The number of healthcare facilities in Dubai has surged over the last decade, doubling to meet the rising demand from residents and medical tourists, a senior official announced on Wednesday.
“Year after year, healthcare facilities have grown. Over the past ten years, we’ve nearly doubled, now exceeding 5,300 facilities. Our healthcare professionals have also seen a significant rise,” shared Mohammed Almeheiri, Director of Health Tourism Department at the Dubai Health Authority (DHA), during a Khaleej Times conference.
“The market demands that we support both Dubai’s residents and its visitors, accommodating the influx of new residents. There’s a surge in developments and investments, with many choosing Dubai as their new home,” he explained.
Mohammed Almeheiri. KT Photo: Sajjad
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Key healthcare leaders from both public and private sectors gathered at the 5th Future of Healthcare Summit 2025. Under the theme ‘Echoes of tomorrow, Building the future of care’, the summit showcased the transformation of healthcare through innovation, technology, and strategic partnerships.
“In 2018, there were around 24-25 hospitals; today, that number has doubled to approximately 55,” Almeheiri stated in a chat with Ted Kemp, Chief Content Officer at Khaleej Times.
KT Photo: Sajjad
A Dubai Health Authority study revealed that the emirate welcomed over 691,000 health tourists globally in 2023, spending more than Dh1.03 billion on healthcare services. This surpassed 2022 figures, where arrivals were 674,000, with expenditures totaling Dh992 million. Dubai’s indirect health tourism revenue reached Dh2.3 billion in 2023.
Will AI Transform Healthcare Jobs?
As healthcare evolves rapidly, he mentioned that DHA, as a regulator, ensures quality is upheld, and patients receive the services they seek.
He emphasized that hospitals must secure certain accreditations to guarantee quality service and patient safety.
Addressing a query on top medical tourism destinations, he noted that many medical tourists hail from nearby GCC countries, with an emphasis on dental and dermatological services.
“Countries across East and West Africa often seek complex procedures abroad due to local unavailability, marking a growing segment,” Almeheiri noted.
Discussing AI’s impact on healthcare jobs, he assured that “AI won’t replace healthcare workers; instead, it will enhance their roles.”
He highlighted that facilities incorporating system efficiencies would attract numerous patients.
