ATM 2022: Dubai receives 630,000 health tourists in 2021

Dubai received 630,000 international health tourists in 2021, according to a recent study.

A report released by the Dubai Health Authority (DHA) during the ongoing Arabian Travel Market suggested that most incoming health tourists were from Asian countries, accounting for 38 per cent, whereas 24 per cent were from Europe and 22 per cent from Arab and GCC nations.

#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/uyHqggJ9BE pic.twitter.com/rCltPBOX4Q

— Dubai Media Office (@DXBMediaOffice) May 9, 2022

Spending by international patients reached nearly Dhs730m in the past year. As many as 55 per cent of the international health tourists were men, while 45 per cent were women.

Almost 70 per cent of treatment given to international health tourists was offered at multidisciplinary clinics, 16 per cent at hospitals, and 14 per cent at one-day surgery centres.

The three medical specialities that attracted the most health tourists were dermatology (43 per cent), dentistry (18 per cent), and gynaecology (16 per cent), official news agency WAM reported. Other medical specialities included orthopaedics, plastic surgery, ophthalmology, health and wellness, and fertility treatments.

The top three regions that attracted health tourists in dentistry included the Arab and Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region at 45 per cent, Asia at 28 per cent, and Europe at 15 per cent. Regions that attracted health tourists in dermatology were Asia (31 per cent), Europe (27 per cent) and Arab and GCC region (26 per cent). In the field of gynaecology, the top regions attracting tourists were Asia (57 per cent), Europe (15 per cent) and the Arab and GCC region (13 per cent).

The top three regions from which health tourists came for treatment in the field of orthopaedic surgery were Asia (36 per cent), Europe (29 per cent) and the Arab and GCC region (17 per cent).

For plastic surgery, the top three regions were the Arab and GCC region (36 per cent), Europe (31 per cent), and Asia (14 per cent). Top regions from which health tourists came for treatment in ophthalmology were Asia at 33 per cent, Arab and GCC region at 23 per cent, and Africa at 18 per cent. For fertility treatments, most patients came from Asia (34 per cent), Africa (24 per cent) and Europe (19 per cent).

Awadh Seghayer Al Ketbi, director-general of the Dubai Health Authority, highlighted the global competitiveness of the emirate’s health tourism offerings and the sector’s growth and advancement in the past decade.

The report reveals that several health tourists visiting Dubai came from countries with a long history in the medical sector, reflecting the high level of healthcare development achieved by the emirate across governmental, private, or multinational institutions.

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