Dubai Healthcare Facilities Rise to 11.5% in Q1 2023 

In the first quarter of 2023, Dubai Health Authority (DHA) granted licenses to 143 health facilities. This is an 11.5% growth from the previous year increasing the total licenses to 4,609. Among these are 52 hospitals, 77 specialized clinics, 58 one-day surgery centers, 82 dental, and 122 general clinics. Likewise, the list also includes 1,325 pharmacies, 414 optical centers, 160 nursing homes, and 57 alternative medicine centers. Dr. Al Mulla, CEO of DHA’s Health Regulation Sector, noted that this growth demonstrates global investors’ confidence in Dubai’s healthcare sector. 

The facilities cover various medical specialties, from advanced diagnostics to specialized treatments. The Health Regulation Sector received 6,500 health professional license applications in the first quarter contributing to Dubai’s pool of 56,239 licensed healthcare professionals. The healthcare authority anticipates a 10 to 15% increase in this figure for the year 2023 and beyond.

Transforming Dubai’s Healthcare

Dr. Al Mulla further appreciated the public-private partnership that has supported the ambitious goals of the Dubai Economic Agenda (D33). The dynamic nature of the Dubai healthcare sector reflects that it is becoming more competitive. The government is striving to enhance healthcare infrastructure quality and regulations. Dubai’s commitment to enhancing its medical infrastructure and maintaining high-quality standards has enabled it to create one of the best healthcare systems globally. 

Furthermore, the increase in healthcare establishments showcases Dubai’s emergence as a global healthcare hub. The emirate is also ranked no. 1 in the MENA region and no. 6 globally as a medical tourism hub according to the Medical Tourism Index. In 2022, Dubai welcomed 674,000 medical tourists which contributed AED 992 million ($270 million), marking an AED 262 million ($71 million) increase compared to 2021.

Earlier this year, DHA also conducted workshops to discuss Dubai’s Digital Health Strategy focusing on data-driven healthcare services. The new strategy focused on delivering patient-centric and data-driven healthcare services. It emphasized systems that involve patient records, data analytics, and other digitally integrated healthcare services. These technologies will enable DHA to further improve the patient service system and achieve digital transformation across the healthcare industry.

Research Konnection is one of the leading business consulting companies in Dubai. We specialize in UAE healthcare sector market research. For medical consultancy in Dubai or healthcare management consulting services, contact us at hello@researchkonnection.com.