United Arab Emirates

The UAE is a federation of seven emirates or states, bordered by Oman and Saudi Arabia. Once considered a desert wasteland, the UAE has mushroomed over the past two decades into an international blend of Eastern and Western-style commerce and tourism—without the Western crime rates. On the healthcare front, the UAE already claims more than 50 JCI-accredited hospitals and specialty clinics.

The city of Abu Dhabi is the capital of the UAE and also the center of government for the state of the same name. Abu Dhabi is home to more than 20 JCI-accredited hospitals.

The state of Dubai is the second largest emirate, also situated on the Persian Gulf. The city of the same name has grown spectacularly over the past decade into one of the one of the Middle East’s largest commercial centers and most-visited tourism destination. Dubai boasts more than two dozen JCI-accredited hospitals.

Reclaiming the Middle Eastern Patient

For the past decade, Arab nationals have traveled to Thailand, Singapore, India, and other Asian hospitals for healthcare. After a hard look at these costs, the Dubai government decided it was time to reclaim its regional base of patients. More than $100 million has been raised to realize this vision, which will include facilities for medical care and wellness, research, and education.

Dubai Healthcare City, founded in 2002, is an example of a healthcare cluster striving to build an infrastructure of quality metrics, excellent patient experience, research and academic affiliations. The 4.1 million square feet campus has attracted a large general hospital (City Hospital), a JCI-accredited cosmetic surgery hospital and more than 100 specialty clinics. A multimillion dollar medical research center is slated to open in 2013.

Note: Unfortunately, politics remain an issue in the UAE, and travelers with an Israeli passport or with Israeli stamps in their passports will be denied entry into the country.

Additional Resources

Read the recently released Patients Beyond Borders: Dubai Healthcare City Edition to learn more about healthcare options in the UAE. A fully translated Arabic edition is also available.