One of the key strengths of the GCC medical tourism market is proximity and connectivity to populous regions in Africa and Asia. Patients from East Africa, South Asia, and the Middle East are among the primary source markets. Motivators include relatively lower costs, familiarity with language/Islamic culture, quality of care, and shorter travel times.

To appeal to these patient groups, GCC hospitals and facilitators are customizing medical travel services—language assistance, culturally sensitive food, logistical support, flexible payment options, and packages with family accommodations. Travel corridors, charter flights, and medical visa facilitation further support incoming traffic.

Marketing efforts are focusing on diaspora populations—people living abroad but returning for care + vacation; also on neighboring countries with less advanced healthcare infrastructure. Outreach campaigns, digital platforms, and medical tourism fairs are being leveraged.

To see the statistics of patient origin, how source markets are forecasted to change to 2035, and which GCC countries derive most of their medical tourists from which regions, the GCC Medical Tourism Market Report provides full insights.