From no water, electricity to a street named George Matthew in Abu Dhabi: Meet Indian-origin doctor serving UAE for 60 years

Dubai: At the age of 85, Indian-origin doctor Dr George Matthew has spent nearly six decades serving the UAE, witnessing its transformation into a modern nation with world-class facilities.

Since arriving in the late 1960s, he has weathered countless challenges and become a cornerstone in the transformation of the UAE’s healthcare system. From delivering babies with makeshift facilities to performing emergency procedures under the headlights of a Land Rover, his life is a testament to resilience, dedication and service. 

‘Where’s the runway?’

Originally from Kerala, he later moved to Bahrain. While working there in the 1960s, he heard about a beautiful place called Al Ain. When a job opportunity came calling in the ‘Garden City’, he packed his bags. He vividly remembered his arrival in Abu Dhabi in 1967, flying in from Bahrain with his newlywed wife. As their flight began its descent, his wife looked out of the window, puzzled by the landscape below.

“We were on a two-propeller plane. My wife looked out and asked, ‘Where’s the runway?’ There was none – just sand, but we landed safely.”

Back then, Abu Dhabi’s airport was little more than a sandy airstrip with a small building.

“One gentleman came over, took my passport, glanced at us, and said: ‘Okay, you can go.’ That was the immigration check,” he said.

Pioneering assignment

His first posting was as Al Ain’s first public doctor. As a general practitioner, his role was both enriching and demanding.

“There was no [fresh drinking] water, no electricity, no roads… and for a newly married couple, it wasn’t easy.”

In those days, being a doctor meant wearing many hats.

“I was a midwife, a surgeon, even a vet. I was once asked to treat camels. I’m not a gynaecologist, but I delivered both camel calves and human babies.”

He recalled a delivery in 1967 that remains etched in his memory.

“A man came in with his wife, who was in labour. But there was no water. I sent him to fetch some from the old Hilton, now the Radisson, while I helped deliver the baby with nurse Yasmeen Beruti. The child was born healthy.”

In another instance, he had to treat an injured man in the middle of the night, using only the headlights of a Land Rover.

“Back then, that was our only option.”

‘A good doctor’

Over the years, Dr Matthew built close ties with the UAE’s ruling family. One moment of recognition that still stands out came from the UAE’s Founding Father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan.

“I once did 34 stitches on a man’s leg. He was a driver for one of the Sheikhs. A few weeks later, I was sitting with Sheikh Zayed when that man walked in and shared his story. Sheikh Zayed checked the wound and said: ‘This doctor is a good doctor.’ Those words meant the world to me.”

In 1973 – two years after the country’s unification – Dr Matthew decided to pursue postgraduate studies in the US. But before leaving, he sought permission from Sheikh Zayed.

“Sheikh Zayed looked at me and said: ‘Matthews, in 10 or 15 years, this will be the most beautiful country in the world with the best roads, hospitals, schools… and most importantly, the best security. If anyone troubles you, you come to me.’ That conversation changed everything for me.”

Later, with Sheikh Zayed’s support, Dr Matthew went to England to learn management of tropical diseases. He then went to Harvard in the US for specialised studies in hospital management.

Building a healthcare legacy

Dr Matthew returned and played a pivotal role in building the UAE’s healthcare infrastructure from the ground up.

“We started the first hospital – Tawam. It became the best. I remember a baby born there once, weighing just 600 grams. Everyone thought he wouldn’t survive, but he did.”

Dr Matthew held several key positions, including Medical Director of the Al Ain region in 1972. Over the decades, he not only helped modernise medical practices but also mentored a new generation of healthcare professionals.

‘My wife, my backbone’
Currently, he works at the Dewan of the Ruler’s Representative for the Eastern Province. He even has a street bearing his name in Abu Dhabi – an honour reflecting his lasting contributions. Significantly, he won the Abu Dhabi Award in 2018.

“I could do all this and go out even at midnight because of my wife’s support,” he said, referring to Valsa Benjamin Matthew, who passed away in March.

Recently, Dr Matthew received the first copy of ‘Healthcare in the United Arab Emirates’, a new book by Professor Humaid Al Shamsi, during Abu Dhabi Global Health Week. The book chronicles the nation’s incredible medical journey.

“Today, when I see what the UAE has become, I know I made the right decision to stay,” Dr Matthew added.