Infrastructure
News
MEDICAL TOURISM IN DUBAI YEARS
AHEAD OF ITS REGIONAL PEERS
D
r. Ihab William, Director of Dr. William Dental Center,
says that demand for cosmetic dentistry in Dubai, especially for the so-called ‘Hollywood Smile’, is three times
more than in Lebanon. He attributed this to the advancement of the sector, convenience and proximity to other
Gulf states that make up a huge chunk of the clientele.
News about Dubai consolidating its standing as a preferred medical tourism destination comes at a time
when Dubai Health Authority has chalked out plans to
increase the proportion of foreign visitors coming for
medical treatment into Dubai by almost 12%, with a target of 500,000 medical tourists by 2020, bringing in a
total revenue of AED 2.6 billion from medical tourism
alone. In 2012, the number of medical tourists was about
107,000, with a pending worth nearly AED 653 million.
Dr. Ihab William said cosmetic dentistry saw
strong demand in Dubai compared to Lebanon, for example, although the cost of ‘Hollywood Smile’ works out to nearly USD 8,000
versus USD 4,000 in Lebanon. “Dubai has
an ambitious vision regarding medical tourism and cosmetic dentistry, as the Emirate
has proven over the years that it has what it
takes to become the medical capital of the
Arab region, thanks to advanced levels of
both therapeutic and cosmetic services.”
“We have a significant client base from
outside the UAE, who fly all the way over
seeking outstanding dentistry services.
We have witnessed footfall from various
countries, including Saudi Arabia, Qatar,
Kuwait, Bahrain, and Jordan. Our experience has proved that happy patients refer new patients from everywhere. People
now rely more on a