Dubai authorities sign deal to ease visa procedures for medical tourists

Dubai Health Authority (DHA) and The General Directorate of Residency and Foreign Affairs Dubai (GDRFA-D) have signed an agreement aimed at easing visa procedures for medical tourists who want to come to the emirate for treatment.

The memorandum of understanding was signed on the sidelines of the 37th edition of GITEX 2017 and aims to help Dubai attract more than 500,000 medical tourists by 2020.

Medical tourism in Dubai yielded revenues of around AED1.42 billion ($390 million) in 2016, up from AED1.40 billion in 2015, according to new figures. Dubai Health Authority (DHA) said in a statement cited by state news agency WAM that the number of incoming wellness tourist arrivals amounted to 326,640 in 2016, a 9.5% growth over the previous year.

A statement said the MoU aims to strengthen Dubai’s position as a global destination for medical tourism.

In June, it was reported that medical tourism in Dubai yielded revenues of around AED1.42 billion ($390 million) in 2016, up marginally from AED1.40 billion in the previous year.

The number of incoming wellness tourist arrivals amounted to 326,640 in 2016, a 9.5 percent growth over the previous year.

As part of the new MoU, both parties will be coordinating to establish a mechanism to issue medical tourism visas for patients coming from abroad.