DUBAI, United Arab Emirate, Aug 21 (NNN-WAM) – Medical tourism sales in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), increased 5.5 percent year-on-year, to reach 12.1 billion dirhams (3.3 billion U.S. dollars) in 2018, with growth supported by several government-led initiatives, according to an analysis released by the Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
The analysis, based on recent data from Euromonitor and Fitch Solutions, revealed that, health expenditure in the UAE amounted to an estimated 50.3 billion dirhams (13.61 billion dollars) in 2018, marking a 5.4 percent increase, compared to the previous year.
Key factors supporting this growth trend include, new medical tourism initiatives, implemented by the government, and increasing privatisation sector, in the form of investment and building state-of-the-art health facilities.
According to the analysis, there were 154 hospitals in the UAE in 2018, up from 107 in 2013. UAE hospitals saw 49.1 million patient visits last year.– NNN-WAM
