PureHealth Maintains MSCI’s Highest AAA ESG Rating for Second Consecutive Year, Strengthening Its Global Sustainability Leadership
PureHealth, the largest healthcare group in the Middle East, has retained the highest possible provisional environmental, social, and governance (ESG) rating of AAA from independent index provider MSCI for the second consecutive year. The recognition reinforces the group’s commitment to sustainability, responsible business practices, community development, and long-term healthcare system resilience. According to the company, its assessment score was approximately 30% above the industry average.
The achievement coincides with the publication of PureHealth’s 2025 Sustainability and Social Impact Report, which outlines the group’s progress across environmental responsibility, community wellbeing, workforce development, economic contribution, and inclusion. The report highlights measurable initiatives undertaken throughout 2025 as PureHealth continued to expand its healthcare operations and strengthen its sustainability strategy.
As healthcare organizations face increasing expectations to reduce their environmental footprint, improve access to services, support employees, and contribute to the communities they serve, sustainability has become an important part of long-term business planning. PureHealth’s latest report illustrates how the group is incorporating these priorities into its operational decisions, investment activities, and broader healthcare strategy.
During 2025, PureHealth reduced its Scope 1 and Scope 2 greenhouse gas emissions by 11% compared with the previous year. The group also achieved a 6% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions intensity and completed a group-wide emissions rebaseline following its international expansion. These initiatives are intended to provide a more comprehensive understanding of the group’s environmental impact while supporting its commitment to achieving net-zero emissions by 2040.
The company also commissioned its first on-site solar installation at SEHA Sheikh Tahnoon Bin Mohamed Medical City. The installation generated more than 1,000 megawatt-hours of clean electricity and helped avoid approximately 330 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions. In addition, PureHealth reported that around 3,000 tonnes of waste were recycled during the year.
Beyond environmental performance, the group’s sustainability efforts extended to community support, employee development, and local economic growth. PureHealth recorded AED 41 million in direct and indirect corporate social responsibility spending in the United Arab Emirates and pledged an additional AED 50 million to the Life Endowment campaign launched by Awqaf Abu Dhabi.
Community initiatives across its UAE and UK operations reached approximately 473,000 beneficiaries in 2025, representing a 116% increase compared with the previous year. Volunteer participation also increased significantly, with nearly 9,000 volunteers recorded, an 88% year-on-year rise.
The group’s workforce development activities showed similar progress. Training hours increased by 30% to approximately 834,000, reflecting continued investment in healthcare skills, professional development, and employee capabilities. PureHealth also reported spending AED 3.76 billion with local suppliers, supporting domestic supply chains and the UAE’s National In-Country Value (ICV) Program.
Leadership Emphasizes Long-Term Sustainability and Healthcare Resilience
Shaista Asif, Group Chief Executive Officer of PureHealth, said the group’s sustainability strategy is closely connected to its broader mission of promoting longevity and improving the conditions that allow people and communities to thrive over generations.
“Longevity is about more than extending life, it is about creating the conditions for people and communities to thrive for generations to come,” Asif said.
She explained that healthcare organizations have a responsibility to consider the long-term consequences of their operations, investments, and growth strategies rather than focusing exclusively on immediate healthcare requirements.
According to Asif, retaining MSCI’s highest ESG rating represents important independent recognition of the group’s approach to sustainability. She added that PureHealth remains committed to building a more resilient healthcare system and creating lasting value for the UAE, its communities, and future generations.
The group’s strategy reflects the growing relationship between healthcare delivery and sustainability. Healthcare systems require significant energy, equipment, facilities, transportation, and material resources to provide services. As healthcare demand increases, organizations must find ways to maintain service quality while managing environmental impacts and supporting long-term operational resilience.
For a large healthcare group operating across multiple markets, these priorities require coordination across facilities, supply chains, workforce programs, and community initiatives. PureHealth’s report presents its sustainability activities as part of a wider effort to integrate responsible practices throughout the organization.
Leya Aldamani, Chief Sustainability Officer of PureHealth, emphasized the connection between human health and environmental wellbeing.
“Human health and the health of our planet are intrinsically connected,” Aldamani said.
She noted that the group continued to translate this principle into measurable action during 2025 by strengthening the systems and partnerships that support progress across its operations.
From reducing emissions and introducing cleaner energy to developing employees and expanding access to care, PureHealth aims to incorporate sustainability into its everyday business activities. Aldamani added that these efforts are intended to create lasting value for individuals, communities, and the environment.
Environmental Initiatives Support the Net-Zero 2040 Commitment
Environmental performance remained a key component of PureHealth’s sustainability strategy during 2025. The group continued to implement initiatives designed to reduce emissions, improve resource efficiency, and establish a clearer picture of its environmental footprint following international expansion.
PureHealth reported an 11% reduction in Scope 1 and Scope 2 greenhouse gas emissions compared with 2024. Scope 1 emissions generally arise directly from sources owned or controlled by an organization, while Scope 2 emissions are associated with purchased electricity, heating, cooling, and steam.
The group also recorded a 6% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions intensity. This measure helps assess emissions relative to an appropriate business or operational indicator, offering a different perspective from absolute emissions reductions.
Following its international expansion, PureHealth completed a group-wide emissions rebaseline. Establishing an updated baseline is important for organizations whose operational footprint changes through acquisitions, new facilities, or entry into additional markets. It helps create a more consistent basis for tracking performance and evaluating future progress.
One of the group’s notable environmental developments was the commissioning of its first on-site solar installation at SEHA Sheikh Tahnoon Bin Mohamed Medical City.
The installation generated more than 1,000 MWh of clean electricity and avoided approximately 330 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions. On-site renewable energy can help healthcare facilities reduce reliance on conventional electricity sources and strengthen their efforts to improve energy efficiency.
Hospitals and medical facilities often operate continuously, requiring reliable electricity for clinical equipment, lighting, ventilation, information systems, and other essential services. Renewable energy investments can therefore form part of a broader strategy to manage environmental impacts while maintaining operational reliability.
PureHealth also reported recycling approximately 3,000 tonnes of waste during 2025. Waste management is another important sustainability consideration for healthcare organizations, which must balance resource conservation with strict requirements for infection prevention, patient safety, and the handling of clinical materials.
Together, the group’s emissions reductions, solar energy investment, recycling activities, and updated emissions baseline represent key elements of its progress toward its Net Zero 2040 commitment.
Community Investment Expands Social Impact Across the UAE and UK
PureHealth continued to expand its community engagement and social responsibility activities throughout 2025, recording AED 41 million in direct and indirect corporate social responsibility spending in the UAE.
The group’s community initiatives reached approximately 473,000 beneficiaries across its UAE and UK operations, representing a 116% increase compared with 2024. Volunteer participation also grew by 88%, reaching nearly 9,000 individuals.
These results reflect an expansion of the group’s activities intended to support community health, wellbeing, and social participation. The initiatives are particularly relevant as healthcare organizations increasingly recognize that health outcomes are influenced by factors beyond clinical treatment, including community support, access to services, and social conditions.
PureHealth also pledged AED 50 million to the Life Endowment campaign launched by Awqaf Abu Dhabi in collaboration with the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi.
The endowment supports treatment for vulnerable patients living with chronic diseases. By contributing to this initiative, PureHealth is supporting a program focused on helping patients access treatment and addressing healthcare needs among vulnerable populations.
Chronic diseases can require continuing medical attention, long-term medication, regular monitoring, and other ongoing services. Financial barriers may complicate access to this care, particularly for vulnerable individuals. Endowment-based initiatives can provide a funding mechanism to support treatment for eligible patients.
PureHealth also continued developing PureHeroes, a national healthcare volunteering platform established in partnership with Emirates Foundation. The platform supports healthcare volunteering and provides a structured mechanism for participation in initiatives intended to benefit communities.
Volunteer engagement can help organizations connect employees and other participants with meaningful community activities while supporting programs that address social and healthcare needs.
In addition, 62 graduates of the Emirati Women Chapter completed a structured mentorship and leadership development program. The initiative supports professional growth and leadership development among Emirati women, contributing to broader efforts to expand opportunities for women within the workforce.
Local Supplier Spending Strengthens Economic Contribution
PureHealth’s sustainability strategy also includes a focus on economic development and strengthening domestic supply chains.
During 2025, the group spent AED 3.76 billion with local suppliers. This spending supports the UAE’s National In-Country Value Program, which seeks to increase the contribution of local businesses to the national economy.
Healthcare organizations depend on extensive supplier networks to obtain medical equipment, consumables, technology, facility services, and other resources required for daily operations. Procurement decisions can therefore influence the development of domestic businesses and the resilience of supply chains.
Spending with local suppliers can support economic activity within the UAE while creating opportunities for businesses to serve the healthcare sector. Stronger domestic supply chains may also help organizations diversify procurement sources and develop longer-term relationships with suppliers.
PureHealth highlighted Rafed’s small and medium-sized enterprise development efforts through the ICV program, which received an ICV Champion Award.
Recognition of these efforts underscores the role that procurement and supplier development can play in a company’s broader sustainability strategy. Beyond environmental targets and community contributions, responsible economic activity can help create value for local businesses and support national development priorities.
For PureHealth, the combination of local supplier spending and SME development reflects an approach that connects healthcare operations with the wider economic ecosystem in which the group operates.
Workforce Development and Inclusion Remain Priorities
Employee training, national talent development, inclusion, and professional advancement continued to feature prominently in PureHealth’s 2025 sustainability performance.
The group recorded approximately 834,000 workforce training hours during the year, representing a 30% increase compared with 2024. Training is particularly important in healthcare, where employees must maintain relevant knowledge and skills as clinical practices, technologies, regulatory requirements, and patient expectations evolve.
Continuous professional development can support workforce readiness, improve employee capabilities, and help organizations prepare for changes in healthcare delivery.
PureHealth also reported employing nearly 5,300 Emiratis across the group. In 2025, 146 graduates completed the Emirati Development Centre program, an increase of 21% compared with the previous year.
These initiatives contribute to the development of national talent and support the UAE’s broader workforce objectives. By investing in training and structured development programs, organizations can create pathways for employees to build their careers and assume greater responsibilities.
Workforce inclusion was another important area of progress. Women represented 66% of PureHealth’s workforce, while women held 34% of leadership positions.
The group also reported a 59% increase in the number of People of Determination employed across its UAE and UK operations, bringing the total to 500.
These figures highlight the organization’s efforts to build a workforce that includes people with different backgrounds and abilities. Inclusive employment practices can help broaden access to professional opportunities while enabling organizations to draw on a wider range of experience and perspectives.
The Emirati Women Chapter’s 62 graduates also formed part of the group’s leadership development efforts, complementing its wider training and talent initiatives.
In addition, PureHealth obtained independent third-party assurance for selected environmental and workforce disclosures covering its UAE and UK operations for the second consecutive year.
Independent assurance can help strengthen confidence in reported information by providing an external review of selected disclosures. It is an important consideration for organizations seeking to communicate sustainability progress transparently and consistently.
Sustainability Awards and External Recognition
PureHealth received 10 awards and recognitions for sustainability and social impact during 2025. Among these was the “Most Sustainable Projects in the Middle East” recognition at the Forbes Middle East Sustainability Leaders Summit Awards.
These recognitions accompany the group’s retention of MSCI’s highest possible provisional AAA ESG rating for the second consecutive year.
According to PureHealth, its assessment score was approximately 30% above the industry average. The rating provides external recognition of its ESG performance, while the company’s sustainability report outlines the specific initiatives and results associated with its environmental, social, and economic priorities.
ESG assessments and sustainability awards provide different perspectives on corporate performance. Ratings evaluate organizations against defined assessment frameworks, while company reports detail selected activities, measurements, and objectives. Neither replaces the importance of continued implementation, transparent reporting, and measurable progress over time.
PureHealth’s 2025 results demonstrate activity across multiple areas, including emissions reduction, renewable energy, community investment, volunteering, employee development, inclusion, and local procurement.
The group’s ability to maintain its performance as it expands internationally will remain an important consideration for its longer-term sustainability objectives.
Building a More Sustainable Healthcare Future
PureHealth’s 2025 Sustainability and Social Impact Report presents a broad overview of the group’s efforts to integrate sustainability into its healthcare operations and business strategy.
The retention of MSCI’s provisional AAA ESG rating for a second consecutive year highlights the group’s external recognition, while its reported achievements provide details of its progress across environmental responsibility, social impact, workforce development, and economic contribution.
Key developments include an 11% reduction in Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions, the commissioning of its first on-site solar installation, AED 41 million in CSR spending in the UAE, an additional AED 50 million pledge to the Life Endowment campaign, and AED 3.76 billion in spending with local suppliers.
The group also expanded its community reach, increased volunteer participation, and invested in workforce training and national talent development.
As healthcare organizations face growing expectations to improve services while managing environmental and operational challenges, initiatives that connect sustainability with day-to-day business decisions are becoming increasingly important.
PureHealth’s commitment to net-zero emissions by 2040, community wellbeing, employee development, and domestic economic participation establishes a framework for continuing these efforts.
The long-term value of the group’s strategy will depend on maintaining progress, measuring results consistently, and ensuring that sustainability initiatives remain aligned with the needs of patients, employees, communities, and the healthcare system.
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