Dubai’s Meraas launches medical tourism division

                  
Meraas Holding, the real estate company controlled by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, has launched a new division to tap into the country's growing demand for medical tourism in the emirate.
Meraas Healthcare will aim to establish a community-based, innovative, patient-centric network offering a wide range of preventive, diagnostic, treatment and follow-up outpatient services all within one fully integrated system. The new entity is part of the Dubai Medical Tourism Strategy, which aims to attract 500,000 medical tourists to the emirate by 2020.
Abdulla Al Habbai, group chairman of Meraas, said: “Meraas has identified healthcare as a key sector in which it can play a significant role and create a positive impact on economy and society... Meraas Healthcare will complement the existing healthcare landscape in the UAE and provide services that conform to international healthcare standards. We strongly believe that a healthy society is happy society and through the formation of the new division we aim to make a difference in the community and support a key theme of Dubai Plan 2021- the people.”
Hamad Al Matrooshi, senior vice president of healthcare at Meraas, said: “The new Meraas Healthcare division is committed to delivering world-class medical services to regional and global families. We aim to build an all-inclusive portfolio of healthcare facilities and provide a comprehensive range of services within one truly integrated informatics system, powered by cutting-edge technology. We will focus on the demand drivers of specialties and the most needed medical areas such as Orthopedics, Cardiology, Pediatrics and Family Medicine to achieve the goal of happy and healthy nation.”
Earlier this month, Meraas also announced the establishment of Meraas Hotels & Resorts, a new entity that will introduce, operate and manage hotels.
Meraas Hotels & Resorts falls under the umbrella of Meraas Hospitality, a division within the holding group that was established to support the Dubai Tourism Vision 2020, which aims to attract 20 million tourists to the emirate by 2020.
The new entity will integrate with businesses and destinations developed by Meraas, as well as manage hotels of independent developers or owners seeking an innovative partner in the hospitality sector, a statement said.
Meraas is also the company behind Dubai Parks and Resorts which is developing a theme park resort incorporating Bollywood Park Dubai, motiongate Dubai, which will showcase Hollywood's DreamWorks Animation, Sony Pictures Studios and Lionsgate, as well as the region's first LEGOLAND Dubai and a LEGOLAND Water Park