablation is one of the most complex interventional cardiac procedures, and achieving this volume demonstrates both the readiness of our service and the trust placed in us by patients. This growth reinforces SSMC’s continued progress and commitment and to delivering high-quality, specialised cardiac care.”
Led by Dr. Omar AlFalasi, Consultant Cardiologist and Electrophysiologist, SSMC’s Electrophysiology programme delivers diagnostic and therapeutic care for a wide range of cardiac electrical abnormalities, supported by advanced mapping, imaging-integrated navigation, and multidisciplinary clinical teams. The service relies on collaboration across cardiology specialties, imaging, anaesthesia, specialised EP nursing, and a dedicated EP laboratory equipped with the latest technologies.
SSMC’s early adoption to Pulse Field Ablation technology places it among a small number of centres worldwide offering this emerging electrophysiology treatment.
About Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City SSMC:
Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City is one of the largest tertiary hospitals in the UAE offering the highest standards of medical expertise for the treatment of serious and complex conditions. Established in 2019, SSMC has 660 patient beds, 18 operating theatres, including a hybrid operating room and a 26-bed neonatal intensive care unit. Supported by the latest diagnostic and treatment modalities available, SSMC offers care in 69 specialties, bringing advanced and trusted quality care closer to the UAE and the wider region.
About PureHealth:
PureHealth is the largest healthcare group in the Middle East with an ecosystem that challenges lifespans and reimagines health spans. With 100+ hospitals, 300+ clinics, multiple diagnostic centres, health insurance solutions, pharmacies, health tech, procurement, investments and more, its groundbreaking innovations are at the forefront of healthcare as the company is on a mission to unlock time for humankind. By advancing the Science of Longevity, PureHealth is introducing the healthcare of the future from the United Arab Emirates to the rest of the world.
PureHealth’s network comprises:
- SEHA – One of the largest healthcare networks of hospitals and clinics in the UAE
- SEHA CLINICS – Delivering comprehensive community-based healthcare services
- Daman (The National Insurance Company) – The UAE’s leading health insurer
- The Medical Office – Overseeing Sheikh Khalifa Hospitals and healthcare facilities established under the initiatives of H.H. The President of the UAE
- Rafed – The UAE’s largest healthcare Group Purchasing Organisation
- PureLab – Managing and operating the largest network of laboratories in the region
- One Health – A network that provides end-to-end medical solutions to a base of over 300 healthcare service providers
- The Life Corner – Abu Dhabi’s first holistic pharmacy, serving the health and wellness establishment
- Ardent Health Services – The fourth largest privately held acute care hospital operator in the US
- Circle Health Group – The largest independent operators of hospitals in the UK
- Hellenic Healthcare Group (HHG) – the largest private healthcare provider in Greece and Cyprus
- PureCS – A leading cloud and technology services provider, specialising in IT management and consulting solutions, cybersecurity, cloud services and AI information systems
- Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City (SSMC) – The UAE’s largest healthcare complex, delivering integrated complex care
