Dubai, a leading medical tourism hub, receives 674,000 medical tourists from across the world in 2022

• Medical tourists spend AED992 million in Dubai’s healthcare facilities in 2022, an increase of AED262 million from 2021
• Exceptional growth reinforces Dubai’s emergence as a leading medical tourism hub
• Awadh Seghayer Al Ketbi: Dubai’s ability to provide high-quality patient-centered medical care has accelerated its rise as a regional and international healthcare destination

Dubai: Dubai saw remarkable growth in medical tourism in 2022 with 674,000 medical tourists spending AED992 million in the year, an increase of AED262 million from 2021. According to a report issued by the Dubai Health Authority (DHA), 39% percent of the medical tourists who came to Dubai were from Asian countries, 22% from Europe and the Commonwealth of Independent States, and 21 % from Arab and Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries.

His Excellency Awadh Seghayer Al Ketbi, Director General of the Dubai Health Authority said 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, he noted.

The three specialties that saw the highest number of medical tourists were dermatology (31%) dentistry (24%) and gynecology (18%). 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.

Al Ketbi further said Dubai’s vision to provide a world-class healthcare model and an integrated medical care system that offers cutting-edge facilities, advanced technologies, smart solutions, and state-of-the-art treatment methods, as well as highly-qualified professionals across all fields of medicine have driven its global competitiveness in the sector.

Highlighting the fact that the healthcare sector plays an important role in enhancing the quality of life of people, Al Ketbi said the Dubai Health Authority has adopted a clear strategy to expand the role of this vital sector in raising the welfare of the community. DHA is committed to attracting investments in the sector by collaborating with prestigious international healthcare institutions to establish facilities that can meet growing treatment needs across all specialties.

Dr. Shams Tabrez Siddiqui – CEO & Founder of Crossroads Group of Dental Clinic, which has a big clientage of foreign patients, said that I believe this growth is because of the three major reasons, Dubai health authority’s medical practice regulations have very high standards, which keeps all the doctors at their best. The regulation department keeps a check on medical practices to maintain the standards. Secondly, Dubai being the center of the world has all the modern machines, equipment, and technologies. Medical Research reaches us first and we are the first ones who use the most modern equipment in comparison to any other part of the world. Dubai is always the first to use new technology in the healthcare sector. Thirdly, the best part of the treatment process for a patient is the doctor, who speaks his own mother tongue. As medical practitioners from different parts of the world come down here and set up their operations, patients have a choice to pick the doctor from a big poll of experts. in the field of dentistry, State-of-the-art clinics, and hospitals, the latest technologies, and high standards of dental treatments are making us the best in the world.

As its vision of the country is moving towards the world’s leading healthcare provider. In recent years, the facilities and golden visa policies for doctors and specialists are an attraction for the best medical talents from all over the world- Dr. Shams added.

Regions from which Dubai attracted the highest number of medical tourists in key specialties include:
 
Top three regions for dermatology services:
 Asian countries – 35%
 European countries – 26%
 Arab and GCC countries – 20%

Top three regions for dentistry:
 Arab and GCC countries – 37%
 Asia – 29%
 Europe -19%

Top three regions for gynecology services:
 Asia – 54%
 Europe – 18%
 Arab and GCC countries – 13%

Top three regions for orthopedic surgery:
 Asian countries – 36%
 European countries – 23%
 Arab and GCC countries – 23%

Top three regions for plastic surgery:
 Arab and GCC countries – 37%
 Europe – 28%
 Asia – 19%

Top three regions for ophthalmology services:
 Asia – 33%
 Arab and GCC countries – 27%
 Africa – 17%.

Top three regions for fertility treatments:
 Asia – 38%
 Arab and GCC countries – 24%
 Europe – 18%

Top three regions for hospitalization services:
 European countries – 39%
 Asian countries – 28%
 Arab and GCC countries – 18%