Forbes Middle East wrapped up the second edition of the Medical Tourism and Wellness Summit, held on December 9–10 at the Jumeirah Beach Hotel, in collaboration with American Hospital Dubai.
Across two days, the summit featured over 100 speakers and convened leading experts, specialists, economic figures, and decision-makers from the region and around the world to exchange knowledge and insights on the future of health and wellness.
The event underscored the region’s growing reputation as a global hub for healthcare and a centre of innovation in medical tourism. Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri, Minister of Economy and Tourism, attended the opening session, highlighting the expanding significance of this promising sector and its role in strengthening the national economy and elevating the UAE’s global standing. Mishal Karim Julfar, Executive Director of Dubai Corporation for Ambulance Services, also took part, contributing strategic perspectives on the future of wellbeing.
In his opening remarks, Bin Touq affirmed, “The UAE continues to advance a tourism model built on value-driven experiences in wellbeing, medical treatment, and preventive care, reflecting the leadership’s vision of placing people at the heart of development, and creating an integrated environment where healthcare, tourism, and technology come together.”
He emphasized that tourism is now a key pillar of the UAE economy, accounting for 13% of GDP, generating $70 billion, and supporting more than 900,000 jobs, figures that highlight the robustness of the national tourism sector and its ability to meet global traveller expectations.
He added that the UAE hosted nearly 30 million visitors in 2024, the highest in the region. In the first nine months of 2025 alone, hotels welcomed over 23 million guests, recording 79.3 million room nights and achieving an occupancy rate above 79%. These strong indicators demonstrate rising global confidence in the UAE’s tourism ecosystem and align with national efforts to position the country as a world-leading destination for healthcare and medical tourism.
Bin Touq further noted that the future of medical tourism and wellness will hinge on integrated systems driven by AI, advanced diagnostics, and telehealth technologies, enabling streamlined, safe, and reliable experiences. He affirmed that the UAE will continue to build partnerships and cultivate an innovative environment that meets the modern traveller’s evolving needs.
Khuloud Al Omian, CEO and Editor-in-Chief of Forbes Middle East, said, “The UAE continues to reinforce its global leadership in medical tourism and wellness through a vision that places people at the centre of development. Health and wellbeing are essential for every individual, not merely services, but a core part of a balanced and healthy lifestyle.”
She added that the summit provided a platform to showcase cross-sector collaboration and highlighted the UAE’s ability to develop a robust wellbeing ecosystem supported by world-class infrastructure and a clear, forward-focused strategy.
Al Omian explained that the summit aligns with the UAE’s direction in presenting a holistic model of wellbeing that extends beyond treatment by enhancing cooperation, facilitating knowledge exchange, and acknowledging the contributions driving progress in this key sector. She noted that this notable gathering reflects Dubai’s advanced status as a global innovation hub for medical tourism and its influence in shaping the future of health and wellbeing both regionally and globally.
Sherif Beshara, Group CEO of Mohamed & Obaid AlMulla Group and American Hospital Dubai, said, “Dubai has demonstrated that greatness is built through vision and action. The city, he noted, chose excellence and boundary-breaking ambition to become a prominent global destination for medical tourism.
Over 20 panel discussions throughout the summit addressed the most recent advancements in mental, nutritional, and physical wellbeing, alongside integrated wellness solutions. These conversations were structured around six major themes, including the UAE National Strategy for Wellbeing 2031, which seeks to position the UAE as a global frontrunner in wellbeing in alignment with We the UAE 2031 and UAE Centennial 2071.
(Inputs from WAM)
