The second Medical Tourism and Wellness Summit, organized by Forbes Middle East, occurred on December 9th–10th at the luxurious Jumeirah Beach Hotel, in collaboration with American Hospital Dubai. The two-day event convened over 100 professionals, including experts and leaders from diverse sectors, to engage in discussions surrounding the evolving landscape of health, wellness, and medical tourism.
This summit underscored the UAE’s expanding influence as a premier destination for healthcare innovation and medical tourism. Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri, the Minister of Economy and Tourism, inaugurated the event by highlighting the significance of this sector to the national economy and the UAE's competitive edge on a global scale. Insights were also shared by Mishal Karim Julfar, Executive Director of Dubai Corporation for Ambulance Services, on future directions for integrated healthcare and well-being.
In his address, Bin Touq stressed that the UAE is continually fostering a robust tourism model that emphasizes valuable medical treatments, preventative care, and holistic wellness. He revealed that tourism contributes 13% to the GDP, generating around $70 billion and facilitating over 900,000 jobs, reflecting the underlying strength of the national tourism landscape.
The Minister reported that nearly 30 million tourists visited the UAE in 2024, claiming the leading position in the region, while hotel occupancy rates remained high with over 23 million guests recorded within the first nine months of 2025. He articulated that the future of medical tourism would increasingly hinge on AI technologies, advanced diagnostic tools, and telehealth services that guarantee seamless and secure experiences.
Khuloud Al Omian, CEO and Editor-in-Chief of Forbes Middle East, articulated that the summit showcased the UAE’s competence to foster a comprehensive wellness ecosystem, supported by state-of-the-art infrastructure and cross-sector collaborations. She remarked that health and wellness are core to a fulfilling life, and the UAE exemplifies global innovation in medical tourism.
Sherif Beshara, Group CEO of Mohamed & Obaid AlMulla Group and American Hospital Dubai, noted that Dubai has cultivated its global standing in medical tourism through vision, proactive measures, and an unwavering commitment to excellence.
Over 20 enlightening panel discussions delved into various aspects of mental, nutritional, and physical wellness, along with integrated wellness solutions. These discussions resonated with the UAE National Strategy for Wellbeing 2031, aspiring to position the nation as a global leader in wellness, aligned with the We the UAE 2031 initiative and UAE Centennial 2071 goals. The summit reinforced Dubai’s position as a pivotal hub of innovation in medical tourism and healthcare leadership in the region.
After a poor start to the Ashes, England must change their game plan quickly, says former Australia
Lionel Messi’s India tour began in chaos as crowd mismanagement at Kolkata’s Salt Lake Stadium force
John Cena steps into the WWE ring one last time, closing a legendary career and leaving fans worldwi
A 4.4-magnitude earthquake hits Bay of Bengal; no damage reported, officials monitoring the situatio
