Bascom Palmer Eye Institute will open Abu Dhabi facility in November

Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, part of UHealth – University of Miami Health System, Miami, Florida, announced in a press release that it is expanding internationally.

The state-of-the-art facility is slated to open in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, in November 2025, and mark a significant milestone in global eye care, according to a press release from Bascom Palmer Eye Institute and the University of Miami Health System.

The facility, which will be supervised by the Abu Dhabi Department of Health, is a collaboration between the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute and August Medical, part of the SOZA Group, bringing the Institute's renowned expertise in ophthalmic care, pioneering research, and medical education to the Middle East.

In commenting on this project, Eduardo C. Alfonso, MD, director of Bascom Palmer and professor and chair of ophthalmology at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, described the opening as “a dream come true.”

“We envisioned and have now built a world-class centre that embodies the highest quality of care and research for an entirely new population,” he said. “It is deeply gratifying and further cements Bascom Palmer’s place at the top of global ophthalmic care.”

What clinical services will be available within the medical facility?

Nicola G. Ghazi, MD, a vitreoretinal surgeon and former clinical professor of ophthalmology, will be the institute’s medical director.

He explained that the new facility “…will offer the full spectrum of ophthalmic services for major eye diseases, including eyelid and orbital pathologies, retinal diseases, adult and paediatric glaucoma, ocular complications of diabetes, paediatric ophthalmology conditions, neuro-ophthalmic disorders, ocular cancers and inflammatory eye diseases such as uveitis.”

In addition, the facility will also offer a comprehensive anterior segment service, with advanced corneal and cataract surgery techniques, refractive procedures, and a state-of-the-art ocular surface disease program.

The press release described that 31 examination rooms will be available, including an ocular surface disease laboratory. There will be a dedicated refractive suite, a laser suite, 14 diagnostic lanes equipped with advanced imaging and electrophysiology units for high-resolution internal eye structure analysis, and a surgical wing that includes three state-of-the-art operating rooms. VIP facilities and global patient services also are available.

An optical department and pharmacy, ENT service, and a sleep centre are also planned as well as an educational auditorium for ophthalmic training and educational programs.

How will Bascom Palmer and UHealth collaborate with local partners?

Dipen J. Parekh, MD, chief executive officer for UHealth and executive vice president for health affairs at the University of Miami, commented, “This is truly a remarkable milestone for the University of Miami Health System to deliver one of its crown jewels to another nation. This venture is much more than opening another health care facility. We are transplanting Bascom Palmer's excellence across continents, expanding UHealth's reach to serve more patients and train more physicians worldwide. We are grateful to SOZA and August Medical for their collaboration in bringing this idea to completion.”

Her Excellency Dr Noura Al Ghaithi, Undersecretary of the Department of Health Abu Dhabi, commented, "We are proud to ink this promising collaboration with Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, a milestone that signifies the next step in Abu Dhabi's journey to becoming a premier destination for world-leading health care. By hosting global institutions of this caliber, we continue to raise the bar for excellence in specialised care, ensuring our community has access to quality care and medical expertise close to home. Abu Dhabi's advanced infrastructure, progressive regulations and focus on innovation allow us to create an integrated ecosystem that encourages collaboration, drives innovations and sets new standards for care delivery worldwide."

Mr Suhail Jaffar Al Zarouni, founder and CEO of both August Medical, USA, and SOZA group UAE, and board member of Bascom Palmer Abu Dhabi, stated, "We intend Bascom Palmer Eye InstituteAbu Dhabi to be one of the finest medical institutions devoted to ophthalmology, not only in the country and the Gulf Cooperation Council but also in the larger Middle East and North Africa region. Given the breadth and depth of our understanding of the geographic and socio-cultural landscape, coupled with the University of Miami Health System's dedication to clinical care, residency and fellowship programs, and to vision research, it is my firm belief that we will be of great benefit to our patients, to future generations of doctors and to our communities."

Reference

University of Miami Health System’s Bascom Palmer Eye Institute Opening in Abu Dhabi. Press release. Bascom Palmer Eye Institute. Published October 29, 2025. Accessed October 29, 2025. https://news.med.miami.edu/university-of-miami-health-systems-bascom-palmer-eye-institute-opening-in-abu-dhabi/