Across the UAE, medical services are broadly up to European standards. The comprehensive, government-funded health service and a fast developing private health sector have pushed healthcare indicators to respectable levels. Malaria, measles and poliomyelitis, once endemic among patients of hospitals in UAE, have been eradicated. Chronic disease, such as diabetes and coronary heart disease, is the new target. Health promotion campaigns to improve lifestyles are under way.
Dubai is the UAE's second largest emirate. It has grown spectacularly over the past decade into one of the Middle East’s largest commercial centers. There are more than two-dozen JCI-accredited hospitals in Dubai. The UAE’s two healthcare hubs, Abu Dhabi and Dubai, carry high costs of living, including healthcare and hospitality. Dubai Healthcare City, founded in 2002, is an example of a healthcare cluster striving to build an infrastructure of quality metrics and excellent patient experience combining research and academic affiliations.
Dubai has an excellent healthcare system, with a large number of public and private hospitals and clinics offering state-of-the-art medical technology and the highest standards of medical care. The Government has invested heavily in the health sector, and there is ready access to all forms of medical care for everyone, including visitors and expatriate workers. All types of advanced medical treatment are available in Dubai, including open-heart surgery, organ transplants and laser treatment. There are a large number of clinics in Dubai offering alternative and complementary forms of medicine. Treatment and in-patient stays in Dubai's private hospitals and clinics can be very expensive, so it is advisable to take out health insurance.