Cleveland Clinic Brings World-Class Care to Abu Dhabi

The Government of Abu Dhabi took bold steps to improve local access to world-class healthcare and reduce the need for patients to travel abroad for medical services. One of the flagship facilities supporting these efforts is Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, a multispecialty hospital designed to address the range of complex and critical care requirements specific to the region.

Exporting a model of healthcare as extensive as that of the Cleveland Clinic to Abu Dhabi was not an easy task and required considerable planning in the design phase. In collaboration with Mubadala Development Company, more than 300 physicians and clinical personnel were involved in the design of each of the clinical and specialized care areas, and hundreds of architects, interior designers and planners from around the world contributed to the building’s design.

The result is a medical campus that seamlessly combines high-performance architecture with innovative technology and world-class care — creating one of the most advanced and patient-centered hospitals in the world.

Key features of Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi include:

• The characteristic maze-like layout of other healthcare facilities was avoided by housing each healthcare component in its own individual architectural form. The straightforward stacking of the forms creates efficiencies for staff, intuitive wayfinding for visitors and an architectural icon that can be seen for miles.
• The hospital is overlaid with a suite of cultural references that ground the project in Abu Dhabi. Arabesque patterns and regional color palettes are integrated into the interiors to provide patients with a sense of familiarity.
• On the exterior, much of the building is enclosed by distinctive diamond glazing, with the diamond shapes representing a subtle nod to Islamic geometry. The exterior colors were inspired by the region’s landscape; glass echoes the striking blues of the sea, while onyx pays tribute to the desert and arid landscape.