Where private healthcare in the Gulf is growing
Asma Al Mousa ·
Day surgery, specialist clinics and telehealth lead the growth, with staffing and licensing as the hurdles.
Private clinics and hospitals across the Gulf are expanding, and the growth is not spread evenly. Three areas stand out.
Outpatient and day surgery. Patients want shorter waits and same-day procedures, and many treatments that once needed a hospital stay no longer do.
Specialist care. Diabetes, heart and physiotherapy clinics are busy because long-term conditions are common in the region.
Telehealth. Video consultations and online prescriptions became familiar during the pandemic and have stayed, especially for follow-up visits.
For investors, the opportunities sit alongside real challenges: recruiting experienced staff, meeting licensing rules and managing insurance payments. The clinics that get those basics right are the ones that grow.