DUBAI 14 September 2020: The UAE ranked first among GCC countries in best medical tourism destination globally according to the US-based Medical Tourism Association.
Oman ranked second and Bahrain came in at third, while Saudi Arabia and Kuwait were placed fourth and sixth respectively.
The ranking in the index is based on a variety of factors, the Association said and added that these factors included the destination environment, patient experience, current levels of medical tourism, and the attractiveness of traditional tourism, said official news agency Wam.
The value of the medical tourism market was about US$15.5 billion in 2017, and it is expected to grow to US$28 billion by the end of 2024, with a compound annual growth rate of about 8.8 percent between 2018 and 2024.
According to the International Medical Travel Journal, global medical tourism spends on foreign treatment for GCC citizens amounts to more than US$2bn per year. This high level of demand has resulted in an increase in local facilities offering new options for citizens, residents and tourists alike.
UAE ranks first on Arab, regional level in ICT Indicators
The United Arab Emirates maintained its Arab and regional leadership in a number of ICT related indicators, according to the Global Innovation Index Report 2020, which included results related to Global Competitiveness indicators for ICT sector.
According to the report, the UAE ranked first on the Arab and regional level in Information & communication technologies (ICTs) Pillar, ICT Access indicator, and ICT Use Indicator. These indicators measure the progress and development of the Telecommunications infrastructure globally as a main enabler for innovation and a major element in creating an innovative environment.
The UAE also ranked first in the Arab region in Generic top-level domains (gTLDs), and in Country-code top-level domains (ccTLDs) (.ae). These indicators measure the percentage of domain registration globally, and show the volume of movement and technological interaction in the countries, which enhance online creativity.
The UAE ranked first in the Arab region and fourth globally in launching and using 5G networks, according to the Global Connectivity Index. TRA began implementing and using IMT2020 technology, known as 5G, at the end of 2017.
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