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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AI Makes 52% Of Workers Appear More Experienced Than They Are

by THEFUTURE.TEAM

September 4, 2026

Artificial intelligence is helping many office workers produce work beyond their experience level, making it harder for employers to assess underlying skills.

A survey of 9,684 working adults across the US, UK, Canada, the EU and Latin America by Use.AI found that 52% believe AI has made them appear more experienced than they are.

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AI Is Raising Output Faster Than Skills

Some 64% said they had used AI to complete work they could not have done independently, while 43% said it enabled them to take on responsibilities they did not feel qualified to handle.

Another 35% said they would struggle to perform parts of their current jobs without AI, and 25% worried their employers see them as more capable than they are. Meanwhile, 39% had submitted AI-assisted work without telling their manager, and 30% had accepted praise for output substantially produced by AI.

For 19% of respondents, AI-assisted work had contributed to a promotion.

Should Employees Disclose AI Use?

As AI becomes embedded in everyday software, requiring disclosure of every interaction may be impractical.

“I do not think companies should require employees to disclose every interaction with AI,” Ihor Herasymov, co-founder and chief executive of Use.AI, told Euronews. He said disclosure should apply when AI materially shapes the work.

“If it generated a significant part of an analysis, recommendation, presentation, code or other consequential output, employees should disclose that assistance,” Herasymov said. Employees should remain responsible for understanding, verifying and defending the work they submit.

Managers Need New Ways To Assess Performance

AI-assisted workers are not necessarily unqualified, but finished work now reveals less about the person who produced it.

“Finished output still matters, but it is becoming a less complete measure of capability,” Herasymov said. Managers should also assess whether employees can explain their reasoning, identify weaknesses in AI-generated answers and make sound decisions when the technology fails.

Problem framing is another key skill, he said: “Can someone define the right question, challenge an assumption and explain why one course of action is better than another?”

Organizations are still developing ways to distinguish what employees can produce with AI from what they actually understand.

AI Tool Or Dependency?

The finding that 35% of workers would struggle without AI raises questions about whether augmentation can become dependency.

“Yes, I think that finding deserves to be taken seriously,” Herasymov said, arguing that the risk emerges when workers cannot recognize incorrect AI output or make sound judgments when the system has no reliable answer.

AI can make workers faster and expand their capabilities, he said, but weaker independent judgment is a trade-off employers and technology companies need to address.

AI Autonomy Is Accelerating

The challenge is growing as AI systems become more autonomous. Ventureburn, citing METR data, reported that the time required for AI autonomy to double has fallen from an eight-month trend to 4.7 months.

Autonomous capabilities increased 1,400% year over year between early 2025 and early 2026, while AI tool downloads reportedly rose from 15,000 to 11.8 million. Publicly available MCP tools increased 35-fold to about 177,000.

MCP, or Model Context Protocol, lets AI assistants connect directly to applications and data sources to perform tasks. As AI takes on more work with less human intervention, employers may need to assess not only the final output but also the judgment behind it.

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