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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John Ternus Takes Apple CEO Role As AI Challenge Grows

by THEFUTURE.TEAM

September 2, 2026

After 15 years as Apple’s chief executive, Tim Cook has handed the role to John Ternus, the company’s senior vice president of hardware engineering. The transition puts Ternus in charge of one of the world’s most valuable companies as Apple faces growing pressure to compete in artificial intelligence as well as hardware.

For Apple insiders, Ternus is hardly a new figure. He has spent more than two decades inside the company’s hardware organization, rising through a culture focused on product quality, precision and long-term execution.

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A Veteran Takes The Helm

The leadership change comes as Apple prepares for its next iPhone launch while also upgrading Siri with technology powered by Google’s Gemini. That combination highlights the challenge facing Ternus: maintaining Apple’s hardware strength while closing a widening gap in AI.

Cook, who will remain as executive chairman, described Ternus as deeply aligned with Apple’s product culture. “Few people understand what it takes to build products that change the world the way John does,” Cook wrote in a farewell message to employees.

Ternus joined Apple in 2001 after beginning his career at Virtual Research Systems, a small virtual-reality hardware company. He became vice president of hardware engineering in 2013 and senior vice president in 2021.

At 51, he is 15 years younger than Cook and becomes only the third CEO to lead Apple since 1997, when Steve Jobs returned to the company.

From Hardware Details To Major Products

Ternus oversaw Apple’s hardware engineering and worked on products including AirPods, Apple Watch and Vision Pro. He was also involved in the transition from Intel processors to Apple’s own silicon, one of the company’s most significant recent hardware changes.

His approach has long emphasized technical detail and humility. In a 2024 commencement address at the University of Pennsylvania’s engineering school, Ternus said: “Always assume you’re as smart as anyone else in the room, but never assume that you know as much as they do.”

That attention to detail dates back to his early years at Apple. While inspecting components for the Apple Cinema Display, he once spent time at a supplier facility counting grooves on a screw head to determine whether it met Apple’s specifications.

More recently, Ternus helped oversee development of the MacBook Neo, Apple’s lower-priced laptop. In an interview with Tom’s Guide, he said the company’s quality standards had not changed despite the product’s lower price.

“We never want to ship junk. We want to ship great products that have that Apple experience, that Apple quality,” he said.

AI Will Be A Key Test

As CEO, Ternus will need to shape Apple’s response to rapidly advancing AI technology while continuing to develop its hardware portfolio.

The company is already using Google Gemini to power an upgraded Siri experience, while the future of products such as Vision Pro remains another strategic question. His tenure will test whether Apple can apply its hardware discipline to software and AI, where product development is less predictable.

A Low-Profile CEO Takes Over

Ternus has maintained a relatively low public profile compared with other technology executives. He recently joined X, while most details of his personal life remain private.

Before joining Apple, he worked at Virtual Research Systems and later studied engineering at the University of Pennsylvania. There, he contributed to a project developing a feeding arm controlled by head movements for people with quadriplegia.

Apple is now entering another leadership era with a CEO who has spent most of his career inside the company. His central challenge will be to preserve the product discipline that shaped Apple while accelerating its response to AI.

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