DESTINATION UAE
World-class facilities in
tHe Uae beckon medical toUrists
by raza siddiqui, executive director, eta star Healthcare M “
edical tourism is increasing in popularity across the globe – and there are various reasons behind this
paradigm shift. A comprehensive survey of the travel sector shows a dip in leisure and business travel with tourists tightening their purse strings, while the medical tourism is raking in the moolah with demand fast outstripping supply. Needless to say, the markets that offer
a wide array of world-class, affordable and well-connected medical facilities are fast emerging as the hotspots for medical tourists. If there’s any country that has done well on this front in the Middle East, it is the UAE. In fact, the UAE is one of the few countries in the world, which has identified medical tourism as a national industry. With rapid infrastructural growth over the last 40 years and boasting
will rise from an estimated US$8bn in 2010 to almost double that amount in 2015 (US$16.8bn), representing an annual average rise of 16% (Economist Intelligence Unit Estimates). Over the last few years, we have seen
nearly 14 hospitals in the UAE accredited by the Joint Commission International (JCI) in the US, one of the world’s leading accreditation organisations. Naturally, this augurs well for the UAE medical tourism growth. Billions of dollars have been invested in the healthcare system, especially in Dubai, and accredited hospitals/clinics in the UAE with international standards of healthcare and more facilities have sprung up. This has been perfectly augmented
with concrete initiatives such as Dubai Healthcare City, a 435-acre state- of-the-ar t ‘centre of excellence’ for clinical and wellness services, which has brought some of the best healthcare
and well established healthcare facilities in other emirates are acting as catalysts to attract medical tourists from across the globe. With this, as Emirates Airlines offers very good flight connectivity, coupled with the best hotels, leisure options and more impor tantly, a bevy of best-in-class health facilities, medical tourism is poised to grow in a big way. If Dubai and Abu Dhabi have gained
rapid strides in medical tourism, Ras Al Khaimah is not too far behind in the arena. Apar t from a rich heritage, RAK offers some unbelievable hotels and shopping options and is now set to announce its unique leadership in medical facilities. The RAK Hospital provides
international quality healthcare with highly qualified medical staff and skilled nursing care, redefining the standards of excellence in patient care with premium hospitality. RAK’s strategic location makes
the rak Hospital provides international quality healthcare with highly qualified medical staff and skilled nursing care, redefining the standards of excellence in patient care with premium hospitality
some of the best medical facilities available in the world, the UAE has naturally has become a magnet for medical tourism. The country is fast taking the centre stage by increasing its market share in this ever-growing sector. Overall healthcare spending
companies and hospitals together in the same cluster. The healthcare city is coincidentally the largest international medical centre located between Southeast Asia and Europe. Similarly, world-class hospitals such as Sheikh Khalifa Medical City in Abu Dhabi,
it ideal for tourists from the Middle East, Yemen, Oman, East and West Africa. For an industry which is set to be
”
become a $100 billion sector by 2012 – by no means a small number ; and offering huge growth potential, a large chunk is poised to be generated from
ARAB HEALTH SERVICES DIRECTORY 2012 19
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