The making of a global healthcare destination: How Abu Dhabi built a thriving partnership with Mayo Clinic
The Covid-19 pandemic has interrupted many sectors, including the once-thriving medical tourism industry. While demand for local health services has remained buoyant throughout the pandemic, lockdowns and travel bans have prevented all but the most urgent cases from travelling overseas for treatment.
Looking forward to the bounce back
But this is a short-term phenomenon and, as countries begin to open up and the world gets moving again, predictions are that growth in medical tourism will return in 2021 and beyond, with the total global value estimated at $30bn a year for the next five years. One city well placed to benefit from this growth is Abu Dhabi, which ranks 9th in the global Medical Tourism Index, with a score of 70.26, comparing well with the index’s top-ranked countries.
Statistical data regarding the healthcare market:
| Category | Value |
|---|---|
| Estimated global value of medical tourism | $30bn a year |
| Abu Dhabi Rank (Medical Tourism Index) | 9th |
| Abu Dhabi Score | 70.26 |
Strategic Growth and Partnerships
But Abu Dhabi, thanks to partnerships like the one with Mayo Clinic, is well set to benefit from any potential bounce back. With a strong and committed government that has a clear vision for its economy, as well as world-class healthcare, it’s likely that Abu Dhabi will continue to climb these rank...