In the late 1950s, one in every two infants in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi died at birth. One in three pregnant women did not survive labor and delivery. The population was in decline due to childbirth dangers and the prevalence of diseases like tuberculosis and malaria.
The destiny of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi (which later became part of the United Arab Emirates) began to change, however, when two American missionaries, doctors Pat and Marian Kennedy, started a hospital in the city of Al Ain at the request of Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan. The Kennedys’ primary goal was to honor God by providing loving healthcare to the people in the Gulf region.
Originally founded as Oasis Hospital in 1960 and later renamed Kanad Hospital in honor of the Kennedys, the missionary venture is credited with dramatically reducing mortality rates and serving as the foundation for modern healthcare in the region.
The current President of the United Arab Emirates, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, was born in Oasis hospital in 1961. In May, during a meeting in Abu Dhabi with President Donald Trump, Sheikh Mohamed expressed gratitude for the Americans who founded the hospital.
“Diplomatic relations between our two nations were established in 1971 but the connection between our peoples goes back further,” he said. “[In the late 1950s], two doctors who came as missionaries from a church in California have their names etched in the collective memory of the UAE. They are Pat and Marian Kennedy.”
The Kanad Hospital’s legacy of providing medical advancement while bringing life-changing hope through daily, Christ-centered compassion has had a profound impact on the people of the Middle East. The goodwill created through the faithful service of the Kennedys helped pave the way for churches to open their doors. Today, Christians are part of the fabric that makes up the nation of the United Arab Emirates.
In an article for Gospel Coalition, Colin Hansen noted how the Christian witness of Kanad Hospital helped advance the gospel not only in Al Ain, but in influential cities like Dubai and Abu Dhabi. He also noted how the boldness of that witness continued into the 21st Century.
“The staff at Oasis Hospital doesn’t hide their faith,” he wrote in a 2011 article. “Every hospital room includes a Bible translated into Arabic. [Hospital staff members] offer to pray for the 18,000 patients treated every month. Doctors view the quality of their care as a testimony to their Christian faith. Perhaps no other mission hospital in the world competes toe-to-toe with the best care oil money and Western investors can buy.”
On the entryway to Kanad Hospital, the words of Matthew 11:28 are inscribed: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”
The vision of Kanad Hospital is “to see healthy communities transformed by the love of God.” The mission is “to honor God by providing exceptional whole person healthcare with the love and compassion of Jesus Christ.” This aligns with the mission of the 1,200 pregnancy centers in Care Net’s network, which are dedicated to offering compassion, hope, and practical support to women and men facing unplanned pregnancies. The goal is not just to save babies from abortion, but to ensure that families have an opportunity to experience the abundant life (John 10:10) that is found in Christ.
Over the last six decades, Kanad Hospital has been an oasis in the desert. Thanks to the faithful obedience of two missionary doctors who sought to honor the Lord by providing life-saving healthcare, the city of Al Ain and the UAE will never be the same.
In 1960, the zeal of the Kennedys and other faithful saints helped to not only saved babies and mothers but also provided a voice in the wilderness that echoes the eternal words of Jesus, the one who gives life, and life more abundantly.