The UAE is already among the world’s most popular destinations for medical tourism, but there is still plenty of room for growth, say local experts.
Medical tourism, when people travel from their country of residence to receive healthcare, is a global market worth $31.91 billion in 2023 and is expected to grow to $52.87 billion in 2027, according to GlobalData.
Countries such as Mexico, Costa Rica, Malaysia, Thailand, Turkey and India are among the top destinations for medical tourism, but the UAE is one of the fastest growing.
About $5.4 billion was spent by wellness tourists coming to the UAE in 2022, up from $2.1 billion in 2020, according to the Global Wellness Economy Monitor.
This is not only individuals coming for their own medical treatment, but also companies booking on behalf of their employees, said Stan Klyuy, chief commercial officer at corporate travel platform Tumodo.
The government has put a spotlight on health care in recent years, with the launch of several initiatives, including the Emirates Health Services Innovation Strategy 2023-2026 and the National Strategy for Wellbeing 2031.
The UAE also has the fastest growth rate for health spending in the GCC, expected to reach $30.7 billion by 2027, according to a survey by Alpen Capital.
In 2018, the Abu Dhabi Medical Tourism e-portal launched as a digital platform providing visitors with a list of dozens of health care facilities in a national medical tourism network, as well as almost 300 treatment packages from more than 170 doctors across the emirate.
In January, Dubai Healthcare City also started taking applications for its newly introduced medical visa, allowing treatment centres to apply for a visa of three to six months on behalf of their patients.
Dubai, in particular, has become a hub for patients seeking medical treatment from across the region, including countries in Asia, Africa, Europe, the Commonwealth of Independent States and the GCC, according to Dubai Healthcare City.
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