In 2023, Dubai’s health tourism industry grew significantly, as per a recent report released by the Dubai Health Authority (DHA). According to the report, there has been a significant increase in the number of foreign patients seeking medical care in Dubai, along with significant expenditures on various healthcare services.
This expansion demonstrates the trust that people around the world have in Dubai’s healthcare system, which is renowned for its excellence and high caliber in a range of medical specializations. These results further reinforce Dubai’s competitive advantage as a top health tourism destination in the region and worldwide.
The DHA’s cooperative efforts with strategic partners to quicken the expansion of health tourism are also discussed in the report. These programs support the goals of the Dubai Economic Agenda D33, which is to double the emirate’s GDP and position Dubai as a top international destination for travel, business, and investment.
Over 691,000 health tourists from around the globe visited Dubai in 2023, bringing in over AED1.03 billion ($280.42 million) in medical expenses. These numbers are higher than those from 2022 when AED992 million in spending was generated by 674,000 foreign health tourists who visited Dubai.
Health tourism generated AED2.3 billion in indirect revenue for Dubai in 2023, significantly increasing the emirate’s GDP and spurring the expansion of important industries.
According to data from the Dubai Digital Authority, women made up 58% of foreign health tourists and men made up 42%. The majority of foreign medical tourists came from Asia (33 percent), then the GCC’s Arab nations (28 percent), European nations, and the Commonwealth of Independent States (23 percent).
Dubai’s ability to draw medical tourists seeking expertise in important specialties from a variety of regions further solidifies Dubai’s standing as a top location for specialized healthcare services.
The most in-demand medical specialties along with their demand in each region are broken down here:
Top 3 in-demand specialties
- Dentistry: 29 percent
- Dermatology: 27 percent
- Gynaecology: 13 percent
Region-wise demand
- Dermatology: Asia (33 percent), Arab and GCC countries (28 percent), Europe (23 percent)
- Dental services: Arab and GCC countries (48 percent), Europe (20 percent), Asia (19 percent)
- Gynaecology services: Asian countries (49 percent), European countries (25 percent), Arab and GCC countries (13 percent)
- Orthopaedic surgery: Arab and GCC countries (30 percent), Asia (29 percent), Europe (24 percent)
- Plastic surgery: Arab and GCC countries (43 percent), Asia (21 percent), Europe (21 percent)
- Ophthalmology services: Asia (28 percent), Arab and GCC countries (27 percent), Africa (21 percent)
- Fertility treatments: Asia (36 percent), Arab and GCC countries (22 percent), Europe (21 percent)
- Recuperation and recovery treatments: Europe (35 percent), Arab and GCC countries (30 percent), Asia (21 percent)
The report’s statistics emphasize Dubai’s appeal as a center for specialized healthcare services, drawing patients from all over the world who are looking for top-notch care in a range of medical specialties.
