Overview
The UAE healthcare system is a mix of public and private, with the public system
working as a comprehensive system that cares for all patient needs. The private sector
is expanding, too, as part of the Emirate-wide trend of expanding economic diversity.
Healthcare in the Emirate is operated by the Dubai Health Authority (DHA), which
replaced the Department of Health and Medical Services in 2007. The centerpiece of
Dubai’s international healthcare market is Dubai Healthcare City (DHCC), which is the
world’s largest medical free zone. Dubai’s healthcare marketplace hit USD 15 billion in
2018, which is the same year H.H. Sheikh Mohammed issued a new law expanding the
scope and power of the DHA. Currently, the DHA is in the fifth year of a six-year
initiative spanning 2016-2021 that aims to build on much of the momentum created by
previous initiatives.
Dubai has established itself as a premium healthcare destination for medical tourism in
Asia, so it makes sense that its position is continuing to grow as the overall industry
improves. The Dubai Chamber of Commerce reported a 5.5 percent increase in medical
tourism for 2018; key factors in the city’s current growth surge are its stateof-the-art
facilities. Dubai has retained its position as the top Arab destination since the last
edition of the MTI. Dubai features the highest scores in the region for a number of
categories, including Country Environment, Economy & Safety Perception, Tourism
Destination, Facility Quality, Patient Experience, Reputation, International Accreditation,
and Quality of Care. Dubai should continue to invest and improve its healthcare infrastructure specific to domestic needs and medical tourism, as it does face significant competition in this dimension from other Arab destinations, including its Emirate peer Abu Dhabi. For the most part, it has firmly established itself as the most visible destination in the region.
*Based on the 2020 – 2021 Global MTI (Medical Tourism Index) Report published by the Medical Tourism Association.*
and Quality of Care. Dubai should continue to invest and improve its healthcare infrastructure specific to domestic needs and medical tourism, as it does face significant competition in this dimension from other Arab destinations, including its Emirate peer Abu Dhabi. For the most part, it has firmly established itself as the most visible destination in the region.
*Based on the 2020 – 2021 Global MTI (Medical Tourism Index) Report published by the Medical Tourism Association.*