Medical Tourism in the Emirates

Emerging Industry
First we had ‘eco’ tourism. Then came ‘sustainable’ tourism. Now, in the latest of new, lifestyle-orientated travel packages, comes ‘medical’ tourism.

According to Dr. Prem Jagyasi, chief officer of the Medical Tourism Association in the UAE, the medical tourism industry is likely to be worth $60 billion in the next 10 to 15 years.

Quality Healthcare a Lure
The rapid improvement of the UAE’s healthcare infrastructure, often in partnership and gaining recognised accreditation from private US healthcare firms, means that the quality of services available throughout the Gulf might be an attractive lure for those seeking the world’s best healthcare.

Dr. Jagyasi says, "The country plays an important role in driving perception of destination ... the UAE has significant capabilities primarily because of the perception and ever growing real estate market [which it now enjoys]."

Medical Tourism Linked to Luxury Tourism
His words demonstrate that like other areas of tourism, ‘medical’ tourism is just as much about reputation, and taking the necessary steps to ensure the perception as a hotbed of tourism is vigorously applied. Allied with a booming property management and development market in UAE, those wealthy enough to be able to afford medical tourism may likewise be attracted to the glamorous lure of luxury Fujairah or Dubai properties being developed in the region.

Cuba, Singapore, Fujairah, UAE
Whilst places like Cuba and Singapore have already developed a significant and world-renowned healthcare tourism sector, the UAE is on the cusp of entering a new market which will undoubtedly further enhance the region’s reputation as a tourist hotbed. Other countries, such as Tunisia and Panama are also in a process of developing their medical tourism industry, but one of the key advantages of the UAE may well be its lucrative and ever-expanding property market.

Source
Sourced from research carried out by Hamptons International, residential estate agents specialising in UK and International sales, lettings and property management.

Dr Geoff Pound

Geoff can be contacted by email at geoffpound(at)gmail.com on Facebook and Twitter.

Image: Fujairah beach, water, warmth, sunset, solitude—total therapy.