Under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of Dubai Executive Council, His Highness Sheikh Maktoum Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai, recently inaugurated Dubai Investment Week 2018, hosted by Dubai FDI, the investment development agency of the Department of Economic Development (DED).
His Highness Sheikh Maktoum also launched the Dubai Health Investment Guide 2018, developed by Dubai Health Authority (DHA). The guide is a key initiative of the Dubai Health Investment Strategy 2017-21. It aims to provide investors and private sector health facilities with information on investment priorities, gaps in health provision and key developments in the health sector.
Dubai leads the way for private sector participation in healthcare in the MENA region. The private sector healthcare providers in Dubai have contributed to developing a strong health ecosystem. They account for more than 79 per cent of outpatient services, and more than 74 per cent of inpatient services.
The excellent infrastructure and competitive, investor-friendly business environment in Dubai combined with Dubai’s position as a global and regional hub for innovation and talent, along with new investment initiatives by the government and government-related entities have opened up huge opportunities for private sector providers.
Dubai’s health sector has seen tremendous growth over the last few years, with the number of licensed health facilities growing to 3,100 by April 2018 from around 2,800 facilities in 2014, reflecting approximate year-over-year growth of 4 per cent. This increase includes private hospitals, specialised health centres, pharmacies, diagnostic centres and dental centres.
In the same period, the number of licensed medical professionals grew from 30,600 in 2014 to 38,500 in April 2018, at a rate of approximately 8 per cent year-over-year. The growth is supported by a rise in population, rising utilisation of health services in the private sector and the implementation of mandatory health insurance, which has seen approximately 98 per cent of Dubai’s resident population covered by health insurance (as of September 3, 2018), and an increase in healthcare spending due to growing confidence in the health system and improved access to specialised health services in Dubai.
Key highlights of the Health Investment Guide
The advantages of investing in Dubai with a snapshot of the emirate’s health system showing key trends on patient volumes, growth of health infrastructure and health spending.
Details of drivers that boost demand for health services such as a growing population, a strong and diversified economy, stable and attractive investment climate, rising burden of disease, prevalence of chronic diseases and increase in health tourism.
An overview of health regulations and the health insurance system, including upcoming changes and initiatives.
Mapping of the investment journey for different types of facilities.
A snapshot of the investment needs and priorities for outpatient care units and acute inpatient beds for 2018, 2020 and 2025, based on comprehensive analysis of demand and supply projections across specialties for Dubai from the Dubai Clinical Services Capacity Plan 2018-2030.
Highlights the free zones in Dubai that are focused on supporting healthcare and life sciences, as well as key initiatives by DHA to support health tourism in Dubai, and health innovation through Dubai Future Accelerators programme.
