UAE engineers a $34B wellness boom to become regional hub

The UAE has quietly engineered a stunning transformation: its wellness economy is now valued at $34.1 billion, making it the largest in the Middle East and North Africa (Mena) region.

- Issac John

This surge representing a 58 per cent rise between 2019 and 2023 signals that the UAE is not merely catching up to global wellness trends but racing to lead them, say industry watchers.

Across the globe, the wellness economy is booming. According to the Global Wellness Institute (GWI), the total global wellness market reached $6.3 trillion in 2023, up from $5.8 trillion in 2022 a rise of nearly 9 per cent year on year. GWI projects sustained expansion, estimating the sector will approach $9 trillion by 2028. The wellness economy now accounts for about 6 per cent of global GDP. In that context, the UAE's 58 per cent expansion over four years places it among the fastest-growing wellness markets worldwide.

What underlies this leap? The GWI report highlights key segments: wellness real estate worth $1 billion, personal care and beauty $14.4 billion, spa services $2.4 billion, and wellness tourism $7.2 billion.

The diversity is striking the UAE has woven wellness through residential, commercial, medical, and lifestyle sectors.