JAKARTA: President Prabowo Subianto opened on Wednesday the Emirates-Indonesia Cardiology Hospital, the first dedicated cardiology facility in Indonesia’s Central Java province.

Heart disease is the second leading cause of death in Indonesia, with about 95.68 deaths per 100,000 people.

The hospital, which began construction in 2023, was built in Surakarta — also known as Solo — with a 417 billion rupiah ($25 million) grant from the UAE. It has three surgery rooms and a total capacity of 100 beds.

Prabowo inaugurated the heart hospital alongside one of UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan’s sons, Sheikh Theyab.

“This hospital is a symbol of friendship between two nations, Indonesia and the United Arab Emirates,” Prabowo said during the opening ceremony.

“A successful country is a country that is able to give decent healthcare service for all Indonesians. This is why I have instructed for the development of 66 new hospitals, and I have requested that all of them adhere to the standards of this hospital.”

Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin said the Indonesian Health Ministry will also be working with the UAE to jointly train their healthcare workers.

“We have received a commitment from the UAE that we can go there, and they can also come here so we can improve each other’s capabilities,” Sadikin said.

“The hospital is funded by the UAE government, and we hope that it can be a cardiology center in Central Java.”

The Emirates-Indonesia Cardiology Hospital is the second UAE-funded facility in Solo, after the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque was opened to the public in 2023.

The mosque is a smaller replica of the popular landmark in Abu Dhabi, named after the UAE’s late President Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al-Nahyan. It is a gift from the UAE president, who inaugurated it alongside Indonesian President Joko Widodo in 2022.