In 2015 The World Bank ranked Dubai and Abu Dhabi 2nd and 3rd in the region for healthcare tourism respectively. Jordan placed 1st. In the first half of the same year 260,000 people visited the UAE for medical services.
The UAE has 40 public hospitals serving a population of 9.2m people. This means that private healthcare institutions are in demand and as such offer a wide range of services. To give you a general overview of the type of businesses open we need to look at the types of communities that exist in the UAE.
All built up areas are served by large hospitals. Some are independent, some are part of a chain. Most offer general services and all will suggest another hospital if the service required is one they don’t offer. As with any business, the location, the experience of the staff employed, and the reputation all factor into the cost a person will pay for treatment. In addition to hospitals the UAE is home to large clinics. Clinics are generally specialised but many offer a GP service. Clinics are often the first port of call for those with a disposable income.
At the bottom end of the ladder there exist small doctor’s offices and dental practices. Differing to the UK, these small businesses serve a walk-in customer with most dealing with ailments such as colds and sprains. If a patient presents with a condition that requires more than a light in the ear or the raise of a leg, these clinics will refer the patient up the chain to a hospital. These types of clinics (and dental practices) are found throughout the UAE in all types of communities.
In addition to medicine, aesthetic procedures are also sought after in the UAE. There are many plastic surgeries in the country with Dubai being the most recognised destination. The Dubai Health Authority says that the emirate saw AED1 billion in medical tourism revenues in 2015. This figure appears to be a high estimate at first glance but a Global Cosmetic Surgery & Services Market Analysis report, states that Dubai has the highest number of plastic surgeons per capita globally. There are 50 surgeons to every one million people in the UAE (which tells us the approximate number is 450). Considering that a large percentage of the population are not able to afford cosmetic surgery, we can deduce that medical tourists make up a fair sized slice of the plastic surgery pie.
Medical insurance is mandatory for all UAE employees with many local and international companies operating, but it is not mandatory for a medical institution to accept all insurance cards.
