AI enhancing elderly care in Sharjah

Sharjah is rewriting the playbook on elderly care. Under the humanitarian vision of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, the emirate is embracing artificial intelligence not as a novelty, but as a lifeline for its senior citizens. The goal? To build an age-friendly city where technology doesn't just assist — it empowers.

At the recent Senior Citizens Services Forum, held under the theme "Artificial Intelligence in the Service of the Elderly", the message was clear: the future of senior care is smart, connected, and deeply human-centered.

How does it work?

Sharjah's approach blends digital tools with personal touchpoints:

• Virtual Social Advisor - an interactive audio and video service linking seniors directly to healthcare and social providers.
• Virtual Companion - a smart-screen interface that keeps daily lines of communication open with medical and support teams.
• Limb app - offers tailored digital rehab exercises, with performance tracked remotely by professionals.

But it's not just about screens and software. Mobile clinics bring medical care to doorsteps. The Mishwar service ensures seniors get to their appointments without hassle. Ijaba handles official paperwork at home. Meanwhile, cultural, social, and sports programmes, paired with digital skills training, keep older residents active in both body and mind.

Why does it matter?

This isn't technology for technology's sake. It's about dignity, autonomy, and quality of life. By making services proactive rather than reactive, Sharjah is reducing isolation, improving health outcomes, and giving seniors control over their own care.

As one recommendation from the Forum underscored, building advisory committees and forging private-sector partnerships is critical — because when you involve seniors in designing their own services, you create solutions that actually work for them.

The context

Globally, ageing populations are putting strain on healthcare systems. Many cities are scrambling to retrofit outdated services for a demographic shift that's already here. Sharjah, however, is moving ahead of the curve. The emirate's integrated smart care system — bridging healthcare, social services, and community engagement — positions it as a benchmark for how digital transformation can support ageing societies.

It is a model where AI doesn't replace human connection, but amplifies it. And in doing so, Sharjah is quietly setting a standard that other cities may soon find themselves racing to match.