disadvantages of tourism in uae

13 Things Tourists Should Never Do in the UAE, Ever

When visiting any country, it’s highly recommended that everyone looks into the rules, regulations and cultural no-nos before buying plane tickets – this is no different in the UAE . The country has some legal and cultural rules that may be obvious and others that are not so much. What is important is to be well-informed, so follow our guide to the things tourists should never do in the UAE.

Drinking in public.

Although the UAE has various bars and clubs that serve alcohol, it is crucial that visitors know not to drink in public. In any venues where alcohol is not actively being sold, drinking is not allowed. This means no bringing beers to public beaches or having a bit of spirit when walking down the streets. There are several places where people can consume alcohol, those are the ones visitors should look for.

Taking Pictures Of People

Taking pictures of people without consent is seen as a crime in the UAE under the country’s cyber crime laws. This means that taking pictures of strangers without them openly allowing can lead to a fine of 500,000 AED and six months in prison. This especially applies to pictures that are posted on social media, as residents can file a case against the photographer. Taking such unsolicited photographs is aggravated when they are of women.

Eating Outside During Ramadan

During the holy month of Ramadan , the Muslim population of Dubai fasts from sunrise to sunset every day. As a sign of respect, most restaurants close doors or cover their windows during those hours. It’s strictly forbidden for anyone to eat, drink, chew gum and even smoke in public places during those hours as it is seen as extremely disrespectful and can get the eater in trouble. This rule does not apply to small children and pregnant women.

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Buying Fake Goods

No, Sex and The City 2 was not lying when they said tourists should not buy fake goods in the UAE. Those visiting the Gold and Spice Souk in Dubai may notice people asking them if they are interested in a Chanel bag or a Cartier watch. It is important to just ignore and keeping walking straight. As tempting as a cheap designer bag may sound, it’s not worth the amount of trouble one can get into if they are caught shopping at illegal outlets.

Spreading Rumors

This is a bit of an unexpected one, but spreading rumors in the UAE is actually illegal, especially when these are shared online. Spreading false gossip on social media is not only a form of cyber-bullying, but it can actually land people in jail for up to three years, as well as fine of up to 1 million dirhams. This applies to people who knowingly spread misleading or false information that can be damaging to the public interest.

Public Displays of Affection

Although the UAE may be an ideal honeymoon destination, it is crucial that people know that public displays of affection are strictly not permitted. Even kissing could land a couple in jail, so it’s best to avoid all PDA. This applies to everywhere in Dubai, even clubs and bars, so it’s important not to let the alcohol go to the head. Even hugs between friends from the opposite sex are frowned upon.

Cursing In Public

Dropping the F-Bomb alongside other swearwords in public is not allowed. Offensive language, profanity and insults are not only frowned upon, but can actually get tourists in a lot more trouble than they would imagine. This includes any sort of road rage and offensive gestures like the middle finger. Flipping out someone can actually get people arrested, so better to keep it cool and try to not be offensive.

Taking Photos Of Car Accidents, Government Buildings, Military Installations and Etc

When taking pictures in the UAE, it’s best to focus the camera on touristic attractions and beautiful sights , as some pictures are actually illegal. This includes photographs of car accidents, government buildings, embassies, military installations and even airplanes. This of course is only aggravated if the photos are posted on social media. With so many stunning things to photograph, there’s no need to get in trouble for photographing sights that are not allowed, so visitors should be mindful of where they point their cameras.

Being Disorderly In Public

Being drunk and disorderly is a crime in several countries, and the UAE is no different. However, one does not need to be drunk to be seen as disorderly. Playing loud music and dancing in public is seen as a no-no in the country. This especially applies to prayer tomes, when music in public places is normally turned off. So tourists should keep their speakers low and leave their dancing for one of the several amazing clubs there are around.

Bringing Prescription Medicines Without Paperwork

Bringing prescription medicine into the country strictly requires the right paperwork, proving such medicine has been prescribed to its holder. It’s important that the prescription is translated to English in order for airport officials to understand it. Tourists can get in a lot of trouble for bringing certain meds into the country, so it’s recommended to check with the UAE embassy in their respective country in order to find out what is allowed and what isn’t. It’s also good to mind quantity, as prescribed medicines are only allowed to be brought in for personal use.

Doing Drugs

This should be an obvious one, but it can’t be stressed enough: do not do drugs in the UAE. The country has a zero tolerance policy in regards to any type of drugs. People have previously been jailed for failing tests for drugs they consumed outside of the country. It’s crucial that tourists do not indulge themselves in any drug use while in the country, as the consequences involve imprisonment and deportation. This also applies to prescription drugs.

Disrespecting Religion and Culture

It should be no surprise that when visiting any country in the world, tourists should be respectful of the destination’s religion and culture. However, people still get themselves in tricky situations for running their mouths off while in the UAE. Any disrespect towards Emirati culture, Islam and the country’s rulers can land tourists in jail. Cultural and religious respect should apply to all others too, seeing that the UAE’s population is made up of over 80% expats, it’s crucial to respect everyone.

Wearing Disrespectful Clothing

The UAE is way more lenient with clothing than most people think and although dressing rules can vary from Emirate to Emirate, most allow visitors to dress in Westernized clothes. However, it’s important to always dress respectfully when visiting the country, this means travelers should be mindful of where they are going before getting dressed. Bikinis and shorts are totally allowed at the beach, even public ones – but when visiting a mosque, tourists should be dressed according to religious rules. It’s also advised to dress more modestly when visiting malls.

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Dubai Pros and Cons: Is Visiting Dubai A Bad Idea

• 24 June، 2020
• Emmanuel Obarhua

Learn about Dubai Pros and Cons. Is visiting Dubai a bad idea? Can one live, work and invest safely in Dubai?

Table of Contents

Dubai Pros and Cons

First used in the book Utopia (1516) by Sir Thomas More and given this use, the word utopia has court the meaning, a place or state of things in which everything is perfect. Is there on the Earth a place in which everything is perfect or ideal. The question is especially important given the fad about visiting Dubai . Everyone seems to be visiting the city, so that significantly more expatriates occupy it than Emiratis. For example, Daniel Sobrado says, “living in UAE is like being in a holidays place the full year with a very generous pay.”

Is Dubai the world’s utopia? Is it being overrated? Why do people talk about it as though it’s perfect? Are there no cons of it? These questions have informed this article. Let’s see whether visiting Dubai is a great idea or a bad one. In other words, lets see some advantages and disadvantages of Dubai.

Advantages of Dubai

Let’s start with the positives on our Dubai pros and cons discussion. Whether your consideration is attractions, sightseeing, cuisines, shopping (luxury or cheap), activities, security or all the foregoing considerations, it can’t be said it’s a bad idea to visit Dubai, as the city is the locus of some of the best of them.

These advantages or pros of Dubai are some of the things Dubai’s renowned for; in other words, why it’s so popular today.

Things To Do in Dubai – Travel & Tourism Destinations

Dubai never tires to wow nor slacks in dazzling, in that it is strident about its goal. It is in this spirit that the glitzy city has welcomed the tallest and really fascinating building ( Burj Khalifa ), the largest LED-illuminated façade , one of the biggest shopping malls in the world ( Dubai Mall ), the most luxurious hotel in the world ( Burj Al Arab Hotel ), the tallest hotels, the largest suspended aquarium ( Dubai Aquarium & UnderWater Zoo ), the tallest performing and biggest choreographed fountain ( Dubai Fountain ) and a host of others.

Sightseeing

Given Dubai’s magnificent attractions, it follows that sightseeing in it would be a thrilling thing to do. Dubai’s not only charming; it’s alluring. Whether in the city or in the beach, sightseeing in Dubai is always a wonderful experience. A very good place for sightseeing in the city is Downtown Dubai, the hub of Dubai’s glitz — Burj Al Arab Hotel’s part of Jumeirah Beach, among other places in Dubai, is also good.

Apart from Dubai’s rich gastronomical culture, Dubai boasts exotic cuisines from European through Asian. Its Global Village and its project entitled “The World” are symbols that the city itself is the world . This is no less true when we consider that only a handful of Emiratis occupy Dubai. The rest are foreigners.

Whether you’re seeking luxury or cheap shopping , Dubai remains one of the surest place for these. Malls like Mall of the Emirates, Dubai Mall and and a host of others offer luxury and regular shopping. Those such as Dragon Mart, Garderobe, Deira Shopping Center and the souks offer cheap shopping.

Even though there were no Dragon Mart, Garderobe, Deira Shopping Center and souks, Dubai still offers appreciably cheap shopping through its Dubai Shopping Festival (DSF). During this time, discount on merchandise can get up to 95%. Property, cars, gold and other wonderful prizes are raffled. DSF is not merely a shopping festival. It’s a time of elevated celebration. Please see this post for detail.

Dubai gives you a lot of choice activities to participate in. Whether you want things to do in the city, on beach or in the desert, whether you want something Islamic or Western, Dubai doesn’t disappoint. The camping at the desert organized by tour operators are usually exuberant. They usually serve barbecue, feature belly dances, drumming in the moon, and a host of other things. In the city, there is no counting of the immersing, thrilling and/or invigorating activities. The beaches are no different. Please see things to do and kindly follow us for updates on things to do in Dubai.

In discussing Dubai pros and cons, security can’t be left out. Dubai’s security is not an underdog to it’s European counterparts, nor can it be eclipsed by them. In fact, only in Dubai would you see police officers driving supercars like the Bugatti Veyron, the Ferrari and the Bentley. It was reported recently that just a tourist’s mention of the police made an offender fall to death . Many visitors and residents of Dubai who know the security status of the West have said they think Dubai’s safer. As regards terrorism, there’s no evident fear of it and Dubai has introduced several initiatives to curb and keep any form of violence at bay. Please, see: Is It Safe to Travel to Dubai?

Further, Dubai has really strict laws ( learn more ) to ensure peace and stability, among other things, and it has been acknowledged by expatriate residents to have marked-out peace. Here’s what Daniel Sobrado says about the UAE which houses Dubai in this light: “In UAE you can leave your wallet or laptop unattended in the table and go to the toilet, nothing happens, there is virtually no crime, in 9 years I didn’t have a minor issue, or knew anyone that had one, I had plenty of issues and scares in other countries.”

Oussama Amrani says, “I personally forgot my smartphone in the bus and guess what, I got it sent back to me by Pakistani taxi driver. He only charged me for his taxi fee.”

Is Dubai Ideal? – Disadvantages of Dubai

We now turn to the negatives on our Dubai pros and cons discussion. Does the foregoing discussion mean Dubai’s ideal? Certainly not. Dubai has disadvantages or flaws but not such as would make visiting it a bad idea. Given that it’s in an imperfect world and that it is imperfect humans that people it, it is not an ideal place. The offender earlier referred to, who fell to death, was actually a fraudster. Although, Dubai has strict laws against financial crimes.

Expensiveness

The city is quite expensive; it was once the second most expensive city in the world after Geneva. While it has waned in this connection, it remains one of the most expensive cities in the world. So, if you’re on a budget, it is a bad idea to visit Dubai. Because, you probably would not enjoy why Dubai’s sung, although there are free exciting things to do in Dubai .

Ezgi Ulku praised Dubai that in it “good money is paid to employees but Dubai knows how [to] take it back from people very well – through monthly utility bills, fees paid for subscriptions, traffic penalties, etc that might be faced. Accommodation and daily life needs (supermarkets, clothes, etc) are not much reasonable, either.”

Only Shallow Friendships

In the light of friendship in Dubai, Ezgi Ulku says the following: “Dubai is not the best place to create good friendships if you are not very lucky, probably because people go on temporary basis just to make money and some turn into robots who are racing with other robots at their workplaces…”

Tour Operators

If you’re taking a tour operator, they definitely would determine your experience. Hence, you don’t only have to see that you choose a good enough tour operator (see some of Dubai’s reliable tour operators ), but also that they deliver reliably.

Some expatriates say there’s too much sand in Dubai and say this is niggling; others think that can’t be a reason to avoid Dubai like a plague.

Citizenship?

Further, some say that UAE will not grant citizenship no matter how long one spends in it and they think this is unacceptable.

Dubai’s Laws

Flouting Dubai’s laws is an important consideration. If this happens, one is endangered to serve some jail term. Please see this post to get guided.

Summer Heat

Visiting Dubai in summer is rather undesirable, reason being the parching Summer sun. This doesn’t mean Dubai’s weather sucks. See what Daniel Sobrado says in this connection, “I prefer 10 times a 45 degrees day here (Dubai) than a rainy and windy day in Europe, but that is just my preference.”

If you can’t handle Dubai’s Summer heat, kindly see this post .

Closely related to the foregoing point is Dubai’s lack of natural greenery. If you love nature, you sadly can’t enjoy it in the city of Dubai.

Conclusion on Dubai Pros and Cons

The foregoing are Dubai’s pros and cons. I believe it’s informative. But no assertion is made that the merits and demerits discussed here are all. In this way, you should kindly comment contributing to this post or submit a post on what you think about visiting Dubai to us. Let’s have a crystal clear picture of the ups and downs of visiting Dubai. We invite people to share their experiences in Dubai with us here .

References :

• GlobalMediaInsight.com

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5 Pros And Cons Of Visiting Dubai

I know a lot of people who have no interest whatsoever in visiting Dubai but then some who absolutely love it. I have been there on several occasions: as a stopover, for a week-long holiday and once to go to the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix (which was amazing).

There are some things I love about the UAE city  but some things I don’t like so much. W henever I think of a negative thing about Dubai, there always seems to be a positive to counter it. Here are my five pros and cons of visiting Dubai.

Dubai is a ‘bit fake’

I hear people saying this a lot and yes, it is a bit fake. Dubai is a very modern city which has rapidly expanded over the past 50 years following the discovery of oil.

The UAE Emirate is essentially a desert which has been developed on – in epic proportions – with an ever-expanding skyline of towering skyscrapers, including the Burj Khalifa , the largest building in the world ( read about our trip to the Burj Khalifa ).

Everything has been done to excess, with no expense spared. From the opulent hotels to the oversized malls (where you have the option to ski), man-made waterways and islands, huge cascading water features, and immaculately kept golf courses and green gardens. You name it, they will mimic it and they seem to pride themselves on doing it bigger and better than ever before. It is a very glitzy city without a huge amount of natural beauty. It certainly lacks the idillic setting of tropical places like the Maldives and Caribbean, especially with building work ongoing (see point 2).

Dubai is a vibrant city where people from all over the world come to work. It has got some great hotels and restaurants with some of the top chefs from around the world clamouring to set up restaurants so you have your pick of fine dining. As it’s all rather glad, there’s good excuse to put your glad rags on.

Some of the beaches may not be completely natural (like those on ‘The Palm’) but the golden sand is real and the beaches are large and wide with few rocks and stones. The sea is deliciously warm and calm so perfect for children (and people like me who aren’t keen on freezing cold water and large waves). Oh, and the (very natural) sunsets are pretty spectacular too.

Noise Pollution

There is a lot of construction work still going on in Dubai. You’d  think the building boom would have eased off a bit, certainly after the 2008 property crash but it continues. The massive land reclaim project, The Palm, is still being developed on (although work on another such project ‘The World’ has halted).

Newer hotels and better transport links are being built to make the city easier to navigate for those who live there and boost business and tourism.  Although big, the hotels have excellent facilities. From water sports to volleyball, mini golf, massages or just plain sunbathing – there’s something for everyone. For the children, there’s water parks and kids clubs and the service is tip top too. Cold towel and fruit anyone? 

Dubai lacks culture?

Dubai is a hugely diverse city where lots of different cultures converge so it’s very cosmopolitan but, as it’s so new, there isn’t a great deal of history. For culture, visit the docks and explore the gold and spice souks. Or you could indulge in a desert safari or camel racing for a slight taste of Emirati life. Of course, there’s the Burj Khalifa, the tallest building in the world  but overall, Dubai it is very much a hotel resort type place.

Some hotels are so huge they are like a mini city of its own – with everything provided for you. There are  no little shops to nip out and get some water or cute towns to have a mooch around  like you get in Europe.  The hotels have been designed so you don’t even have to leave during your stay (and I suspect a lot of people do this).

As much as I like adventure and exploration, sometimes it’s good to relax and not have the pressure of cramming in loads of sightseeing (especially if you are visiting on a short stopover). Not having the option to do loads can be a pro and you don’t feel so guilty about chilling by the beach/pool.

Although Dubai lacks culture, it’s still an interesting country to visit where you can learn lots from the people, of all different cultures, who live there. The ostentatious buildings are a wonder to marvel at – as well as the beautiful hotels, designed with incredible attention to detail channelling Arabian architecture and decor. Then there are the (nicely air-conditioned) malls like Dubai Mall which have every activity you can imagine at your disposal, particularly for children. You have to see it to believe it.

How Expensive is Dubai to go on holiday?

Dubai can be an expensive place to stay, with prices pretty much on a par with London (although certain things, like taxis, are cheaper). As it is a Muslim county, alcohol is particularly expensive.

You get what you pay for. In the luxury five star hotels the staff are friendly, welcoming and cater for (almost) every whim allowing you to relax. The beaches are private so you don’t get hassled and many of the children’s activities are free at the large resorts so you have the option to leave your little ones at the kids club while you chill.There are also some great deals which you can book, click here to find latest deals on hotels .

The food is of a very high quality so a great place for foodies. As it is a Muslim country, there are restrictions on licensed premises and bars have to be attached to the hotels. Wine and champagne is particularly pricey but we often get a bottle at duty free when we land to enjoy in our hotel room.

What about the heat in Dubai?

In the summer months it can get incredibly hot and humid so avoid June, July and August, especially if you have young children. We once went en route to South Africa for our honeymoon in August. We struggled to sit outside even in the evening when temperatures are still 40 degrees. The humidity is crazy too. Every time we walked out of the hotel our sunglasses steamed up. It’s like one big sauna.

Dubai can provide a great winter break in the sun – when the UK temperatures plummet! January was one of the best times of year we have visited Dubai!

Dubai Pros and Cons

There’s certainly a number of reasons why the Emirate keeps drawing us back. Dubai is also a great stopover before going to explore countries further east.

We went before children and enjoyed going out to fancy restaurants, bars and chilling out on the beach but now we have little ones, I can see why Dubai is a great family holiday too. There’s so much to keep kids entertained from waterparks, giant fish tanks, large swimming pools, theme parks and much more. .

I know we will go back at some point, for as many negative things about Dubai, there are many good things about Dubai. It ticks a lot of boxes and it is somewhere you should experience at some point in your life. Click here to find top deals on where to stay in Dubai .

Have you been to Dubai? Would like to go? Do you love or hate Dubai or are you like me? I’d love to know your thoughts. Please comment below.

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Ha, same. It can be a bit of a relief. I think a lot of people are put off a bit but, like so many things/places, it’s what you make it and there are things to see if you want and like I say, is worth seeing at some point… Maybe a stop off? X

Hope you get to go to Australia soon! Dubai would be a fab stop off. Thanks for linking to #citytripping – really enjoyed your Budapest post x

Ohhhh I am so rubbish! I’ve just realised that I wrote the reply to your email and never pressed send (its sat in my drafts, I wrote it night feeding!!) so sorry I missed you!

I love a good pros and cons list about places I know, Dubai is definitely all about bigger and better. There are some hidden gems though that people don’t know about, like the culture and history, if you go down to the old town you can find the history museum where it explains about how originally Dubai was all about the pearl diving and the old abra rides are incredible.

Ah, shame I missed you! (Although Im sure we’ll be back at some point). Hope all going well with baby boy. Was interested in your thoughts on this post…can imagine it’s pretty different living there but I bet it’s a fab place to be for a couple of years… Although tough in the summer! We once went in August during Ramadan… Double whammy! Haha. Need to do the museum at some point! Xx

It’s funny how it can be a bit polarising but I’m sure you’ll enjoy it. Just embrace it for what it is and go along with the ride. X

Thanks Ting! Dubai is a funny one – and glad I’ve helped you rethink it. I’m still pretty split but there must be a reason why we’ve been back a few times. You can’t beat the sunshine (especially in winter over here) and the service is brilliant. Plus the children love it. Thanks for hosting #mondayescapes great idea xx

We went to Dubai for the first time last year with our then two year old and I was pregnant. I was a bit dubious about going as it sounded so fake and OTT and I must admit it definitely was 🙂

But, it was also pretty interesting and I quite admired how proud the people of Dubai were of what they had achieved. Us Brits are always bashful about stuff and ridicule things we achieve but over there they loved having the biggest buildings and the bluest sea, whitest sand, even if it was man-made. I sort of thought, good on them.

I totally know what you mean -hahaha – I always seem to have a good time there too. As tourists we do see a bit of a fake version of Dubai but it does tick a lot of boxes! And when I talk to all the workers who come from all over, they seem pretty happy to be over there and working. You are right, they are very proud of it all and I think good on them too…they are playing a bit of catch up but doing it to the extreme. It is my guilty pleasure. Glad you had a great time there!! Thanks for stopping by xx

Have a fab time! It really is a fab stopover. Perfect for some pre-sun fun. Enjoy Thailand! Love that country! Oh, you have to go to that Grand Prix at some point it’s pretty spesh! X

Wow – how fascinating to have seen that change. We went for the first time in 2008 and even since then it has grown enormously. Shame you got ill… Sounds like a return trip is defo in order! Thanks for stopping by xx

Thank you! I’m glad I’m not the only one too but it does tick a lot of boxes too and is lots of fun. Thanks for hosting #mondayescapes x

Yes! Do it. It is worth seeing and the restaurants, bars, shopping – it’s all good- just submit to the glitz and opulence! Xxx

It’s definitely worth seeing! Just make sure you emphasise the pros to the other half

Thank you so much. Yes! You’re right. I have yet to do Vegas but probably will next year… It has to done!! Thanks for stopping by x

Thanks! Just been reading your post actually! It is a great place and we still have so much to explore there…you have given me some fab tips. Every time I think of a con the pros outweigh it and it’s so good for kids. Xx

Well I am glad I helped you make a decision… It’s a bit of a marmite place and I get that it isn’t for everyone. Thanks for stopping by. X

Oh no! Such a shame you can’t go exploring – well together anyway. Thanks for hosting #bigfatlinky

Yes, you should definitely go see it at some point. It’s somewhere you have see. Thanks for hosting #thelist xx

I know! It’s ridiculous later on in the summer. We went in May and it was 42 degrees x

I just moved back to the UK after having lived in Dubai for the last 8 years. There are many great (& not so great) things about the place and lots of things to do with kids. My family and I spent our final night in Dubai watching the fountains at the Dubai Mall/Burj Khalifa.

Wow! That’s a long time over there. How did you find it? From what I have seen, it is a great place for children! still need to see the fountains! Welcome back to the UK. Xx

Hey Keri, I will have to check out your Al Dhafra festival post. It would be great to see the more cultural side of the UAE so next I will I go I’ll make sure I do that… then I can write a whole other post about its cultural side!! Even so, I do like Dubai, there is certainly something which keeps drawing us back! Thanks for the tips. Enjoy National Day – sounds fun! x

Thank you! I love sunsets! Yes, there is – lots more than meets the eye x

Dubai is so, so perfect for a stopover. Kids LOVE it and it’s perfect for some pampering x

I really agree with you. Dubai isn’t somewhere I’d rush back to but I’m glad I’ve been. It is a fascinating place and the hotels are amazing. We stayed at the Ritz Carlton and loved it. I think if I was going back I might be tempted to combine it with something else, like a jeep safari into the desert.

Ooh yes! I really want to do to a jeep safari and do a night in the desert too. X

Yes, good shout. The construction work was annoying but you sort of got used to it.

Thanks Trish – glad you have found it helpful. It’s a bit of a marmite place but great for a few days to recharge.

You are so right – know what to expect and you won’t be disappointed! If we go to Dubai again I’m going to explore its cultural side a bit deeper…I’m sure it’s there! X

Hi Ruth, I think you’ll really enjoy it too.

Thanks Sarah! I’m still pretty divided on it but you can’t beat it for winter sun.

Glad your sister had a good time. We stayed at the Atlantis once before but during a really busy time of year – was a bit hectic – but tons of stuff for the kids! So good for winter sun and there are deals out there. X

Very true! You do just have to embrace the glitz, sun and shiny new buildings. X

Haha! Indeed not! X

My friends who recently returned from Dubai had the same pro & con arguments why visit / not visit Dubai. 🙂 #CityTripping

That’s interesting- glad I’m not alone with it. It’s definitely a bit marmite! X

Thank you so much Jo! There are so many pros but ultimately it is a city that’s still in development so there will be construction noise although some areas are definitely better than others!

Kind of like Las Vegas with humidity and a beach?

You’re not far off!

It was very great to read such an informative post! Great post about Dubai!

Thank you so much.

Wow.. love the way you’ve listed out the good and bad! Cheers!! 🙂

Thank you. It’s a bit of a marmite place!

I can understand all these pros and cons but I think if I got the chance to go I’d still jump at the chance! I mean, hot weather, swimming pools, amazing hotels. Yes please!

Hehe – very true. The positives are very alluring. The do hotels very well!!

Thanks Jessica, glad you found it helpful!

I lived in the UAE for 6 years, and then made regular business trips to Dubai to see clients for the next 10 years, so feel I know it pretty well. I agree with your pros and cons, but would add a couple. On the Pro side: if you want to see Arabia, then take the short taxi ride up to Sharjah which still has lots of old buildings and some wonderful museums. Sharjah also has a large Shiite population with links to Iran, and there are a couple of beautiful Iranian-style mosques with beautiful blue and green tilework, well worth a look. On the Con side: do not forget you are in a Muslim country with very strict laws. Be careful what you do in public. One of our friends worked as a lawyer and tried to help numerous Brits who fell foul of local laws. Some of his clients’ stories were very sad. Read the blog “Banged up in Dubai” for some eye-opening true stories.

Hi Fiona, thanks so much for those added pros and cons! I’d love to explore more of the country – great recommendations. Yes, I think it’s easy for some people to forget the local customs and laws. A cautionary tale!

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Tourism Impacts on Dubai: Positive & Negative Essay

Introduction.

Dubai is the second largest and the most populous emirates of the United Arab Emirates (U.A.E.). Other emirates that make up the U.A.E. are Abu Dhabi, the capital, Ajman, Ras Al-Khaimah, Sharjah, Fujairah and Umm- Al Qaiwain. The United Arab Emirates is located in the Arabian Gulf, southwest Asia. Dubai is located on the banks of the Dubai Creek, covering a total area of approximately 4,200 km2. Currently, the population of Dubai stands at 1.37 million people. Oil, international trade, and tourism are the main economic stays of Dubai contributing approximately 7% of the GDP of the United Arab Emirates.

Dubai has an arid, subtropical climate with occasional rainfall during falls and winter, with sunny and clear blue skies the most part of the year. Temperature ranges from a low of 10 degrees centigrade to a high of 41 degrees centigrade.

The government of Dubai led by the current ruler His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum is committed to turn Dubai in to a tourist hub. There is a much political support in this effort. This has been demonstrated by development of infrastructure like roads network, modern harbor and airports, which has been facilitating the realization of this goal. More commercial and residential houses have been built to accommodate more tourists.

Accessibility of Dubai is easy with direct flights from major cities in Asia, Africa and Europe. Currently, Dubai international airport is ranked among the world top 10 airports with a handling capacity of 16 million passengers per year. With addition of the third terminal, the airport is set to handle 70 million passengers per year.

Tourism in an area or a country has many impacts, both negative and positive on people lives, environment and economy. In Dubai, tourism have its fair share of negative and positive impacts; it is important however to look at various tourist attractions which are found in Dubai, for easy understanding of the resulting impacts.

One of the major tourist attractions in Dubai is the Dubai shopping Festival which is held one per year for a whole month. The festival was started in 1996 and has since been attracting people from allover the world. During the festival, people enjoy reduced shopping prices and prizes, great sporting events and fantastic fireworks. Dubai Summer Surprise is yet another event held between June and August that attract many tourists from across the globe. During the events, tourists enjoy cultural surprises, a taste of local cuisines and food festival held at the shopping malls.

As a center for international fair and major technological events, Dubai World Trade Centre has become another major tourist attraction. The centre hosts the annual Gulf Information Technology Exhibition and other major events that attracts tourist from all over the world. Dubai Air Show is another spectacular show held after every two years. During the show, major carrier and airplane makers exhibit their latest products in the event that attracts major players from across the globe. The Middle East Motor show is also another annual event showcasing the latest technology and future designs of vehicles from all over the world. Dubai Museum, built in 1799, heritage village, diving village are other important spots within Dubai that attract a lot of tourists.

Desert safari and adventures using camels and/or off road trucks is another attraction that brings in tourist from allover the world. To add to the thrill, tourist participates in diving and snookering, motor cross, skydiving and mountaineering. The palm Island is an ongoing project on the coast of Dubai, which will see development of residential, commercial and retails buildings aimed at uplifting Dubai as a premier tourist destination.

Over the past few years, the economy of Dubai has been growing at a steady rate, fueled in part by tourist dollars. This is one positive impact of tourism development in Dubai. Given the linkages between different sectors of economy, the remarkable economic growth of Dubai has also contributed to the growth of tourism. Of all the other emirates in U.A.E, Dubai has received the lion share of promotion as a tourist destination. Most festivals, exhibitions, conferences and trade shows are held in Dubai. Sport tourism has also had a good share in the tourism market with the Dubai International Arabian horse Championship, Dubai world cup, Dubai Tennis Championships and Dubai International Jazz festival.

When in Dubai, tourist contributes to the economy through shopping in the numerous malls that cater for all customers needs. The recent opening of Mall of Emirates has redefined how shopping is done; with over 250 shops, ski centre and cinemas halls. It is important to note here that Dubai is a free port city where goods business is done tax free. The government and the people of Dubai benefit indirectly from the service industry which includes hotels, transportation etc.

Tourist facilities like resorts and hotels are other sources of revenues offering comfort and hospitality. Burj Al Arab all suite hotel stands at 321 feet’s and is recognized as one of the best hotel in the world. The hotel is a major attraction to high end business men visiting Dubai. The government of Dubai has major stakes in most of the real estate, hotels and tourist resorts which act as a source of government revenues.

Tourism is a one source of foreign currency for Dubai, stimulating and accelerating growth of the emirates. Increased foreign currency reserve in the Dubai economy has contributed to stabilizing of United Arab Emirates economy.

25 years ago, Dubai was a desert with just a few sheep, horses and camels. Today, Dubai is a world trade centre thanks to the oil reserves, tourism and trade. Dubai has some of the best network of roads and airports. With the growth of tourism, there have increased employment opportunities for local people and foreigners from allover the world. Hotels, taxis, nightclubs, airport services, real estate management are some of the sector that have been opened up largely by the tourism industries and are providing stable employments to many people.

Construction of infrastructures cost the government of Dubai a lot of money. Money is sourced from other sectors of economy like oil to construct roads and airports Return from such investment may take long to recover and get real benefit.

With all the attractions and the valuable economics contribution that tourist has on Dubai, the fast and uncontrolled growth has numerous negative effects. With the rapid growth comes environmental degradation and loss of cultural and traditional identity. Tourist put a lot of stress on the ecosystem.

With increased number of people visiting Dubai, traffic on the road has increased. The number of people on the streets of Dubai searching for leisure and entertainment on a daily basis is rising at a steady rate. The opening up of Dubai to real estate developers and buyers has also led to increase in the number of people visiting Dubai. Main highways in Dubai are now more congested than before leading to loss of work hours on the road.

With increase in number of tourist visiting Dubai, the demand for local commodities has risen leading to increase in prices of basic commodities. This has lead to increase in the cost of living for the local people. As the demand for building material increases with increased construction of more tourist facilities, the price for the cost of building materials increases. The Local people spending power is limited as they are now competing with foreign investors. Most of the indigenous inhabitant of Dubai have been forced by circumstances to migrate to other places as the cost of land nears tourist dominated area like Dubai coast, have risen and the land market is now dominated by foreigners leading to erosion of economic opportunities for the local people.

Another negative impact of tourism development in Dubai is pollution and distraction to the wildlife. The construction of the Palm Island on the coast of Dubai has negative effects to the marine life. During the construction heavy equipment are used in dredging the sand and blasting of rocks. This has resulted to death of many important sea animals like whales, dolphins and sharks, with a huge number migrating to less disturbed areas. The extensive block paving to create along the coast has destroyed natural habitats for turtles which relies on the shoreline for nesting.

Increased sporting activities like anchoring, sport fishing, scuba diving, yachting and snookering in the sea have resulted in the destruction of the coral reef, mangroves, hinterland forest and lagoons. These activities have many negative effects to the ecosystem like pollution and death of important sea organism.

Noise, littering, sewage release, solid waste, oil and chemicals and noxious gas emissions are some of the pollutions associated with tourism in Dubai. Increased rise in tourist mobility by air, road and rail has direct effect on air and noise pollution. Air transportation accounts for over 50 percent of total air pollution. The continued increase in the number of international tourist visiting Dubai is not making the situation any better. Carbon dioxide emission from tourist transport facilities like tour van, buses and off-road vehicles contribute to local air pollution. This pollution contributes significantly to global warming and photochemical pollution. Noise from cars, off road tourist vehicles, airplanes, and buses are a source of human stress and wildlife distress leading to alteration of natural patterns like mating and feeding.

Waste disposal is a serious problem in Dubai especially in areas with high concentration of tourist. Littering has lead to degradation of physical appearance of scenic beauty and shoreline. Extinction of marine wildlife has been attributed largely due to waste disposal in water bodies. Tourist visiting Dubai generates a lot of waste which they don’t have the capacity to carry along or dispose off properly. In such cases, the waste is left behind in those sites where tourist visit leading to environmental degradation.

Construction of airports, roads, accommodation facilities, restaurants, water supplies and other recreational facilities in Dubai have leads to soil erosion. Currently, over 50% of Dubai labor force is engaged in real estate development to cater for residential and accommodation need of visitors. This has resulted to increase in sand mining which put undue pressure on the land.

Various influences from tourism can bring about change or loss of values and cultural identity especially when local cultures and festival are re-structured to conform to the expectations of tourists. In Dubai, the demands for entertainment and arts have lead to commodification of important cultures leading to loss of a community values and identity.

Due to integration of different people with diverse ethnic, religion, prosperity level, lifestyles and values instances of culture clash are common in Dubai. The level of adjustment by both the visitors and the locals in Dubai is usually resulting to cultural clash. Integration of people at different level of earning is also another source of cultural clash in Dubai. Those who works in tourist hotels tend to compare themselves with the visitors resulting to cultural clash.

The level of crime in Dubai has been very low and manageable requiring just a few unarmed police on the street just to maintain law and order. With increased number of tourist and business men visiting Dubai, security concern has increased. The government is now under obligation to provide security to the big number of people visiting Dubai on a daily basis. This has led to increased pressure on the security force.

Cases of prostitution were unheard of in Dubai and the other six emirates some few years ago. The situation is changing slowly for worse and the number of commercial sex worker targeting tourist is on the rise. Packaged sex tour is growing at a rapid rate and if the situation is not checked, prostitution is likely to bring society decay in Dubai.

Tourism in Dubai is one of the fastest growing sectors of economy. With fast growth come both positive and negative impacts on the economy, people’s lives and the environment. To ensure continued maximum benefits from tourist, authority in Dubai must develop sustainable management strategy that will reduce the negative impacts and increase the positive impacts. This includes the use of ecological resources in development of tourism and at the same time maintaining crucial environmental process that helps to conserve biodiversity. There is also need to respect and conserve the social and cultural authenticity and the heritage of the local communities and ensuring long-term practical economic process that provides income to all parties.

About Dubai, 2008. Web.

Alistair McKenzie (2004) Dubai: Tomorrow’s City Today, United States, Explorer Publishing.

Dallen J. Timothy (2003) Shopping Tourism, Retailing and Leisure, United Kingdom, Channel View Publishers.

Dubai: A Major boost to the UAE Tourism Industry, 2008. Web.

Eric Nadeau and Hamda Alnajjar (2006) Economic and Environmental Impacts of Tourism on Dubai, Research Journal.

Metik Kozak (2006) Progress in tourism marketing, Melbourne, Elsevier publishers.

Nagre G. (1999) Tourism, Leisure and Recreational, United Kingdom, Surrey & Nelson publishers.

Richard Sharpley and David J. Telfer (2002) Tourism and Development: Concepts and Issues, Channel View Publishers, United Kingdom.

Terry Carter, Lara Dunson (2006) Dubai, Melbourne, Lonely Planet Publishers.

Tourism: Strategic Plan 2015. Web.

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IvyPanda. (2021, October 25). Tourism Impacts on Dubai: Positive & Negative. https://ivypanda.com/essays/tourism-impacts-on-dubai-positive-amp-negative/

"Tourism Impacts on Dubai: Positive & Negative." IvyPanda , 25 Oct. 2021, ivypanda.com/essays/tourism-impacts-on-dubai-positive-amp-negative/.

IvyPanda . (2021) 'Tourism Impacts on Dubai: Positive & Negative'. 25 October.

IvyPanda . 2021. "Tourism Impacts on Dubai: Positive & Negative." October 25, 2021. https://ivypanda.com/essays/tourism-impacts-on-dubai-positive-amp-negative/.

1. IvyPanda . "Tourism Impacts on Dubai: Positive & Negative." October 25, 2021. https://ivypanda.com/essays/tourism-impacts-on-dubai-positive-amp-negative/.

Bibliography

IvyPanda . "Tourism Impacts on Dubai: Positive & Negative." October 25, 2021. https://ivypanda.com/essays/tourism-impacts-on-dubai-positive-amp-negative/.

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Barriers to Medical Tourism Development in the United Arab Emirates (UAE)

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Medical tourism is a thriving industry. Many destinations now seek to attract more medical tourists. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is no exception. As one of the most important pillars of the UAE’s economy, tourism is considered a high priority. However, medical tourism in the UAE is still developing. This paper addresses the main challenges for medical tourism in the UAE and proposes methods to enhance its development. This research utilized qualitative analysis. Twelve professionals in medical tourism were interviewed to provide data. The data were then analyzed using NVivo 12 software. Our results indicate that the key barriers to medical tourism development in the UAE are high costs of medical tourism services, lack of marketing activities, lack of collaboration between medical and tourism service providers, and so forth. Although initiatives from the UAE government are very encouraging, more efficient medical care supply networks, tourism suppliers and intermediaries should be established to ensure its growth. This research could influence national tourism policies in the UAE as well as regional alliances in all Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) countries.

1. Introduction

Medical tourism is a thriving industry. The term “medical tourism” has been investigated for 20+ years [ 1 , 2 ]. Medical tourism can be defined as “the practice of travelling to another country with the purpose of obtaining health care (elective surgery, dental treatment, reproductive treatment, organ transplantation, medical checkups, etc.)” [ 3 ]. The most common procedures for medical tourists are as follows: cosmetic surgery, dentistry, and orthopedic treatments [ 4 ]. Medical tourists prefer a foreign country due to several reasons recognized by Karadayi-Usta and Bozdag [ 5 ]: “long waiting periods, high costs, the excessive number of patients, inadequate number of healthcare professionals and inadequate cutting-edge technological equipment at their country of residence” (p. 6475). In 2019, the medical tourism market was worth US $104,68 billion while forecasted to be US $273,72 billion by 2027 [ 6 ]. Currently, according to the Medical Tourism Index (MTI), the top destinations for medical tourism are Canada, Singapore, Japan, Spain, United Kingdom, Dubai, Costa Rica, Israel, Abu Dhabi, and India [ 7 ].

Tourism is an economic pillar for the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Indeed, the UAE actively positions itself within the tourism market as a destination for human-made wonders. In recent years, it has made significant improvements to expand tourist offerings and develop medical tourism in the country, particularly in the most tourism-developed emirates such as Dubai and Abu Dhabi. In 2016, the health strategy for Dubai 2021 [ 8 ] was approved by His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of the Dubai Executive Council. This strategy proposed medical tourism development in the emirate with the mission of “transforming Dubai into a leading healthcare destination by fostering innovative and integrated care models and by enhancing community engagement” [ 8 ] (p. 10). As a result, a special entity (health tourism department) was formed—Dubai Health Experience (DXH)—with the aim to support medical tourism development the emirate and to attract more medical tourists. In terms of medical tourism, Dubai is most focused on cosmetic surgery, health check-ups, orthopedic surgeries, ophthalmology, dental treatments, dermatology, and fertility treatments [ 9 ]. In 2018, Dubai was visited by 337,011 medical tourists and generated a revenue of US $317 million [ 9 ]. DXH operates using a platform that connects 75 healthcare facilities, travel agents, and hoteliers. It also provides online consultations, reservations, insurance recommendations, and second medical opinion services and packages. In addition to Dubai, Abu Dhabi has also taken steps to increase its medical tourism. Its’ health strategy [ 10 ] also recognized the importance of medical tourism development in the emirate. Together, the Department of Health Abu Dhabi and the Department of Culture and Tourism—Abu Dhabi created a platform similar to DXH to increase medical tourism [ 9 ]. The platform connects 40 healthcare facilities and provides more than 280 medical treatment packages, insurance packages, appointments, hotels, recreational activities, and transport [ 9 ].

Although high-tech solutions to improve medical tourism have been implemented, the utilization of healthcare facilities could be improved further. In addition, in the UAE, medical tourism has yet to be developed outside of Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Areas such as Ras Al Khaimah and Al Ain could also benefit from medical tourism development, as well as other emirates such as Sharjah, Umm Al Quwain, Fujairah, and Ajman. The main purpose of this paper is to address the key barriers to medical tourism development in the UAE and to provide a recommendation for how the current situation could be improved in order to position the whole country among the top medical tourism destinations from the healthcare and tourism service quality perspective.

The following research questions were defined:

• - What are the main barriers to medical tourism development in the UAE?
• - What methods can be used to strengthen the development of medical tourism within the UAE?

By answering these two questions, the paper provides a clear overview of the medical tourism segments that should be improved. Moreover, the paper could help decision makers under the umbrella of medical tourism and at all levels to take concrete actions and overcome identified barriers.

2. Literature Review

Although medical tourism is a thriving industry, many countries have struggled to develop it successfully. Over the last two decades, medical tourism has been the focus of much research. However, the obstacles to medical tourism development in the UAE have yet to be explored using scientific qualitative analysis. This literature review presents an overview of existing research on critical factors that affect medical tourism development.

2.1. Healthcare Service Quality and International Accreditation

The research conducted among medical tourism experts in Turkey says that one of the critical success factors for medical tourism development in the country is healthcare service quality. Actually, quality of healthcare is identified as one of top barriers to medical tourism development [ 11 ]. On the other side, similar research implemented in Africa among 36 managers of healthcare institutions in Russia says that quality plays a crucial role in medical tourism development [ 12 ]. From the patients’ perspective, healthcare service quality is the most important, and at the same time, it is the most critical factor of medical tourism development in the destination [ 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 ]. Apart from that, there are plenty of other studies that recognized healthcare quality as a vital motivator for international patients to travel abroad for medical purposes [ 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 , 27 , 28 , 29 , 30 , 31 ]. Al-Talabani and others [ 32 ] stated that the UAE lacks recognized doctors, which affects the quality of healthcare system. To ensure high quality of healthcare service and to attract more medical tourists, it is essential to obtain international accreditation [ 16 , 33 , 34 , 35 , 36 , 37 , 38 ]. This is particularly important for developing countries. According to Joint Commission International (JCI, Oak Brook IL, USA), the UAE has been ranked first in the world in terms of accredited healthcare facilities [ 39 ]. The UAE is working extremely hard to ensure that all hospitals will get international accreditation by 2021 [ 39 , 40 , 41 , 42 ]. It is important to emphasize the fact that Kamassi [ 43 ] raised a question about nonexistent international Islamic accreditation that can positively impact international Muslim patients. The Dubai Healthcare City Survey showed that patients chose Dubai because of the medical service quality [ 44 ]. According to the Medical Tourism Index, Dubai and Abu Dhabi are very well positioned on the medical tourism market in terms of service quality [ 7 ].

2.2. Healthcare Costs

Many studies have shown that the cost of the healthcare service plays an important role in choosing a medical tourism destination [ 5 , 35 , 45 , 46 , 47 ]. For instance, Aydin and Karamehmet [ 48 ] collected data on Turkey’s patients and medical tourism professionals using surveys. Their results indicated that the key factors that affect medical tourism development, according to professionals, are credibility of medical service providers, cultural distance and service quality, political and economic stability, regulations and legal frameworks, physical distance, and, in last place, healthcare cost. On the other side, patients identified healthcare costs as the most important factor influencing their decision to choose a destination for medical treatments. Moreover, Heung et al. [ 49 ] investigated barriers to medical tourism development in Hong Kong. They recognized high healthcare costs that result in high prices for customers as one of the crucial barriers to medical tourism development. Medical tourists in Thailand stressed high cost of healthcare as a key disadvantage of further development of medical tourism [ 50 ]. Jain and Ajmera also identified the high cost of medical services as a key barrier to medical tourism development in India [ 51 ]. On the other side, Al- Talabani and others stated that one of barriers to medical tourism development in Dubai is the high cost of medical treatments [ 32 ].

2.3. International Medical Insurance and Medical Tourism Infrastructure

International medical insurance is one of the key motivational factors for patients to choose one particular medical tourism destination and one of the stumbling blocks for destinations that intend to be medical tourism destinations [ 16 , 31 , 45 , 52 ]. Moreover, medical tourism infrastructure is also recognized as a vital factor for medical tourism development. Developing medical tourism could also be beneficial for the hotel industry. For example, high-class hotels in Greece have shown an interest in investing more in medical tourism due to its potential benefits [ 53 ]. On the other hand, a study showed that hotels in Malaysia may not be prepared for medical tourism due to environmental, organizational, and technological issues [ 54 ]. Kazemha and Dehkordi [ 55 ] defined a concept of hospital hotel as “a combination of a hotel as a resort and a hospital as a place of healing and rejuvenation that in addition to the course of treatment provides accommodations after treatment as well” (p. 515). The UAE is quite progressive in terms of healthcare infrastructure development [ 32 ]. However, hospital hotels have not been developed yet in the UAE. It is important to address that the number of hospital beds in the UAE has increased drastically in the last ten years. By the end of 2020, it is expected to have 14,000 hospital beds allocated across the UAE [ 39 ].

2.4. Medical Tourism Facilitators and Marketing

Mohamad et al. [ 56 ] stated that travel facilitators play a crucial role in developing medical tourism and suggest “tourism and travel facilitation and concierge services form a three-dimensional support system for health travellers” [ 56 ] (p. 362). Furthermore, Skountridaki [ 57 ] suggests that improved communication and cooperation between medical professionals and medical travel facilitators are required. Other studies confirm that lack of collaboration and networking among medical tourism suppliers and medical tourism facilitators is one of the key issues in medical tourism development [ 29 , 31 , 32 , 43 , 58 , 59 , 60 , 61 , 62 , 63 ]. Frederick and Gan [ 64 ] identified differences between Western and Eastern medical tourism facilitators. According to them, Eastern medical tourism facilitators promote a destination’s medical tourism services, while Western facilitators are mainly focused on advertising medical tourism services abroad. Tham [ 29 ] concluded that stakeholders, including medical tourism facilitators, should be more involved in planning and developing medical tourism destinations. On the other side, Kamassi [ 43 ] mentioned that above 50% of foreign patients have come to the UAE for medical treatment through medical tourism facilitators.

Furthermore, lack of advertising g and digital marketing, and low internet utilization were also recognized [ 49 ]. Momeni et al., Amouzagar et al., and Mahdavi et.al [ 65 , 66 , 67 ] explored medical tourism development in Iran. They found that the main obstacles were, among others, a lack of marketing as well as poor branding and inferior management. Lee and Yudi [ 68 ] emphasized the importance of collaboration among medical tourism suppliers and media. Azimi et al., in their research, found out that word of mouth (WOM) is the most effective way to advertise medical tourism services according to the patients opinion [ 28 , 69 ]. Last, but not least, social media is increasingly utilized in medical tourism marketing, especially advertising [ 70 , 71 , 72 ].

2.5. Medical Tourism Strategic Management

Medical tourism development must be founded on a proper strategy and its’ proper implementation [ 45 , 49 , 59 , 73 , 74 ]. For example, a lack of policies and government actions was pointed out as the key barrier to medical tourism development in Hong Kong [ 49 ]. Furthermore, a lack of medical tourism standards was also recognized as one of barriers to medical tourism development in Yazd [ 45 ]. In the case of the UAE, Al- Talabani et al. identified lack of government policies that would involve the private sector in further investment in medical tourism development [ 32 ].

3. Methodology and Sample

While there are many qualitative research definitions, Merriam [ 75 ] suggests that qualitative research seeks to understand different meanings that people have constructed. In other words, qualitative research examines how people make sense of the world and their experiences. Qualitative research methods include interviews, observing participants, and textual analysis. In addition, Tracey [ 76 ] notes, “such methods can include research in the field, a focus—group room, an office or a classroom” (p. 29). In this research, an inductive thematic analysis approach was used. In other words, key themes were identified in relation to data [ 77 , 78 ] from interviews and mini focus group (panel discussion). As such, we should bear in mind that these themes may have “little relationship with the questions asked from the participants” [ 79 ] (p. 34).

For the purpose of this research, semistructured in-depth interviews (IDI) were carried out with medical tourism professionals. This sampling type was homogenous, which is one of the most important premises for small samples [ 80 ]. In other words, the sample used in this research was similar in one or more dimensions [ 81 ]. In our case, each participant had over ten years of experience in the health industry and a special interest in tourism. The sample of 12 interviewees can be assumed as valid [ 79 , 82 , 83 , 84 , 85 , 86 , 87 , 88 , 89 , 90 ]. The snowball sampling method was used, which means that “the existing study subjects recruit future subjects among their acquaintances” [ 91 ] (p. 2). Saturation was discussed in line with Braun and Clarke’s recommendation [ 92 ], and based on consolidated criteria for reporting qualitative research (COREQ): a checklist and its 22nd item that is related to saturation [ 93 ]. Interviews were conducted from 20 October 2019 to the 31 January 2020. In-depth interviews were recorded and then analyzed using qualitative analysis (NVivo Pro 12). Due to the privacy policy adopted in this research, interview analyses are bias-free. A sample description is given in Table 1 .

Interview Sample.

The questionnaire consisted of eight questions based on the literature review. An overview of the questions and their sources can be seen in Table 2 .

Interview Questions.

Mini Focus Group—Panel Discussion

This research also used data gathered from a mini focus group discussion held on 26 November at the Canadian University of Dubai in the format of public event called panel discussion. Mini focus groups usually comprise four or five participants [ 81 ]. In this research, the mini focus group contained four participants ( Table 3 ).

Mini focus group sample.

The mini focus group was moderated by an experienced researcher, Dr Katia Iankova. The discussion was structured around five topics: hospital facilities for medical tourism, medical tourist expectations and satisfaction levels, competitors in neighboring countries, the role of medical tourism associations, and hospital accreditations for medical tourism. The discussion was attended by 22 academics, 10 practitioners, and 56 students.

4. Results and Discussion

4.1. interview results and discussion.

In this section, we present the interview results at a glance. We singled out and summarized the most significant answers of 12 respondents related to the key barriers to medical tourism development in the UAE.

4.1.1. Lack of High Healthcare Service Quality

Seven out of twelve respondents addressed healthcare service quality (clinical and customer service quality) as a key issue of medical tourism development in the UAE.

In line with that, Respondent 1 stated, “One of the biggest challenges for medical tourism development in the UAE is the lack of quality indicators. Then, incomplete medico-legal processes. Moreover, the lack of transparency in reports of clinical outcomes. Once these issues are sorted out, we can talk about high-quality medical services in the context of tourism development.” Respondent 2 said, “…What about quality of medical services? Resources’ capacity? Public transport capacity? Sponsorships and monitoring? All of these are problems for further medical tourism development in the UAE.” Respondent 3 indirectly mentioned lack of healthcare service quality through a real example: “They (doctors) are usually late which is a big issue from the patients’ satisfaction perspective. Follow up, control and monitoring must be improved.” Respondent 5 mentioned also lack of healthcare service quality: “Besides lack of quality and high prices of medical and hotel services I would say …” Respondent 8 referred to the lack of renowned doctors: “The biggest weakness is that the country does not offer quality (renowned) doctors in order to build a name of Medical destination.” Respondent 11 said, “Building credibility and trust with a patient for a high-quality service is an issue.” Respondent 12 said, “quality of medical services is questionable”.

These results correspond with studies of Daykhes et al. [ 12 ]; Hwang, Lee and Kang [ 13 ]; Jaapar et al. [ 14 ]; Javed and Ilyas [ 15 ]; John and Larke [ 16 ]; Al- Talabani et al. [ 32 ]. As stated before, healthcare service quality is essential for choosing a destination for medical treatments and procedures. These results are not surprising if we take into consideration the fact that interviewees were insiders, and they know what is going on “behind the scene”. However, if we see the rating of most developed medical tourism destinations in the UAE, such as Abu Dhabi and Dubai [ 7 ], these results are contradictory. It can be justified by the fact that the methodology of Medical Tourism Index (MTI) calculation is a bit different from ours. It is important to address that MTI is calculated based on an opinion survey conducted among Americans [ 7 ]. More importantly, according to available data, it is not noticeably clear whether those people were patients, medical tourists, or potential medical tourists. At the same time, validity, and relevance of the Medical Tourism Index in this case, is doubted by authors.

Besides healthcare service quality, it was mentioned that international accreditation of medical service providers plays a key role in medical tourism development and attracting medical tourists [ 16 , 33 ]. In that sense, interviewees did not mention that lack of international accreditation might be barrier to medical tourism development in the UAE.

4.1.2. High Costs and Prices of Medical Tourism Services

Interviewees identified high costs of medical tourism services as a key weakness and barrier to medical tourism development in the UAE.

In line with that, Respondents 1 said, “Dubai is known as luxury destination, it is hard to expect that people will come for medical treatments in one of the most expensive destinations in the world.” On the other side, Respondent 4 mentioned that one of barriers to medical tourism development in the UAE is “high expenses of healthcare and accommodation”. Respondents 5 and 7 also identified high prices of medical and hotel services and cost of travel and accommodation as critical factors that affect medical tourism development in the UAE. Respondent 8 also mentioned that “the high prices of hotels, and flights are obstacles”. Respondent 10 stated that “the UAE is not accessible or affordable as medical tourism destination.” Lastly, Respondent 11 said that “high costs and packaging services along with the healthcare providers are also some of problems for better medical tourism development in the UAE”.

These results correspond with previous research on the topic [ 5 , 35 , 45 , 46 , 47 ]. If we compare our analysis to the analysis of Aydin and Karamehmet, it is noticeable that experts included in our research put high costs of medical tourism service first while experts in the above-mentioned study put high costs of medical tourism service last [ 48 ]. Additionally, Al–Talabani et al. [ 32 ] stated in conclusion that one of the issues that should be solved is high costs of healthcare services in Dubai. This conclusion corresponds with our analysis.

4.1.3. Lack of International Medical Insurance Accepted in the UAE

Almost all interviewees mentioned that one of the most critical barriers to further medical tourism development in the UAE is the lack of medical insurance coverage.

Respondent 1 said, “There is no international insurance that is accepted in the UAE”. Respondent 4 discussed that “there is no or poor availability of international insurance coverage…” Respondent 5 as well as Respondent 6 also mentioned “Lack of overseas insurance coverage/lack of global insurance” as one of the key weaknesses/barriers to more dynamic medical tourism development in the UAE. Respondent 8 discussed in detail the key weaknesses of medical tourism in the UAE. The respondent mentioned “Another problem is that in many hospitals, certain insurance cards are not accepted (e.g., Adnic Gold is not accepted in top 1 hospital in Abu Dhabi—Cleveland Clinique).” Respondent 10 mentioned, “There is no insurance coverage in clinics or affordability of the medical visa.” Respondent 11 said, “Insurance (international) is a major challenge. Many services are not covered by health insurance.” Our results are in line with results published by John and Larke [ 16 ]; Abouhashem Abadi et al. [ 45 ], and Mandal [ 52 ].

4.1.4. Lack of Medical Tourism Facilitators/Intermediaries and Marketing

Based on interviewees’ opinion, launching specialized travel agencies is a must for rapid improvement. Moreover, a collaboration between tourism and medical sectors is needed.

Respondent 2 said, “People worldwide are not aware of the medical tourism in the UAE due to lack of advertising campaigns.” Respondent 5 said, “international patients are not aware of medical tourism here and what we have to offer”. Respondent 6 said, “I can sum up into lack of brand awareness and market orientation”. Respondent 8 mentioned, “The fractioned product and the lack of packages offered to the tourists. There are no, in my knowledge, specialized tour operators offering such packages including accommodation travel food, etc.” Respondent 10 said, “The UAE has a broad range of supporting infrastructure but no connecting entity, for example, the hotel and the clinic, and there is a lack of the communication between medical tourism suppliers.” Respondent 12 said, “There are many weaknesses of medical tourism in the UAE such as lack of advertising, there are no travel agencies specialized in medical tourism. Then, no collaboration between airports, airlines, tourism and hospitality sector and medical sector.” Our results confirm what has been proven in similar research conducted before by Mohamad et al. [ 56 ] and Skountridaki [ 57 ]. Facilitators in medical tourism have a vital role for further medical tourism development and its’ improvement in the UAE. In addition, interviewees identified a lack of advertising and destination branding as a medical tourism destination as one of the barriers for further medical tourism development. These results correspond with analysis provided by Momeni et al. [ 65 ]; Mahdavi et al. [ 67 ], and Heung et al. [ 67 ].

4.1.5. Public Transport and Hot Weather

While some destinations struggle with accessibility and transport infrastructure, like Turkey [ 11 ], there are others that are assessed very well according to transport reliability, such as Penang [ 94 ]. In the case of the UAE, the key weakness is noticed in public transport, which is assessed by interviewees as underdeveloped. In other words, public connections between emirates are weak.

Respondent 1 said, “On the other side, there is no developed public transport on the destination, but infrastructure of medical tourism is very good”.

Respondent 2 also mention public transport and its capacity as a “problem” that must be fixed to ensure better medical tourism development in the UAE.

Respondent 4 discussed transportation barriers to medical tourism development in the UAE: “Dubai Airport—it is massive, it takes a lot of time to exit after disembarking. Road traffic is another challenge. Ambulance service is not necessarily the same brand as the destination hospital. Expensive aerial and terrestrial transport. Public transport is not well developed in terms of schedules. Taxies are becoming increasingly expensive (3 DRH 10 years ago and 12 DRH now as a starting price of the taxi before the counter starts). No intercity transport. No specialized equipped vehicles for transporting people with special needs (e.g., post-surgery) or if they exist are limited and extremely expensive”.

Moreover, interviewees recognized hot weather as one of obstacles for successful development of medical tourism. Respondent 4 discussed, “Also, the weather during summer is not convenient for medical tourism development in the UAE”. Respondent 6 said, “climate factors affect medical tourism development in the UAE”. Respondent 7 said, “The climate is too harsh.”

In the literature we reviewed, climate or weather conditions have not been emphasized as one of the critical factors that can affect medical tourism development in a destination or represented as one of the barriers to its development.

4.2. Mini Focus Group Results and Discussion

Mini focus group participants identified high costs and prices of medical and tourism services as a key weakness of medical tourism development in the UAE (mentioned by all four panelists), which is in line with previous research done by Wongkit and McKercher [ 50 ], and Mandal [ 52 ]. Fierce competition is another key threat to the development of medical tourism in the UAE. The following countries were identified as competitors: Turkey (was mentioned by Panelist 2), Thailand, Singapore, India (mentioned by all panelists), Iran (mentioned by Panelist 4), Balkan countries (mentioned by Panelist 2 and Panelist 4), and Russia (mentioned by panelist 1). Lack of high-quality procedures (mentioned by Panelist 2 and Panelist 3), insurance and rising costs (mentioned by all panelists) were also identified as key threats. Insurance appears as one of the vital legal barriers to medical tourism development in the UAE and is addressed by all panelists. These results are in line with results published in previous studies [ 16 , 31 , 45 ]. Panelists analyzed this issue from the residents’ point of view, too. They concluded that many expats based in the UAE have insufficient medical coverage. Instead, they travel to their home country for procedures, which corresponds with previous research done by John and Larke [ 16 ] and Mathijsen [ 23 ]. This is especially true for dentistry (mentioned by all panelists), fertility treatment (mentioned by Panelist 1 and Panelist 3), and illnesses susceptible to time extension to be treated (mentioned by all panelists). Panelists agreed that another important issue is the lack of specialized clinics, research centers, and internationally renowned doctors. These factors have already been identified by Al- Talabani et al. [ 32 ].

During the discussion, the lack of marketing and destination branding for the UAE as a medical tourism destination was discussed. No marketing campaigns for the UAE, past or present, have depicted the country as a medical tourism destination (mentioned by all panelists). Panelist 3 mentioned that tourism experts suggest that TV and social media adverts present “the UAE as a place for business, shopping, adventure and culture, but not for health purposes”. As discussed before [ 71 , 72 ], social media is not utilized enough for the purposes of medical tourism but represents an important communication channel between medical tourism supply and demand. Moreover, Panelist 4 mentioned that “during winter, the UAE’s warm weather could be marketed as a remedy for ‘winter blues’ and the ‘restorative’ mineral water in the hot springs of Ala Ain could also attract many medical tourists”, as stated by Panelist 2. Panelist 1 said that in 2018, the Dubai Health Experience (DHX) medical tourism hub was created. “The DXH portal enables people seeking treatments in Dubai to find a list of qualified hospitals and clinics in the relevant medical areas. However, most people are completely unaware that this service exists”, panelist 1 added.

Panelist 3 said: “What I see as the key problem are the lack of collaboration between hospitals and tourism stakeholders, high prices of accommodation and a lack of specialized medical tourist agencies, which equate to scarce and unreliable services.” Other panelists also confirmed that the lack of a strong network and collaboration between medical and tourism service providers might be even the most critical barrier to medical tourism development in the UAE. These results are in line with interview results, as well as with previous research [ 16 , 31 , 45 , 52 ].

On the other side, panelists stated that the medical institutions’ accreditation system in the UAE is favorable and there is no room for any drastic improvements, which confirms the Government’s ambitious intentions to ensure international accreditation for all hospitals by the end 2021 [ 40 ]. Last, but not least, management issues were identified, such as lack of human resources (mentioned by Panelist 1–3) that were mentioned also in research conducted by Cavmak and Cavmak [ 11 ], lack of leadership (mentioned by Panelist 3,4), lack of strategic planning [ 45 , 49 ], and a lack of collaboration between medical service providers and tourism stakeholders (mentioned by all panelists). These results correspond with previous research [ 45 , 56 , 57 , 63 , 73 , 74 , 95 ] and with interview results, too.

5. Conclusions

Based on our research, we can conclude that medical tourism is in the process of development only in two out of seven emirates. Dubai and Abu Dhabi have already been recognized as medical tourism destinations. Their local governments are also concentrated on medical tourism development. However, the rest of the country has not been explored yet in the context of medical tourism. According to the interview conducted among experts in medical tourism and mini focus group, panel discussion, we identified the key barriers to medical tourism development in the UAE, such as lack of high medical service quality, high costs (prices) of medical tourism services, lack of international medical insurance accepted in the country, lack of medical tourism facilitators, lack of advertising, lack of trust in the medical system by locals, lack of human resources, lack of transportation infrastructure, lack of strategic management, lack of collaboration between medical tourism stakeholders, and inconvenient weather conditions during summer. In line with the results, we recommend several steps that might help decision makers to improve medical tourism development in the UAE.

First of all, we recommend other researchers to confirm or deny our results by much more complex investigation, both qualitative and quantitative analysis, in order to propose directions on how the overall medical tourism development strategy should be designed. At this point, we assume that a top-down approach to medical tourism strategy development would be the most effective and efficient. Furthermore, in the process of crafting a medical tourism development strategy, representatives of medical and tourism sectors, as well as academia and residents, should be involved. We strongly believe that local medical tourism development strategies should be improved and/or developed by introducing high-quality medical tourism standards that will be equal for all destinations. Those standards might consider religious aspects also, which could attract more medical tourists who are Muslims. A particular focus should be on developing a robust system to ensure that international medical insurance will be accepted in the UAE. Pre-initial agreements between public (government) and private sectors (hospitals, clinics, and medical insurance companies) might work in this case. Once medical tourism strategies are defined, the set of medical tourism service quality indicators could be developed. This set of standards should cover all parties that have participated in medical tourism. On the other side, the whole process of customer/patient/medical tourist journey (from the beginning—booking, to the end—follow up, upon arrival of medical tourists in their home country) could be standardized, monitored, and controlled. The role of medical tourism facilitators could be clearly defined, as well as conditions under which the establishment of medical tourism facilitators’ companies (public/private) would be possible. Close collaboration between hospitals, clinics, hotels, tourism organizations, travel agencies, travel carriers, transportation companies, and medical and travel insurance companies is a must.

Secondly, to ensure the high quality of medical tourism in the UAE, it is vital to introduce long-term training programs for medical tourism participants, especially for hospitals’ and clinics’ managers, doctors, medical staff, and tourism stakeholders. This training could be proposed and delivered by the government; its departments dedicated to medical tourism development.

Thirdly, medical tourism products could be defined, as well as their prices. The government could propose instructions on how to design medical tourism products. We recommend three groups of medical tourism products: basic, silver, and gold. The basic package might include consultations with a doctor, checkups, medical treatment that is the main motive of travelling, flight tickets, accommodation, and transfers from airport to hospital/hotel and vice versa. The silver and gold medical tourism packages could be improved versions of the basic package with more additional services. In line with medical tourism product development, it is important to establish a special arrangement with air carriers in the UAE to ensure more affordable prices. For instance, defining special air tariffs for medical tourists and special services for medical tourists, such as qualified escorts, could work. Medical tourism services’ high costs/prices could be reduced by providing already prepared all-inclusive medical tourism packages.

Moreover, custom-made medical tourism packages also could be designed and offered to medical tourists. Again, here the role of medical tourism facilitators would arise. By creating medical tourism products/packages, the barrier—inconvenient weather conditions—could be eliminated, for example, by providing unique promotions for cosmetic treatments during summer without compromising the quality.

Fourthly, medical tourism in the UAE could be advertised more locally and overseas. Building trust, credibility, and the UAE’s reputation as a high-quality and safe medical tourism destination is needed. More specifically, the UAE has a reputation as a country that is safe and respectful towards everyone, but especially towards women and children. Medical tourists have the opportunity to combine medical treatments with other types of tourism, which could be an excellent selling point. This should be explored more and might become a key feature in advertisement campaigns. These campaigns should be initiated by government and private sector, as the public–private partnership (PPP) shows promising results in industries such as mega-events (e.g., Expo 2020).

Lastly, we have identified several limitations of the research: the topic was not investigated from the medical tourists’ point of view and the identified barriers were not explored in depth. We recommend researchers who would like to dig deep into the topic to pay attention to one particular barrier, do a thorough analysis and propose detailed solutions. Additionally, to apply any of the above strategic steps that we mentioned above, further study is needed, as we have already stated. To be precise, our research should be considered to be the very rough draft of guidelines on overcoming current barriers to medical tourism development in the UAE.

Acknowledgments

Special thanks to Ahmed Okasha (Canadian University Dubai) for their initiative in organizing the medical tourism forum that allowed the authors of this paper to collect primary data.

Author Contributions

Conceptualization, I.B.; methodology, I.B.; software, I.B.; validation, I.B.; formal analysis, I.B.; investigation, I.B. and K.I.; resources, I.B.; data curation, I.B.; writing—original draft preparation, I.B. and K.I.; writing—review and editing, I.B.; visualization, I.B.; supervision, I.B.; project administration, I.B.; funding acquisition, N/A. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.

This research received no external funding.

Data Availability Statement

Conflicts of interest.

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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