Pioneering Hospital Group to Build New Medical Center in Dubai

Saudi-based Dr. Soliman Fakeeh Hospital (DSFH; Jeddah, Saudi Arabia) has announced plans to build, at an estimated AED 1 billion, a university and hospital in Dubai (UAE) Silicon Oasis (DSO). DSFH is one of the largest private hospitals in the Middle East with a total bed capacity of 600. DSFH has been a leader that has helped advance by leaps the standards of healthcare delivery in the Saudi Arabia and in the region.

DSFH's project in Dubai is expected to boost medical tourism in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) while addressing the shortage of skilled healthcare staff in the region. Construction will be carried out in phases with the 300-bed hospital scheduled to be completed by 2017, and the medical university by 2019. Built across 150,000 square meters, the hospital university project is expected to offer 4,000 new jobs, according to DSFH.

“The initiative is also a step forward in the implementation of the strategy of the Executive office to make Dubai a hub for medical tourism,” said Dr. Mohammed Al Zarooni, vice chairman and the CEO of the DSO Authority. “Recent statistics show that the number of medical tourists receiving treatment is estimated to increase by 15% each year. Additionally, healthcare spending in the UAE is expected to reach AED 40 billion by 2015, while medical tourists are set to cross the 20 million mark for the same period.” Also, a recent Ernst & Young report on the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries' healthcare industry called for more skilled local professionals to reduce reliance on expatriate staff, and noted that the region’s healthcare industry is seeing a rise in the number of private investors.

The new hospital, offering secondary and tertiary medical service, will mainly target the growing residence community in DSO and neighboring areas. The 300-bed facility is expected to cater to around 700,000 patients a year, with an estimated 40,000 admissions and 20,000 surgical operations.

Fakeeh Medical University (FMU), which will be built alongside the hospital, will offer instructions in fields such as medicine, nursing, laboratory sciences, radiology, physiotherapy, dentistry, clinical pharmacy, and health policy and management. The project will also include a basic sciences research and development center to develop innovations in the medical field. To encourage collaboration between medical professionals, FMU will partner with local universities, including the Rochester Institute of Technology in DSO; American University of Sharjah; Al Ain University and Dubai Academic City.

“This project will certainly tick all the boxes through value health treatments, best medical advice, job creation, and most importantly the creation of a dependable knowledge in the health field that will benefit this region,” said Dr. Al Zarooni.

Related Links:
Dr. Soliman Fakeeh Hospital