Health NMC and Dubai Islamic Bank end legal dispute NMC Healthcare has reached an out-of-court settlement with Dubai Islamic Bank, ending the long-running legal dispute between the two businesses. The healthcare operator had borrowed around $400 million from DIB, which is the largest Islamic bank in the UAE. The loan used collateral known as insurance receivables, which are payments by insurance companies for medical […] March 19, 2024
Health ‘Smart ring’ project aims to help fight chronic health problems A wearable “health ring” is being used by a Dubai-based healthcare technology startup to help combat the Middle East region’s metabolic diseases crisis. The company, Metabolic – which brands itself as meta[bolic] – has signed a partnership with the Finnish maker of the Oura Ring, and aims to stem the billions lost in healthcare systems […] March 16, 2024
Video length: 03:32 VIDEO Health The Dubai spa charging AED90,000 to increase ‘healthspan’ Clinique La Prairie opened its fifth Longevity Hub-branded spa in Dubai last month and is preparing to open a $300 million health resort in Saudi Arabia’s Amaala giga-project next year. The “medical spa” receives 60,000 clients each year from the Middle East to its luxury facility in Montreux, Switzerland for longevity and preventative medicine treatments. […] March 15, 2024
EXCLUSIVE Health For those who want ‘IVF and a holiday’ … Dubai’s next hotel An IVF provider with clinics in the UK, US and Europe is opening a “fertility hotel” in the UAE to cater for medical tourists and expatriates. NOW-fertility, which is registered in Switzerland, is due to open a clinic in Al Barsha, Dubai, in the coming weeks – complete with a spa, swimming pool, cinema and […] March 6, 2024
Construction Dubai Science Park reveals expansion plans Dubai’s biotechnology free zone is adding 60 percent more offices, laboratories and warehouses over the next few years to cater for an influx of new companies, its senior vice-president told AGBI. Dubai Science Park, part of Dubai-listed Tecom Group, is planning an expansion of 200,000 sq ft of additional storage and logistics facilities at the […] February 23, 2024
Opinion Health Gulf’s longevity sector has a long way to go Growing lifespans call for a joined-up approach to personalised medicine, preventative care and nutrition February 21, 2024
Tourism Wellness resort leads Egypt’s medical tourism push Plans for Egypt’s first wellness resort have been revealed as experts forecast an increase in the number of medical visitors to the country. Maxim Group has signed an agreement with the General Authority for Investment and Free Zones to establish Naya Wellness Resort in Al-Saf, Giza. About $48 million is being invested in the resort, part […] February 14, 2024
Opinion Education Saudi Arabia needs a sea change in higher education Newer fields of study must be encouraged to meet employment market demands February 12, 2024
Analysis Manufacturing Saudi deal ‘unlikely to cure Iraq’s pharma problems’ Iraq has turned to Saudi Arabia to help it improve its healthcare industry and increase pharmaceutical manufacturing. The ministries of health for both countries are collaborating to boost private healthcare in Iraq and foster partnerships to speed up the establishment of local pharmaceutical factories. However analysts say the impact of the partnership will be limited […] February 8, 2024
People & Lifestyle Mubadala buys stake in Indian hospital chain The Abu Dhabi sovereign investor Mubadala Investment Company has invested in Manipal Health Enterprises (Manipal), India’s second-largest hospital chain by number of beds. “Given the ever-increasing demand for high-quality hospital care across India, we look forward to supporting Manipal’s growth journey in the years ahead,” said Camilla Macapili Languille, head of life sciences at Mubadala, according to the […] February 6, 2024
Exclusive Health Dubai hospitals are ailing in saturated healthcare market The general healthcare sector in Dubai is buckling under saturation, with weaker operators shutting down or battling financial woes, Dr Azad Moopen, the founder and chairman of Aster DM Healthcare, told AGBI. The healthcare sector in the emirate faces a challenging economic climate, marked by stubborn inflation, high interest rates and slow growth. The introduction […] February 6, 2024
Tech Saudi startup’s infrared tech has ‘game-changing’ potential A Saudi Arabian startup’s pioneering research will slash the cost of infrared sensors, enabling them to be used in a myriad of day-to-day applications and accelerating the development of fully autonomous vehicles, its founder told AGBI. Osman Bakr, founder and chairman of Quantum Solutions, is also head of the functional nanomaterials laboratory at Kaust (King […] February 4, 2024
Analysis Health Gulf embraces a personalised approach to healthcare The Gulf is shifting towards a more personalised approach to healthcare, but the growth of the sector faces challenges in terms of talent and data management according to experts. Traditional medicine tends to address only the initial health issues without tailoring solutions to the unique requirements of each patient, says Vadim Fedotov, CEO of Bioniq, […] February 1, 2024
Leisure & Hospitality Fitness brands shape up for Saudi expansion plans GymNation, founded in Dubai, has revealed plans to open 50 new fitness centres in Saudi Arabia as it seeks to capitalise on the kingdom’s billion-dollar fitness industry. The mid-market brand was set up six years ago and currently operates 11 gyms in the emirate, with a further six set to open before the summer. Founder […] February 1, 2024
Health Training and tech to tackle healthcare staff shortage Technology and training combined can aid the impending recruitment crisis in UAE healthcare, experts say. Globally there will be an estimated shortfall of 10 million workers in the industry by 2030, primarily in low and middle income countries, according to the World Economic Forum. The UAE has not been spared. Research from Colliers showed there […] February 1, 2024
EXCLUSIVE Health Dubai mulling ratings for hospital performance, says Aster founder Dubai is considering the introduction of performance ratings for healthcare providers, Dr Azad Moopen, the founder and chairman of Aster DM Healthcare, has told AGBI. The system would allow operators to adjust their insurance tariffs – the prices that insurers agree to pay for medical services or procedures – based on their classification, providing an […] January 31, 2024
Health Gulf could have drone healthcare delivery by 2026 Drone delivery technology transporting healthcare materials such as blood samples, vaccines and pharmaceuticals is likely to take to the skies across the Gulf within the next two years. A test programme between Siemens Healthineers and the German drone manufacturer Wingcopter in Kenya is due to come to a conclusion in the next two and a […] January 31, 2024
Health Saudi university developing AI for early diabetes detection King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (Kaust) said this week it is working with Saudi company AmplifAI Health to develop AI technology for use in the early detection of diabetes. Saudi Arabia and the UAE in particular are investing in health technologies that can predict medical risk and help develop medicines, and the kingdom […] January 30, 2024
People & Lifestyle Pure Health buys Abu Dhabi hospital stake for $150m A subsidiary of Abu Dhabi’s Pure Health Holding has agreed to acquire Mayo Clinic’s shares in Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City for $150 million. Under the agreement, Abu Dhabi Health Services Company (Seha) will acquire 25,000 shares, or 25 percent, of the total issued shares of Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City, Pure Health said in a statement […] January 30, 2024
People & Lifestyle Dubai Investments buys stake in fertility company Dubai Investments has acquired an equity stake of 34.3 percent in Global Fertility Partners, a network of fertility and reproductive genetics centres in the Middle East. GFP will get $60 million in equity financing to expand its network of fertility and women’s health centres across the Middle East and North Africa. Investors and family offices […] January 29, 2024
Opinion Health How tech is reinventing regional healthcare Local governments are leveraging AI to shape the future of medicine January 29, 2024
Health Saudi biotech strategy aims to dominate regional industry Saudi Arabia has launched a National Biotechnology Strategy with the aim of becoming the region’s biotech leader by 2030 and a global leader by 2040, contributing 3 percent, or SAR130 billion ($35 billion), to non-oil GDP. The strategy was unveiled by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman with the aim of improving Saudi health standards, helping […] January 26, 2024