Emirates has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Medical Tourism Association (MTA), marking a strategic push by the airline to expand its presence in the fast-growing medical tourism sector.
The agreement, signed on the sidelines of ATM 2026, will see
Emirates and MTA develop a structured approach to medical, wellness and
longevity travel as a new strategic customer segment for the airline.
The partnership builds on the growing demand for
international healthcare travel, particularly among affluent travellers.
Dubai’s position as a major healthcare, wellness and medical tourism hub,
combined with Emirates’ network of close to 140 destinations, provides a
platform for the two organisations to develop the segment.
Adnan Kazim, Emirates’ Deputy President and Chief Commercial
Officer said: "Healthcare is among the most important reasons people
travel internationally and is growing significantly. Our newly established
partnership with MTA positions Emirates where premium demand is heading, and
our network and superior products both onboard and on the ground provide a
natural platform to serve these travellers. The insights we gain from working
with MTA will also help us develop product propositions that are genuinely tailored
to how these travellers plan, book and experience their journeys."
Under the agreement, Emirates will partner with MTA as the
preferred airline for international medical and wellness travellers.
The organisations plan to identify key markets and medical
travel corridors, particularly across Africa, Asia and the Middle East, while
developing tailored travel solutions and customer experiences for patients,
referring physicians, insurers and employers.
Jonathan Edelheit, CEO and Founder of Medical Tourism
Association said: “Hospitals and clinics have spent years trying to reach
international patients one relationship at a time. What changes with this
partnership is that the demand now has a path, from a global airline to an
accredited provider, through Better by MTA. The providers who meet the standard
will be the ones that path leads to."
The collaboration will also focus on international best
practices and standards across the medical tourism industry.
Emirates and MTA will work with providers accredited by
Global Healthcare Accreditation (GHA) on thought leadership, industry
engagement and market intelligence to identify opportunities for growth.
The partnership supports Emirates’ ambition to become the
world’s first GHA-accredited airline.
MTA’s global network reaches more than 500,000 healthcare
providers, employers, insurers and industry leaders, as well as millions of
prospective medical and wellness travellers annually. The association also has
direct government relationships across more than 100 countries.
As part of the partnership, Emirates and MTA will explore
opportunities to use MTA’s platform to help travellers identify accredited
healthcare providers, coordinate treatment and travel arrangements, and make
secure cross-border payments, with the aim of creating a more seamless
end-to-end medical travel experience. -TradeArabia News Service