Dubai welcomed 630,000 international health tourists in 2021
According to a report released by the Dubai Health Authority (DHA) during the ongoing Dubai Arab Travel Market, Dubai welcomed 630,000 international medical tourists in 2021. Expenditure by international patients reached almost 730 million AED last year, despite the global pandemic COVID-19.
The report indicated that the majority of medical tourists coming to Dubai were from Asian countries, accounting for 38% of the total, while 24% were from Europe and 22% from Arab and Gulf countries.
Fifty-five per cent of international medical tourists were male and 45% were female. Almost 70% of the treatment provided to international tourists was provided in multidisciplinary clinics, 16% in hospitals and 14% in day surgery centres. The three medical specialties that attracted the most medical tourists were dermatology (43%), dentistry (18%) and gynaecology (16%). Other medical specialties included orthopaedics, plastic surgery, ophthalmology, health and wellness and fertility treatment.
The report provides extensive statistics on medical tourists and medical specialties that are in high demand:
The top three regions attracting medical tourists in the field of dentistry were the Arab and Gulf countries at 45%, Asia at 28% and Europe at 15%.
The top three regions attracting medical tourists in dermatology were Asia (31%), Europe (27%) and the Arab and Gulf region (26%).
The top three regions for gynaecology were Asia (57%), Europe (15%) and the Arab and Gulf region (13%).
The top three regions from which medical tourists travelled for orthopaedic surgery were Asia (36%), Europe (29%) and the Arab and Gulf region (17%).
The top three regions for plastic surgery were the Arab and Gulf region (36%), Europe (31%) and Asia (14%).
The top three regions from which medical tourists travelled for ophthalmology treatment were Asia (33%), the Arab and Gulf region (23%) and Africa (18%).
The top three regions for infertility treatment were Asia (34%), Africa (24%) and Europe (19%).
The top three regions from which medical tourists came for hospital treatment were Europe (45%), followed by the Arab and Gulf region (25%) and Asia (12%).
His Excellency Awadh Seghayer Al Ketbi, Director General of Dubai Health Authority, noted the exceptional competitiveness of Dubai’s medical tourism offerings at the global level and the huge growth and development of the healthcare sector over the last decade. He said Dubai’s emergence as a global health tourism destination reflects the high efficiency and capacity of the emirate’s healthcare infrastructure and facilities, as well as the safe and high-quality multidisciplinary healthcare services it offers.
He also noted that according to the report, a large number of medical tourists visiting Dubai came from countries with a long history in the medical sector, reflecting the high level of healthcare development in Dubai achieved by government, private and multinational institutions, and its competence in various medical specialties. He stressed that the Dubai Health Authority will continue to develop medical tourism in line with Dubai’s aspirations and goals.
Al Ketbi praised the close cooperation between the private and public health sectors, based on a shared vision to deliver the highest quality healthcare and ensure that Dubai is at the forefront of global cities for medical tourism.
#Dubai received 630,000 int’l health tourists in 2021, according to a report released by @DHA_Dubai during the ongoing @ATMDubai. Spending of international patients reached nearly AED730 million in the past year despite the global COVID-19 pandemic.https://t.co/e5A0a1q183 pic.twitter.com/KvWbNhofCj
— Dubai Media Office (@DXBMediaOffice) May 9, 2022
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