"Forbes Middle East Medical Tourism Summit" Consolidating the UAE’s position as a leading destination for care and innovation

Dubai, 11 December / WAM / The second edition of the Medical Tourism and Health Well-Being Summit, organized by Forbes Middle East on December 9 and 10 in Dubai, in partnership with the American Hospital Dubai, concluded in Dubai. It included dialogue sessions and the exchange of experiences, with the participation of more than 100 prominent speakers and an elite group of experts, specialists, economic leaders and decision makers from the region and the world.

The summit, which was held at the Jumeirah Beach Hotel, highlighted the region’s growing position as a global healthcare destination and a major hub for innovation in medical tourism.

In the opening speech of the summit, His Excellency Abdullah bin Touq Al Marri, Minister of Economy and Tourism, stressed the importance of the promising medical tourism sector and its role in supporting the national economy and enhancing the UAE’s global competitiveness, explaining that the UAE continues to provide a tourism model based on value-added experiences in the fields of wellness, medical treatment and prevention, which reflects the vision of the wise leadership in placing the human being as the focus of development, and in creating a comprehensive environment in which health care, tourism and technology are integrated.

His Excellency stated that the tourism sector in the UAE today constitutes a pivotal contribution to the national economy, as it contributes 13% to the gross domestic product, and pumps about 70 billion dollars into the UAE economy, in addition to providing more than 900,000 jobs, which reflects the strength of the tourism system and its ability to meet the expectations of travelers around the world.

His Excellency added that the UAE received nearly 30 million visitors during the year 2024, which is the highest in the region, while the country’s hotels received more than 23 million guests during the first nine months of 2025, and recorded 79.3 million hotel nights, with an occupancy rate exceeding 79%, stressing that these indicators reflect the growing confidence in the UAE tourism environment, and are in line with the efforts made to consolidate the country’s position as a global healthcare destination. And medical tourism.

His Excellency pointed out that the future of medical and luxury tourism will be based on an integrated system that employs artificial intelligence, advanced diagnostics, and telemedicine solutions to provide smooth, safe and reliable experiences, stressing that the UAE is continuing to strengthen partnerships and develop an innovative health and tourism environment that keeps pace with the aspirations of the contemporary traveler and meets his changing needs.

His Excellency Mishal Julfar, Executive Director of the Dubai Corporation for Ambulance Services, participated in the summit, along with an elite group of specialists and experts, which gave the discussions depth and strategic visions about the future of health and well-being.

For her part, Kholoud Al-Omyan, CEO and editor-in-chief of Forbes Middle East, said that the UAE continues to consolidate its global leadership in the field of medical tourism and health well-being with a vision that puts people at the heart of development, stressing that health and well-being represent a fundamental issue for every individual, and are not just traditional services, but rather a pivotal part of a balanced and healthy lifestyle. She explained that the summit formed a platform to highlight integrated partnerships that bring together many sectors, and reflects the UAE’s ability to develop a solid system of health well-being supported by an infrastructure. World-class infrastructure and a clear vision for the future.

She pointed out that the summit is in line with the UAE’s trends in presenting an integrated model that embodies the concept of health well-being, which goes beyond treatment, by enhancing cooperation and exchange of knowledge between experts and specialists, and appreciating the efforts behind the development process in this vital sector, pointing out that this prestigious gathering reflects Dubai’s advanced position as a global center for innovation in medical tourism, and its role in anticipating the future of health and wellness at the regional and global levels.

Sherif Bishara, CEO of the Mohammed and Obaid Al Mulla Group and the American Hospital Dubai, said that Dubai has proven that greatness is created by vision and work, and that it has chosen excellence and challenging boundaries to become a prominent global destination in medical tourism, pointing out that the city does not grow by luck, but by adopting new ideas and creating standards that go beyond what is known globally.

The summit witnessed the organization of more than 20 discussion sessions that addressed the latest developments in the fields of mental, nutritional and physical health and integrated well-being solutions, within six main themes, most notably the “National Strategy for Quality of Life in the UAE 2031”, which aims to consolidate the country’s global leadership in line with the “We Are the Emirates Vision 2031” and the goals of the “UAE Centenary 2071”, and contributed to improving the level of income, enhancing social welfare and providing high-quality services, which made the UAE a preferred destination. For tourism and investment.

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