Though UAE is a recently developed nation compared to some others, it has a well-developed medical care setup. Complex surgery, cutting edge treatment and a high quality of care is offered here. This means that residents, as well as patients from abroad, are now making the UAE their preferred medical tourism destination. A recent achievement by a UAE hospital seems to cement its reputation as medical hub frequently chosen by medical tourists.
Cleveland Clinic in Abu Dhabi recently celebrated a significant milestone as part of the ongoing year of tolerance celebrations. The clinic had conducted its first kidney transplant in 2017 and has since expanded its facilities by adding other organ transplant capabilities.
Till the end of 2018, the clinic had performed many more transplants, including lung, heart, liver and kidney transplants. This also helps increase awareness about the importance of organ transplant and about pledging their organs among the general populace.
Though the UAE has well-equipped hospitals offering the latest and most advanced treatments, the cost of treatment here is lower than many other developed nations. In fact, some treatments are up to 50% cheaper in the UAE compared with the USA. This is the reason why so many from North America, Asia and from Europe choose to travel to the UAE for treatment. People from other GCC counties also travel to the UAE for treatment that may not be available or affordable in their home countries.
With one of the most diverse and cosmopolitan populations in the world, medical tourists to the UAE have access to a large talent pool. Doctors, nurses and other medical professionals flock to the UAE for better professional opportunities, access to cutting edge medical equipment and better career trajectories. Visitors can take advantage of this diverse talent pool.
About three hundred thousand medical tourists visited the UAE in 2016, which was a 10% jump from the previous hear. People come here for fertility treatments, orthopaedic procedures, dermatology treatments as well as dental and cosmetic procedures.
Since the UAE, with its world cities like Dubai, top-notch leisure options and strategic location is a popular tourist destination as well as preferred stopover location, many people choose to combine treatments with sight-seeing here.
The medical infrastructure and facilities in the UAE have been given a lot of encouragement from the government authorities, for several reasons including the fact that it is a one billion dirham industry and contributes significantly to the country's GDP. Over 400 different medical packages make it convenient for people to choose one that is right for them. E-consultations with doctors can be arranged in advance, so that the patient doesn’t have to wait to get treatment, which can be a waste of time and money.
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