Dubai in a healthy place to compete as a centre of excellence in medical tourism, as report card shows potential to become world-class in care

Dubai has huge potential as a world-class centre for medical tourism, according to a new report that pits it against other major cities.

The demand for healthcare services has more than matched population growth for a decade, the Hub Report from property consultant Knight Frank reveals.

But even so, Dubai still ranks at the lower end of a league table that compares eight leading medical tourism destinations in terms of the number of hospital beds for every 1,000 people.

France, the leader, has six times the number of hospital beds for its population than Dubai, while Hong Kong has five and Australia nearly three.

Dubai now has two beds for every 1,000 people, an increase of nearly 14 per cent since 2012, thanks to the support of the Government in “creating an investor friendly environment”, Knight Frank concluded in the report.

“Comparing Dubai in terms of number of beds we see that there is significant potential for growth in the healthcare centre,” it said.

Last month, a major healthcare industry report said that the UAE needed better cancer facilities and more nurses.

As a destination for health tourism, Dubai ranks first in the Middle East and North Africa region, but 16th in the world.

Two years ago, it attracted 325,000 medical tourists a year.

By 2020 this is expected to rise to half a million.

Market demand will increasingly be for specialist services, the Hub Report said, with a shortage of professionals in areas such as diabetes, obesity and high blood pressure.

The medical report is just one of a series to be released by Frank Knight this year, with the aim of measuring Dubai against seven global cities in key sectors.

They include tourism, education, financial services, manufacturing and property. The cities covered are Sydney, Shanghai, New York, London, Paris, Hong Kong and Singapore.

At an average cost of US$194 (Dh712.5), though, Dubai’s room rate is second only to New York, the costliest at $259 a night.

When it comes to registering a new business, Dubai takes an average of eight days, more than most of its rivals but still much easier than China, where it takes 23 days.

For quality of education, Dubai is second only to Singapore.

Yet in key subjects such as maths, science and reading, Dubai ranks lowest in the group, while its tertiary education enrolment rate, at 16.8 per cent, compares poorly with nearly 95 per cent in the US.

Those looking to buy property and with US$1 million to spend will find that it buys them 138 square metres in Dubai, compared with 28 square metres in London and just 19 square metres in Hong Kong.

Knight Frank said that Dubai’s “transformation and development as a city over the past decade is certainly unmatched on a regional basis and arguably even on a global basis”.

“Overall, Dubai’s status as a global hub with only continue to strengthen,” it concluded.

Two years ago, Dubai attracted 325,000 medical tourists a year. By 2020 this is expected to rise to half a million