Malaffi achieves comprehensive SNOMED CT implementation within the MENA region
M42’s Abu Dhabi Health Data Services (ADHDS), through its flagship Health Information Exchange (HIE), Malaffi, has achieved a significant milestone in advancing clinical data standardization across the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. This large-scale implementation represents the first comprehensive deployment of SNOMED CT within a Health Information Exchange in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, marking a major step toward establishing semantic interoperability across healthcare systems.
SNOMED International has acknowledged ADHDS’s leadership and commitment to improving the quality, consistency, and usability of clinical data. The implementation demonstrates how structured terminology and data governance frameworks can work together to enhance the exchange and meaning of health information across a complex, multi-provider ecosystem.
Through this initiative, SNOMED CT has been integrated into multiple clinical domains within Malaffi, including diagnoses, allergies, chronic diseases, family and social history, and diagnostic procedures. This comprehensive coverage ensures consistent and accurate representation of clinical concepts across the Emirate’s healthcare providers, supporting a unified approach to health information management.
By embedding SNOMED CT directly within electronic medical record (EMR) systems, ADHDS has introduced a sustainable and cost-effective model for data standardization, eliminating reliance on third-party terminology servers. The resulting improvement in data quality at the source enables a range of downstream benefits, including enhanced clinical decision support, AI-driven analytics, and population health management.
According to SNOMED International Chief Executive Officer Don Sweete, “Abu Dhabi Health Data Services and Malaffi have set an important precedent for how clinical terminology can transform health data quality and interoperability. Their achievements illustrate the impact of strong regulatory alignment, dedicated implementation expertise, and continuous improvement in realizing the promise of digital health.”
The implementation was supported by a robust policy and regulatory environment, guided by the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi, which established coding standards and frameworks for system-wide adoption. This alignment, together with the UAE’s membership in SNOMED International, provided a solid foundation for sustainable and scalable implementation.
Beyond improving interoperability, the structured clinical data generated through Malaffi’s SNOMED CT implementation provides a foundation for the next generation of data-driven healthcare in the region. It supports predictive modeling, personalized medicine, and real-time population health monitoring, aligning with Abu Dhabi’s broader vision for an AI-enabled health system.
This collaboration between SNOMED International and ADHDS exemplifies how international clinical standards can be applied at scale to strengthen digital health ecosystems. The initiative not only advances the quality of care within Abu Dhabi but also serves as a reference point for other health systems in the Middle East and globally seeking to achieve similar goals in data quality, interoperability, and digital transformation.
Visit SNOMED in Action to read the Malaffi case study.