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% per cent 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 specialities 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 orthopaedics, plastic surgery, ophthalmology, fertility treatments, hospitalisation and recovery.

Al Ketbi further saidDubai’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 specialities.

Regions from which Dubai attracted the highest number medical tourists in key specialities 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 gynaecology services:

• Asia – 54%
• Europe – 18%
• Arab and GCC countries – 13%

Top three regions for orthopaedic 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 hospitalisation services:

• European countries – 39%
• Asian countries – 28%
• Arab and GCC countries – 18%