Where Does Dubai Rank in Healthcare?
Dubai offers the best hospitals and healthcare services in the United Arab Emirates. Dubai is in the top five for quality of facilities and services, according to the Medical Tourism Index. You’ll find some of the best healthcare for the Middle Eastern and North African global region in Dubai.
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In this article, you can find comprehensive information about the multiple facets of healthcare in Dubai, including the cost of health insurance, the quality of facilities and services, and medical tourism in Dubai.
Dubai’s Global Healthcare Standing
Dubai is ranked number 6 in the world for its booming medical tourism industry. People come from all over the world to enjoy high-quality procedures at more affordable rates than their home countries. Dubai is in the top 50 globally for its overall health ranking on the Prosperity Index.
There are various ways to rank a country or area when it comes to healthcare, so we’ll take a closer look at different rankings and how Dubai compares to other countries in its region and to other areas of the world.
Medical Tourism Ranking in Dubai
Dubai’s spot at number 6 for global medical tourism is due to its modern, internationally accredited clinics and hospitals. The Medical Tourism Index indicated that Dubai’s quality placed it in the top five countries for quality facilities and services with medical tourism.
Dubai’s Luxury Options for Medical Care
Dubai’s medical tourism industry emphasizes providing luxurious, personalized medical experiences. Its hospitals offer private rooms, concierge services, and a variety of other amenities bundled into travel packages.
The Dubai Health Authority (DHA) oversees hospitals and ensures that hospitals meet rigorous standards. Medical tourists have raved about these internationally accredited hospitals in Dubai:
If you want more information about the hospitals in Dubai, check out some of our articles dedicated to information about them:
- What is the Best Hospital in the UAE?
- Does Dubai Have Good Hospitals?
- Does Dubai Have the Best Hospitals in the World?
Dubai takes its medical tourism industry seriously by offering medical visas and health tourism packages. The DHA maintains a site dedicated to helping medical tourists find services and deals.
Some of the most popular services in Dubai for medical tourists include orthopedic surgeries, cosmetic surgeries, dental procedures and cosmetics, and cardiac care. Additionally, you’ll find a range of specialties and options for second medical opinions.
The sights and attractions beyond the medical facilities also rank well on the medical tourism index. Dubai is number 7 of 46 countries in terms of the destination environment for medical tourists.
Healthcare and Health Insurance Cost Ranking in Dubai
Healthcare in Dubai is free for Emirate Citizens. For foreigners, private international health insurance is expensive in Dubai. Dubai has the fourth most expensive individual private health insurance premiums in the world.
Premiums for families in Dubai are also the fourth most expensive in the world, which reflects the cost of healthcare in the country. This means Dubai’s health insurance premiums are more expensive than most countries in the world but still more affordable than the United States, Hong Kong, and Singapore on average.
If you would like more information about estimates for individual private health insurance in Dubai, you can read this article about the cost of health insurance in the UAE.
You can also get free personalized quotes for health insurance in Dubai for a more accurate picture of your individual or family costs.
Want to know who gets free healthcare in Dubai? Read Is Health Insurance Free for Expats in Dubai? or Does Dubai Have Free Healthcare?
Factors Behind Dubai’s Costly Premiums
Insurance premiums in Dubai are expensive because of the high demand for Dubai’s medical services. Dubai is a popular spot for medical tourism, and that demand is driving costs, according to Pacific Prime’s Cost of International Health Insurance Report 2023.
Other factors that contribute to Dubai’s increasing premiums include the rebound in insurance claims following the COVID-19 pandemic, patient dishonesty, and the overprescription of drugs.
- The entire globe is feeling the burden of the increased claims following the COVID-19 pandemic. During the height of the pandemic, lockdowns and restrictions made patients postpone elective procedures. Now hospitals and clinics are catching up.
- In Dubai, identity fraud is an expensive and dangerous problem. Patients pretend to be someone else because they lack sufficient coverage themselves. This is dangerous because they may be receiving treatment based on someone else’s medical record. Estimates suggest medical identity fraud costs Dubai one billion USD annually.
- 32% of patients in Dubai feel that doctors prescribe too much medication. Doctors may have an incentive to prescribe more medication than necessary from drug companies.
One of the positive factors that will help Dubai in the future is its preventative health and lifestyle change campaigns to improve health across the area.
Health Rankings on the Prosperity Index
The UAE is in the top fifty worldwide on the Prosperity Index, and its Health score is ranked number 33 globally compared to other countries’ health scores. It’s one of the best in the Middle Eastern and North African Region and outperforms many neighboring countries.
The Prosperity Index is a report created by an educational non-profit to compare countries and their progress in multiple categories. One of these categories is health, and the index compares mortality rates, access to care, affordability, medical technology, and healthcare systems.
The UAE overall ranked well on the 2023 Prosperity Index, but Dubai on its own likely would have ranked better. Dubai has successfully instituted universal healthcare for its citizens, and citizens living in Dubai have greater access to care.
The UAE rose in the Prosperity Index’s global rankings for physical health, mental health, and preventative health measures since 2013. The UAE’s care systems ranking has remained relatively stable over the last decade.
In comparison, here is how some other countries ranked on the index for health:
- Canada barely outperformed the UAE at number 32 for health on the 2023 index.
- The UK ranked number 34 for health, just behind the UAE.
- The United States lagged behind the UAE. The USA ranked at number 69 for health.
The UAE, including Dubai, is on track to make large strides and improve in the global rankings in the coming years. Dubai is investing a lot in its healthcare system to take care of its citizens and help its thriving medical tourism industry continue to grow.
Additional Resources for Expats Heading to Dubai
Pacific Prime is pleased to offer additional information and guides for expats heading to Dubai. Expats may find additional information about moving to and living abroad in Dubai on Pacific Prime’s blog.
In the meantime, you may be interested in the following topics regarding Dubai, specifically.
- Find out more about Maternity Insurance for expats in Dubai. You can explore plans, pricing, and policy options for maternity coverage in the UAE.
- We have guides for living in Dubai as an American, living in Dubai as a Canadian, and more on our blog.
- Discover the best places to live in Dubai as an expat in this blog post.
- On Pacific Prime’s blog, you can also explore how to become a citizen in Dubai and gather information about moving to Dubai.
Conclusion
Dubai has a lot to offer expats and its citizens in its healthcare systems. The Dubai Health Authority’s regulation and oversight have effectively helped its hospitals build and maintain quality medical services.
Dubai is a popular location for medical tourism because of its emphasis on comfort and patient care. Even though you can enjoy luxuries like a private room and concierge services, Dubai’s medical services are more affordable than the United States.
Expats in Dubai can affordably enjoy this healthcare industry by finding quality health insurance at a competitive price. Working with a broker allows expats to compare quotes from multiple private international insurance companies.
You can also learn more about private health insurance plans available in Dubai from our dedicated page.
Don’t hesitate to contact an insurance expert at Pacific Prime if you have questions or would like help finding the best insurance plan for your needs in Dubai or abroad.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Dubai have a good healthcare system?
Dubai has a modern healthcare system devoted to offering its citizens and medical tourists the best and most comfortable experience at its internationally accredited hospitals. Dubai has the best healthcare in the Gulf Cooperation Countries.
Which Arab country offers the best healthcare?
Dubai, one of the emirates in the UAE, offers the best healthcare among the Arab countries. It’s known for having the best healthcare among the Gulf Cooperation Countries (GCC), and it’s in the top 6 countries globally for medical tourism.
Does Dubai have free hospitals?
Dubai has free point-of-care medical services for citizens. Expats, tourists, and foreigners in Dubai must pay for medical services. Working expats are eligible for insurance through their employer, but this insurance does not provide free services at hospitals.
Can tourists get free healthcare in Dubai?
Foreign tourists visiting Dubai cannot get free healthcare in the UAE. Dubai’s free point-of-service healthcare is only available to its citizens and is funded by tax dollars.
Is healthcare in Dubai cheap?
Healthcare for emirate citizens in Dubai is free at the point of service because Dubai has universal healthcare funded by tax dollars. For foreign visitors and expats, medical care may be expensive, but healthcare is generally more affordable than in the United States.
Serena earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from the University of British Columbia, Canada. As such, she is an avid advocate of mental health and is fascinated by all things psychology (especially if it’s cognitive psychology!).
Her previous work experience includes teaching toddlers to read, writing for a travel/wellness online magazine, and then a business news blog. These combined experiences give her the skills and insights she needs to explain complex ideas in a succinct way. Being the daughter of an immigrant and a traveler herself, she is passionate about educating expats and digital nomads on travel and international health insurance.
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