UAE's position as a medical tourism destination continues to gain regional & global prominence

Based on data from Euromonitor International and Fitch Solutions, health expenditure in the UAE amounted to an estimated Dhs50.3 billion in 2018 itself, marking a 5.4 percent increase compared to the previous year.

The UAE and Dubai remains laser focused on healthcare sector growth.

Thanks to the vision of the rulers, as early as April 2014, His Highness Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, approved the Dubai Health Tourism Strategy, with Dubai Health Authority (DHA) overseeing its execution. Dubai is today a leading premium medical tourism destination that ranks 16^th on the world medical tourism index.

In Dubai, the sector is well projected to grow at a compounded annual growth rate (CAGR), reaching an estimated value of Dhs19.5 billion by 2023, according to a study by the Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI). This kind of growth and forecast could not have been possible without the state-of-art healthcare infrastructure in the city, government initiatives, and increasing sector privatization.

Increased privatization along with strong Government focus has led to some of the highest quality in standards and facilities, expertise, talent, and cutting-edge medical technologies for citizens and tourists. Having said that we have an exciting way forward.

Supporting Dubai's rise on the global medical tourism map

The American Hospital Dubai continues to be one of the leading healthcare private sector institutions in supporting Dubai's stellar rise on the medical tourism map.

Ghanim Al Marri, Director of Business Development, Medical Tourism and Government Relations at American hospital Dubai, said: "The American Hospital Dubai today features prominently on the UAE's medical tourism destinations for multi-specialty care. This is thanks to strong foundations that have been built over so many years in Dubai. We have invested significantly in ensuring world-class expertise, state-of-the-art facilities, strong patient focus, cutting edge technologies, innovations, global affiliations, and seamless hospitality."

Pioneering several firsts for American hospital Dubai since 1996

• Since 2016, the first inaugural member of the prestigious Mayo Clinic Care Network.
• American Hospital Dubai's cancer program was the first to offer comprehensive one-stop care in Dubai
• The Cancer Care Center at the American Hospital Dubai has remained a leading center of excellence for cancer care within the region since opening its medical campus in 2005
• The first laboratory in the private sector to be accredited by the College of American Pathologists.
• In 2020, the American Hospital Dubai launched the first AI research center in the region, in partnership with global healthcare technology company Cerner.
• More than 100 surgeries were completed since the launch of the robotic-assisted surgery services – cementing the position towards digital transformation.

What the future holds

If there is one key learning that we take from the COVID-19 global pandemic; it is that continuous innovation to ensure patient comfort, health, safety, and care should be at the heart of our future planning. Whether it comes to assisting patients through all aspects of appointments, travel, hotel reservations, or the use of technologies, the end goal is to make sure that all patients enjoy a hassle-free seamless medical experience.

Virtual care, telemedicine, meticulous treatment planning, seamless hospitality, and a high degree of specialization will continue to ensure Dubai's continued meteoric rise as a global medical health destination.

The UAE is recognized as one of the safest countries in the world today to visit during the global COVID-19 pandemic, and Dubai has readied itself to support international medical tourists under its medical tourism brand, Dubai Health Experience (DXH). The American Hospital Dubai is proud to be a part of the DXH experience.

The American Hospital Dubai is more ready than ever to welcome health tourists back to an exceptional health experience. Orthopedics, sports medicine, dermatology and skincare, dentistry treatments will continue to be amongst the top specialties for medical tourism in Dubai. Other specialties that will continue to gain prominence due to patient demand are fields of psychiatry, cardiology, oncology. Overall, wellness and lifestyle treatments will also be sought after by patients.  

In conclusion, the American Hospital Dubai will continue its efforts to ease the entire patient journey, working as per set standards as well as clear guidelines laid out by the DHA and the authorities – to make the patient experience as unique and seamless as possible.