The Dubai Health Authority sees the reopening of airports, aggressive testing and sanitisation, and resumption of elective surgeries and other healthcare services as clear indicators of Dubai’s readiness to restart health tourism in the emirate.

Prior to the pandemic, Dubai has projected that the sector would contribute about 500,000 visitors in the emirate by 2021. An increasing number of tourists around the world are now waiting to travel for health or medical reasons to Dubai and may soon resume their impending flight plans following the emirate’s lifting of entry restrictions to tourists and visitors due to the Covid-19 pandemic. In this regard, the Health Tourism Department held a webinar themed ‘Dubai Leads the Great Comeback: DXH welcomes the world to exceptional health experiences’ to announce the sector’s readiness to welcome health tourists this July 22.

The webinar, attended by key stakeholders from the tourism and health sectors and led by key speakers from the Dubai Corporation for Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DCTCM), and private hospitals which are members of the DXH, further shed light on how the country is planning to make Dubai a destination of choice for health tourists amidst the current situation as well as the strategic measures of the authorities to ensure patient safety upon health tourists’ arrival.

Dr Marwan Al Mulla, CEO - Health Regulation Sector, Dubai Health Authority, said, "As we all know, the world is currently facing an unprecedented crisis - one that has managed to impact various industry verticals, including health tourism. However, the government's commitment and effort to address the impact of the pandemic has put us on the path to recovery rather soon. In fact, the exemplary actions of the government has allowed the UAE to be ranked as one of the safest nations during the pandemic—number one in the Arab region and one of the world's top ten in managing Covid-19."

He added: "Amidst the pandemic spread and the implementation of restrictions for businesses and individuals alike, Dubai’s healthcare sector has efficiently provided virtual assistance in licensing, including the provision of telemedicine which many hospitals have immediately adopted at the height of the situation. We are proud of the performance of the healthcare sector during that time. As some of the last patients have left from hospitals, we are resuming normal services for both inpatients and outpatients. This experience has been incredible for Dubai and a true test to the strength of our healthcare system."

"The Dubai Health Authority has licensed a total of 3,397 health facilities in the emirate, 45 of which are newly established during the first half of 2020. Dubai Health Experience remains committed to supporting the emirate’s journey to become the most preferred global health tourism destination and a hub for top-accredited healthcare facilities," concluded Al Mulla.