DUBAI // The emirate’s plans to become a hub for medical tourism will be the focus of a conference next week.
The World Health Tourism Congress, which takes place on September 6 and 7, will be attended by health officials from more than 80 countries.
Dr Bandar Al-Fehaid, president of the Arab Tourism Organisation, said that health tourism was one of the fastest-growing industries in the world.
He said more than US $100 billion (Dh367bn) is spent in this industry per year, of which almost a third is spent by Arabs.
Tamer El Chamaa, the director of the congress, said Dubai aimed to attract more than 500,000 medical tourist a year by 2020, the time the city will host a world expo.
He hoped that health ministers in Gulf countries and tourism authorities would work together to help the city achieve this goal.
The event at the Mohammed Bin Rashid Academic Medical Centre in Dubai Health Care City is organised by the health authority and department of tourism and commerce.
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