UAE named MENA’s largest wellness market as tourism hits AED25.7bn

The UAE’s wellness economy has been ranked as the largest in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region and one of the fastest-growing in the world, with wellness tourism alone worth more than US$7 billion (AED25.7 billion), according to the first dedicated report on the segment by the Global Wellness Institute (GWI). 

Wellness tourism has expanded at an annual rate of 23.5% in recent years, making it one of the main engines of the UAE’s wellness economy and a growing source of higher-yield business for tour operators and hotel partners.

Overall, the UAE’s wellness economy is valued at US$34.1 billion (AED125.2 billion) after growing 58% between 2019 and 2023, outpacing most global markets. The country now has the second-fastest growth rate worldwide among wellness economies worth more than US$5 billion (AED18.4 billion) and ranks 26th out of 218 countries by total wellness spend.

The GWI report, produced in partnership with Aldar, shows the UAE leading a field of 20 regional markets across key wellness segments, including spas (US$2.4bn), wellness real estate (US$1bn), personal care and beauty (US$14.4bn) and wellness tourism (US$7.2bn). 

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Commenting on the ranking, Susie Ellis, GWI and GWS chair and CEO, said the UAE’s fast-growing wellness market speaks to the country’s "bold vision and strategic" investments in wellbeing.

National policy is a central driver of this performance, with the UAE’s National Strategy for Wellbeing 2031 and the UAE Tourism Strategy 2031 both positioning wellbeing, medical tourism and wellness tourism as priority pillars of economic diversification.

This has encouraged developers, hotel groups and operators to invest in wellness-led concepts, from masterplanned communities with walkable layouts to resorts built around longevity and recovery, and urban properties that position wellness at the heart of the guest experience.