Abstract

The purpose of this research is to analyse leadership skills among overseas treatment leaders and health attachés within the context of the UAE’s global health diplomacy (GHD). There is a need for this study on this under-researched area to help address global health issues in an increasingly interconnected world. Utilising a qualitative research design, data collection involved 16 semi-structured interviews with high-level leaders from the overseas treatment departments representing the Dubai Health Authority, Ministry of Health and Prevention and Department of Health Abu Dhabi. These interviewees also included health attachés representing the UAE in countries like the United States, Germany/Switzerland, the United Kingdom and India.

Key findings are that effective global health leadership is attributed to strong communication, intercultural skills and the ability to advocate complex political and health landscapes. Participants highlighted the importance of building collaborative relationships that foster stakeholder trust, leading to increased diplomatic outcomes for health. Based on these findings, policymakers should commit to the development of specialised training programs for health attachés that focus specifically on intercultural communication and strategic relationship-building as core competencies in their leaders. A centralised database of global health best practices would foster knowledge sharing among geographically dispersed health attachés and support the creation of policy responses to global health challenges.