This narrative review examined system-level readiness for implementing midwifery-led continuity of care (MLCC) models in the UAE, synthesising international policy frameworks, national regulatory documents, and empirical literature using a SWOT framework and Kingdon's Multiple Streams Framework.
The UAE has established infrastructure and growing educational capacity (strengths), but faces limited role clarity, fragmented care across sectors, a dominant medicalised care model, and market-driven service delivery (weaknesses/threats); supportive national policy and strong international evidence for MLCC represent key opportunities.
Findings are based on a narrative review without systematic search methods, limiting reproducibility. No primary data were collected, so conclusions rely on the quality and transferability of existing literature. The analysis is specific to the UAE context, which may limit direct applicability elsewhere.
Clinicians and health system leaders in the UAE — and similar rapidly developing maternity systems — should prioritise role clarity for midwives, structured workforce development, and coordinated service redesign to move MLCC from policy aspiration to practice. Aligning political will, evidence-based solutions, and system needs simultaneously is key to sustainable implementation.
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