Dubai: According to statistics released on Monday by Dubai Health Authority (DHA) for 2022, the emirate has 4,482 medical facilities across the private sector - a 45 per cent growth in five years.
These facilities provide care across a range of medical specialities and sub-specialities. They are located throughout the emirate to ensure easy access for community members and an increasing number of medical tourists that choose Dubai for the quality of its facilities, care providers, and services.
Along with the growth in the number of healthcare facilities, Dubai has also witnessed a 61 per cent increase in licensed medical professionals to reach 55,208 in 2022.
Dr Marwan Al Mulla, CEO of the Health Regulation Sector at DHA, said: “We strive to fulfil the mandate of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to make Dubai the best city in the world. The ease of processes, investment support, Dubai’s location, state-of-the-art infrastructure, and the emirate’s forward-thinking approach have contributed to the growth of high-quality multinational and specialised facilities in the city.”
He added: “Under the guidance of [Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum], Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of The Executive Council of Dubai, we aim to expand further Dubai’s private health facilities in line with our efforts to continue to develop this vital sector.”
The DHA’s projections for 2023 and beyond estimate growth of 10 to 15 per cent for medical professionals and three to six per cent for facilities.
Profile of facilities
Dubai’s private health facilities include 56 hospitals, 57 day-care surgery centres, 59 diagnostic centres, 21 specialised centres for people of determination, and 1,566 specialised outpatient clinics.
The facilities also include 417 school clinics, 154 home healthcare agencies, nine fertility centres, six dialysis centres, three cord blood and stem cell centres, a gastrointestinal endoscopy centre, 49 dental laboratories, 17 telehealth centres, four patient transfer service centres, 57 facilities for traditional, complementary and alternative medicine, 1,353 pharmaceutical facilities, 17 medicine storage facilities, and 410 optical centres.
These facilities offer a wide range of medical services, including advanced diagnostic procedures, specialised treatments, and surgical procedures. Many private hospitals in Dubai are accredited by international bodies such as the Joint Commission International (JCI) and the International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO), ensuring they meet the highest quality and patient safety standards.
Specialised centres
Dubai’s healthcare infrastructure includes several specialised medical centres that provide expert care for specific medical conditions. For example, the Dubai Diabetes Centre provides comprehensive care for patients with diabetes, while the Dubai Cancer Centre offers specialised treatment for cancer patients. Additionally, Dubai is home to several leading research centres, such as the Dubai Genomics Centre, which focuses on genetic research and personalised medicine.
Dubai’s healthcare infrastructure also includes many telemedicine services enabling patients to consult with doctors remotely. This increases the accessibility of healthcare services and can be especially useful for people who live in remote areas or have mobility issues.
Medical tourism
According to the latest Medical Tourism Index, Dubai ranks top in the Middle East and North Africa and sixth in the world for medical tourism, with the city ranking fifth globally on the sub-index of Quality of Facilities and Services.
Before licensing a facility, the DHA considers several factors, including healthcare standards and processes, quality and diversity of health services, treatment methods, equipment and modern technology to ensure the provision of high-quality, specialised accessible care for community members and medical tourists alike.
