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Why the UAE Is Becoming A Premier Destination For Medical Tourism

by THEFUTURE.TEAM

February 11, 2025

With a commitment to enhancing its healthcare offerings, the UAE has positioned itself as a leader in medical tourism, catering to a growing global demand. As countries focus on improving the health of their populations, the UAE stands out for its strategic investments in both healthcare infrastructure and its appeal to medical tourists.

According to Statista, the global medical tourism market was valued at $47 billion in 2024, with projections indicating it could exceed $111 billion by 2029. The UAE is setting the bar high, with innovative initiatives such as specialized portals for health tourists and streamlined entry processes for medical visitors.

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Tailored Portals And Seamless Experiences

Abu Dhabi and Dubai have launched dedicated online platforms that streamline the process for medical tourists. These portals offer a range of services, including healthcare provider contact information, appointment bookings, hotel reservations, and local transportation. Dubai Health Authority (DHA) introduced the Dubai Health Experience (DXH) brand in 2016, aimed at making the city a global leader in health tourism. The platform offers a curated selection of top-tier treatments in fields such as dentistry, fertility, ophthalmology, and cosmetic surgery.

Meanwhile, in 2018, Abu Dhabi’s Department of Health (DoH) rolled out its own e-portal, showcasing a network of over 40 healthcare facilities that meet the stringent quality standards of the DoH’s JAWDA program. Visitors can explore nearly 300 treatment packages across specialties ranging from routine check-ups to complex surgeries.

Simplified Access With Specialized Permits

To further attract international patients, the UAE offers specialized entry permits for medical tourists and their companions. These permits, which can be single or multiple entries, are sponsored by medical institutions and processed by relevant authorities in the country. Dubai Healthcare City also introduced a new medical visa in January 2024, allowing treatment centers to apply for permits on behalf of patients for stays of up to six months. This move bolsters Dubai’s reputation as a medical tourism hotspot.

The city welcomed 674,000 medical tourists in 2022, generating $270 million in revenue. Wellness tourism is also booming in the UAE, with visitors spending $5.4 billion in 2022—almost double the amount spent in 2020.

Innovation At The Forefront

The UAE’s innovative spirit continues to propel its rise as a medical tourism hub. In 2024, HealthStay.io, the world’s first AI-powered medical tourism solution, launched in partnership with Dubai Health Experience. This startup, part of the Mohammed Bin Rashid Innovation Fund’s Accelerator Program, uses artificial intelligence to automate the medical tourism journey, including selecting treatments and booking appointments.

“The launch of HealthStay.io is a direct result of the support from DXH and DHA, helping us transform Dubai into a global healthcare tourism leader,” said Ruairi Tubrid, co-founder of HealthStay.io. Fatima Yousif Alnaqbi, MBRIF representative, emphasized the importance of accelerator programs in supporting innovative solutions that elevate the UAE’s standing as a center of excellence in healthcare.

Government Commitment To Healthcare Excellence

The UAE’s rapid growth in medical tourism is rooted in its consistent focus on healthcare improvement. Key strategies such as the Emirates Health Services Innovation Strategy 2023-2026 and the National Strategy for Wellbeing 2031 aim to enhance residents’ quality of life and elevate the nation’s healthcare offerings.

Compared to its Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) counterparts, the UAE leads in healthcare expenditure growth. Projections from Alpen Capital estimate that healthcare spending will reach $30.7 billion by 2027, reflecting the nation’s ongoing dedication to strengthening its healthcare infrastructure. As a result, the UAE continues to attract international patients seeking top-tier medical services.

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EBA Tightens Focus On High-Risk Third-Party Arrangements To Streamline Banking Oversight

by THEFUTURE.TEAM

September 28, 2026

The European Banking Authority has issued new guidelines designed to sharpen supervision of third-party arrangements linked to critical functions, in a move intended to simplify parts of the EU banking regulatory framework while preserving robust risk controls.

A More Proportionate Supervisory Model

The new approach concentrates attention on arrangements whose disruption could materially affect a financial institution’s operations. By doing so, regulators and firms can direct resources toward higher-risk dependencies rather than spreading oversight too thinly across lower-risk service relationships.

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In practice, the framework aims to reduce unnecessary operational and supervisory burdens associated with less material third-party arrangements, while maintaining strong standards for governance, resilience and risk management.

Covering The Full Third-Party Lifecycle

The guidelines apply to both ICT and non-ICT services, reflecting the increasingly interconnected nature of modern financial operations. Rather than treating technology risk in isolation, the EBA has adopted a more holistic approach to third-party risk management.

The framework spans the entire lifecycle of an arrangement, including risk assessment, due diligence, contracting, subcontracting, ongoing monitoring, documentation and exit planning. That breadth is significant: in financial services, risk does not end at onboarding. It evolves as dependencies deepen, services change, and counterparties expand their own supplier chains.

Feedback From Industry And International Standards

The EBA said the final version incorporates feedback from a public consultation, together with input gathered through targeted outreach. It also takes account of international standards, including the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision’s Principles for the Sound Management of Third-Party Risk.

That alignment matters. As banks and investment firms operate across jurisdictions and through increasingly complex vendor ecosystems, regulatory convergence helps reduce fragmentation and supports more consistent control frameworks.

A Transitional Period For Implementation

To support adoption, the EBA has предусмотрed a two-year transitional period, giving institutions and supervisors time to adapt to the new requirements in a proportionate and orderly way. The phased approach should help firms recalibrate internal policies, renegotiate contracts where needed and strengthen oversight of the most material external dependencies.

Broader Legal And Regulatory Context

The guidelines were developed under Directive 2013/36/EU, which requires the EBA to further harmonise governance arrangements, processes and mechanisms across EU institutions. In shaping the final text, the authority also considered several other key pieces of EU legislation, including the second Payment Services Directive, the Investment Firms Directive, the Markets in Financial Instruments Directive and the Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation.

The regulation establishing the EBA was also taken into account, underscoring the breadth of the legal foundation behind the new framework.

What The New Rules Mean For Institutions

For banks, investment firms and other financial entities, the message is clear: not every outsourced service warrants the same level of regulatory attention. The new guidelines are designed to ensure that oversight is proportionate to the potential impact of failure, with greater scrutiny reserved for arrangements supporting functions that could seriously disrupt operations if compromised.

In a sector where resilience has become a board-level priority, the EBA’s move reflects a broader regulatory trend: fewer blanket requirements, more risk-based judgment and a sharper focus on material exposures.