The United Arab Emirates is well known for its ambition for being at the forefront of innovation and mega transformation projects. After becoming a leading hub of worldwide tourism, the UAE now has it’s sights on becoming a leading destination and voice for medical tourism.
This year, Abu Dhabi will be hosting the 12th World Medical Tourism and Global Healthcare Congress (WMTC) from October 15 to 17, 2019. There is a fascinating agenda lined up with topics ranging from understanding China’s 2030 healthcare strategy to how destinations can craete world class patient experiences. Historically, this conference has taken place in the United States and is attended by leading hospitals, payers, regulators and tourism facilitators from around the world.
A 10 year agreement was signed in 2018 between the United States based Medical Tourism Association (MTA) and the Department of Culture and Tourism in Abu Dhabi to help promote Abu Dhabi as a trusted destination for medical tourism.
Abu Dhabi is one of the safest cities in the world and is already home to a number of leading international healthcare providers, most notably the Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, which is highly regarded as one of the most outstanding health systems in the world.
There are likely to be many initiatives in the coming years to make healthcare a bigger attraction in Abu Dhabi and the United Arab Emirates and we, at the Medical Travel Market will be keeping a close eye on these developments, so stay tuned for more to come.
