A MEETING of the council chaired by Shaikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of the Dubai Executive Council, discussed the plan to transform Dubai into a global hub for health tourism in March this year.
Contracts for new medical facilities across the GCC are expected to reach $9.53 billion by the end of 2014, a 25 per cent increase on 2013, as reported by WAM Emirates News Agency. Dubai plans to attract 500,000 patients for treatment by 2020, according to the Dubai Health Authority (DHA).To cater for these patients 18 private and four public hospitals will be built over the next few years.UAE-headquartered hospitality company, Time Hotels Management, has announced the signing of a new five-star hotel located just a few minutes from the city’s medical services hub, Dubai Healthcare City. The 277-room Time Royal Hotel will occupy a prime position off Sheikh Rashid Road with easy access to popular luxury retail hub, Wafi Mall, and a ten-minute drive from Dubai International Airport. Under development by Awtad Investment Company the Dh200 million ($54.4 million) hotel is set to open in 2016 and will offer guests a choice of two restaurants, a coffee shop, fully equipped gymnasium, swimming pool, spa and 684-square metres of state-of-the-art meeting space.“The new Wafi location will complement our existing properties, which are located at opposite ends of the city in Al Barsha/Tecom and Al Qusais, and will also add much-needed room stock to the Oud Metha area, which is home to Dubai Healthcare City,” says Mohamed Awadalla, CEO, Time Hotels.“We will also add more value to the market with two rooms per floor at our new Wafi property specifically designed to be handicap-accessible; which is a first for the city and a unique selling point for the promotion of Dubai as a leading destination for medical tourism,” he says. The hotel will also be wheelchair-friendly with ramps sited throughout its major public areas and with adapted elevator access.The UAE has doubled its healthcare budget since 2007 and currently ranks among the top 20 destinations for medical tourism. The country spends 3.3 per cent of its GDP on healthcare, the third highest in the GCC. According to Alpen Capital Investment Banking, the UAE’s medical tourism sector drew revenue of $1.69 billion in 2013.