Dubai: Dubai is a rapidly growing destination for luxury and tourism. The city has become a model of modernity, luxury and prosperity, creating a better future in health. Dubai strives to meet the needs of those searching for an exceptional treatment experience and an ideal healing environment, which promotes well-being and happiness.
In the wake of the demand for a high-quality healthcare system globally, Dubai government and other authorities are pushing plans to enrich the city and the experiences for travelers.
Counting on this, the Dubai Health Authority (DHA) and the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to promote Dubai’s position in the global medical tourism market.
This collaboration aims to establish Dubai as a leading destination for healthcare, quality of life, and overall happiness. The MoU was signed by Helal Saeed Almarri, Director General of Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism, and Awadh Seghayer Al Ketbi, Director General of the Dubai Health Authority.
Under the MoU, the two parties will collaborate to improve healthcare’s efficiency, transparency, and competitiveness while upholding strong international standards. The initiative promotes innovation in healthcare and aligns with the Dubai Economic Agenda, D33, aiming to strengthen Dubai’s status as a premier destination for business and leisure. This effort seeks to make Dubai an ideal place to visit, live, and work, while boosting its global economic and tourism competitiveness and reinforcing its role as a hub for economy, trade, logistics, and investment.
Helal Almarri, stated that, “In line with the ambitious vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism is committed to developing partnerships and agreements that contribute to enhancing collaboration among various entities to achieve the goals of the Dubai Economic Agenda, D33. This will elevate the city’s status as we consolidate our position as a leading global destination for business and leisure, and fulfill the leadership’s vision of making the city the best place in the world to visit, live, and work in.”
Almarri added that, “We look forward to working together to attract investments for pioneering projects in the healthcare sector, host major global medical conferences and meetings, and make Dubai the preferred destination for travelers seeking top-quality services.”
Awadh Al Ketbi, commented that, “Dubai’s geographical location at the heart of the world, its immense capabilities, and its rapid and remarkable achievements across various fields and levels have all enhanced Dubai’s international standing and its ongoing progress, particularly in the global healthcare arena where it occupies a prominent position.”
Al Ketbi quoted that, “Dubai has leveraged all its resources, including advanced infrastructure, technology, smart solutions, systems, legislation, and facilitation, to create promising investment opportunities in the healthcare sector and provide a secure healthcare environment. This, in turn, has attracted a significant number of international hospitals and leading specialized centers to choose Dubai as their base, as well as individuals seeking a high quality of life and well-being.”
Surge in medical tourist numbers
A recent report by the Dubai Health Authority highlights remarkable growth in medical tourism in the emirate in 2023, with a surge in international patients seeking world-class treatment and a significant increase in spending on healthcare services.
The report revealed that Dubai attracted 691,478 medical tourists from around the world last year, with their healthcare expenditures surpassing AED 1.034 billion ($28.5 million), outperforming 2022 figures when 674,000 medical tourists spent AED 992 million ($270 million).
In addition, the indirect revenues from medical tourism last year exceeded AED 2.305 billion ($628 million), fueling significant contributions to Dubai’s GDP by driving growth across key sectors such as aviation, hotels, hospitality, telecommunications, and beyond. These results underscore Dubai’s role as a vital global hub for medical tourism and a major catalyst for broader economic development.
What makes Dubai an ideal health tourism destination?
Dubai’s ability to provide high-quality patient-centered medical care has accelerated its growth as an Arab, regional and international healthcare destination. Dubai’s strategic location, safety, exceptional infrastructure and world-leading amenities add to the factors that have raised its status as a medical tourism hub.
The three specialties which sees the highest number of medical tourists include dermatology, dentistry and gynecology. Medical tourists from Asia, Europe and Africa, including from GCC and Arab countries also visited Dubai for treatment in the fields of orthopedics, plastic surgery, ophthalmology, fertility treatments, hospitalization and recovery.
Strategic collaborations to support medical tourism
In 2022, Visa and DHA collaborated in which Visa cardholders are able to choose between a range of medical services and procedures, book appointments with doctors, and plan their treatment itineraries.
In January of 2023, DHA launched the Dubai In One Day health tourism initiative. This is to provide tourists with comprehensive health screening packages that are quick and affordable and are available across a number of private health facilities as part of this unique initiative.
Recently, The Health Tourism Department in DHA participated in Arab Health 2024, showcasing its success in setting the highest standards in the healthcare sector, thanks to the city’s advanced infrastructure and facilities, regulatory processes and implementing international best practices.
Dubai’s ranking in healthcare
Dubai is in the top five for quality of facilities and services, according to the Medical Tourism Index. The UAE’s health is placed 33rd globally when compared to other countries, and it is among the top fifty countries in the world on the Prosperity Index. It performs better than many of its neighbors and is among the best in the Middle East and North Africa region.
Dubai aims to provide rich-quality experience combined with a holistic approach for the overall wellbeing. It offer activities and programs promising and delivering healing, personal growth and intense pampering and relaxation in the safest and most secure environment.
The Health Tourism Department in the Dubai Health Authority(DHA) culminates the DHA efforts which aspire to provide advanced and comprehensive healthcare services towards a healthier and happier experience to all patients as well as health tourists in Dubai thus allowing them to fully ‘Embrace Life’.