Dubai, United Arab Emirates: The Dubai Health Authority (DHA) will be part of the global platform welcoming the international healthcare industry to Arab Health 2010, the world-leading healthcare exhibition in Dubai held at the International Convention & Exhibition Centre. Running from 25 to 28 January, Arab Health 2010 is set to be even bigger with four new halls adding an extra 20,000 square meters of floor space allowing more exhibitors and visitors to attend than ever before. The UAE healthcare sector has proven robust against the global downward economic trend and the DHA is confident that the UAE’s healthcare sector will continue its growth.
The healthcare market in the GCC is expected to grow at about 9 per cent annually to reach US$47 billion to US$55 billion (around Dh172 billion to Dh202 billion) by 2020, said a recent report by Alpen Capital. More than 200 hospital projects have been announced or are under construction with cumulative capacity of up to 27,000 beds, most of which are due to be delivered by 2015. It is estimated that an additional 25,000 beds will be required by 2010.
According the report, the growth will be driven by both an increase in demand in number of treatments and the cost of health care provision per treatment.
His Excellency, Qadhi Saeed Al Murooshid, Director General of the DHA, said: “Governments are faced with an increasing number of issues and demands for better healthcare from our growing populations continue within an increasingly changing economic environment. The UAE healthcare sector has proven robust against the global downward economic trend and with 200 hospital projects and 27,000 additional hospital beds expected to be delivered by 2015; the UAE’s healthcare sector will continue its growth.
“As a strategic heath authority, it has always been our endeavor to provide the population of Dubai with the very best quality of healthcare services and we shall adhere to our commitment to develop additional facilities, improve the available services and to developing new focused educational events to support and expand the future of the healthcare in the UAE.”
While debt management problems have plagued some of Dubai’s largest real estate developers in recent months, many experts feel that these financial problems are something that can be overcome.
“Because of the nervousness in financial markets, the events in Dubai caused everybody to take a second and third look at fragilities,” Robert Zoellick, President of the World Bank has said, Reuters has reported. “I personally think that the Dubai financial problems will be contained and manageable.”
UAE’s ability and willingness to overcome these short-term challenges will pave the way for sustainable growth in all sectors. The healthcare industry continues to lead the way with a desire to improve healthcare availability, quality and education throughout the region and the DHA continues to support investment and progress in Dubai’s burgeoning healthcare sector.