How medical tourists choose a clinic in Dubai

Medical tourists choose a Dubai clinic on the specialty, the price they are quoted and how quickly the clinic answers, and dentistry, dermatology and gynaecology were the most sought treatments in 2023. A clinic wins these patients by replying within the hour in the patient's language with a price in AED, what it includes and the next available time.

The size of the market

Dubai received more than 691,000 international health tourists in 2023, up from about 674,000 in 2022, and they spent more than AED 1.03 billion on healthcare services.¹² The DHA put indirect revenue from health tourism at a further AED 2.3 billion that year.¹

In 2023, 33% of health tourists came from Asia, 28% from Arab and GCC countries and 23% from Europe and the CIS, and 58% were women.¹ Dentistry drew 29%, dermatology 27% and gynaecology 13%.¹ A year earlier dermatology led at 31%, ahead of dentistry at 24% and gynaecology at 18%.²

What they choose on

In its 2023 report, the DHA credited Dubai's service quality, its use of advanced technology, access to skilled doctors and specialists, programmes designed for international patients, and competitive pricing.¹ For a single clinic, those reasons become what a patient sees in the first reply. The specialty and the doctor's DHA licensed title, the price in AED with what it includes, and the next available time.

Dental, dermatology and gynaecology practices are the ones this demand reaches most directly, and each competes with every other Dubai clinic in its specialty for the same enquiry.

Speed of reply

Research published in the Harvard Business Review found that companies that contacted an enquiry within an hour were nearly seven times as likely to reach a meaningful conversation as those that waited an hour longer, and more than 60 times as likely as those that waited 24 hours or more.³ Time zones make that harder for a clinic. An enquiry from Paris, Moscow or Mumbai can arrive while the front desk is closed.

Language

Reply in the language the patient wrote in. A systematic review of 33 studies in the Journal of General Internal Medicine found that 76% showed at least one better outcome for patients with limited English when care was given in their own language.⁴

Write the price, the inclusions and the next steps in the same language as the rest of the reply, and keep the doctor's name and title exactly as they appear on the DHA licence, in Arabic and in English.

Quoting prices

Quote in AED and say exactly what the price includes, from the consultation and tests to the procedure, follow up and any remote review after the patient flies home. The DHA's social media advertising standard bars price information that is inaccurate, leaves out its conditions or offers time-limited discounts that cannot be met.⁵ Take a deposit at booking so the slot is held while the patient arranges travel.

Marketing to patients abroad

The same standard says a facility may not feature patients treated in DHA licensed facilities on its international accounts, and a visiting doctor who also practises in another country must keep a separate account for Dubai.⁵ Before and after images must show the same person with the same lens, without editing, and carry a statement that results vary from one person to another, along with the risks.⁵

Records for patients from abroad

The DHA's consent standard asks facilities to capture the demographic details needed to manage consent, and to record when a patient is a tourist.⁶ Collect those details at booking, before travel, so the visit is not delayed at reception. Ask for previous results and imaging in advance and attach them to the patient's record.

Patients who do not usually speak English at home benefit from reading their notes. In a survey of 22,947 patients who read their visit notes online, they were among those most likely to report major benefits.⁷ Give a medical tourist the record of their care in a form they can read and share with their doctor at home.

What to send before they travel

A written quote in AED that lists every item and the conditions attached.
The confirmed date, time, doctor and address, with directions from the airport and hotel districts.
What to bring, including passport, previous results, imaging and a list of current medicines.
How many days to stay in Dubai after the procedure, and what follow up happens remotely.
Who to message at the clinic, in which language, and at what hours a person replies.

After they fly home

A medical tourist leaves with a record they will need at home. Give them their notes, results and letters in a form they can open abroad, and a way to message the clinic about follow up in the language they used to book. Federal Law No. 2 of 2019 requires the clinic to keep that health data for at least 25 years after the last treatment, so the record the patient takes home should match the one the clinic keeps.⁸ wai hosts your clinic's records in the UAE, under the UAE's rules. We set this up with your clinic.

A checklist for the first reply

Reply within the hour, day or night, in the language the patient wrote in.
Name the doctor and their DHA licensed specialty.
Give the price in AED and list what it includes.
Offer the next two available times.
Send a payment link for the deposit with the booking.
Say what to bring, including previous results and a list of current medicines.

Where wai fits

wai Admin answers international enquiries in Arabic and English day and night in one thread per patient and takes the deposit at booking, and wai Profile gives the patient their records, results and bookings in their own app after they fly home. A patient abroad gets a price and a time while the clinic is closed.

Questions

How many medical tourists come to Dubai?

More than 691,000 international health tourists came to Dubai in 2023, according to the Dubai Health Authority. They spent more than AED 1.03 billion on healthcare services.

What treatments do medical tourists seek in Dubai?

In 2023, dentistry drew 29% of health tourists, dermatology 27% and gynaecology 13%. In 2022 dermatology led at 31%.

Where do Dubai's medical tourists come from?

In 2023, 33% came from Asia, 28% from Arab and GCC countries and 23% from Europe and the CIS. Women made up 58% of the total.

How fast should a clinic reply to a medical tourist?

Within the hour where possible. Research in the Harvard Business Review found that contact within an hour made a meaningful conversation nearly seven times as likely as contact an hour later.

Sources

Written and reviewed by the clinical team at wai. Last reviewed 22 September 2026.