Tourists flocking to Dubai seeking healthcare, wellness spent nearly $200mln

Tourists flocking to Dubai seeking healthcare, wellness spent nearly $200mln

Dubai is increasingly becoming a destination of choice among individuals seeking medical care overseas, with the number of so-called “health tourists” travelling to the emirate surging and spending nearly $200 million recently.

The number of medical tourists who travelled to Dubai despite pandemic-related restrictions doubled in 2021 and spent close to $198 million on healthcare, according to new data released by Dubai Healthcare City Authority (DHCA).

In its white paper that provides insights into the regional healthcare sector, DHCA also predicted that healthcare spending in Dubai and the rest of the GCC region will continue to grow, posting a CAGR of 4.9% to $99.6 billion in 2023 from $86.2 billion in 2020.

The growth will be led by the UAE and Saudi Arabia, which will account around 80% share of the total spending.

Medical tourism is a growing industry, with around 14 million people estimated to travel each year to seek healthcare outside their home country, according to the Medical Tourism Association.

The global medical tourism market value is forecast to reach $53.51 billion in 2028 from $13.98 billion in 2021, Fortune Business Insights had said.

“Dramatic advances in the healthcare sector fueled by the introduction of novel medical devices and non-invasive procedures are fueling the