The UAE’s wellness economy is the largest in the Middle East/ North Africa (MENA) region and one of the fastest-growing in the world, according to the first report on the segment by the Global Wellness Institute (GWI).

Valued at US$34.1 billion (€30.1 billion, £25.9 billion), the UAE’s wellness economy grew 58 per cent between 2019 and 2023, outpacing most global markets.

The UAE has the second-fastest growth rate worldwide among countries with wellness economies with a value of more than US$5 billion (€4.4 billion, £3.8 billion).

The UAE ranks number one of 20 in the MENA region in wellness markets, including:

• Spas (US$2.4 billion, €2.1 billion, £1.8 billion)

• Wellness real estate (US$1 billion, €885 million, £760 million)• Personal care and beauty (US$14.4 billion, €12.8 billion, £10.9 billion)

• Wellness tourism (US$7.2 billion, €6.4 billion, £5.5 billion)

The UAE also has a global ranking of 26 out of 218 countries worldwide.

The GWI also identifies some of the key developments in the region that are affecting its wellness markets. These include the launch of the UAE’s National Strategy for Wellbeing 2031, which was announced in 2019 and designed to enhance quality of life and promote wellbeing across the nation.

The UAE has also heavily invested in AI-driven healthcare to improve efficiency and it also set out a plan to reduce its ecological footprint through renewable energy, water conservation and carbon reduction.

Susie Ellis, GWI and GWS chair and CEO, said: “The UAE’s wellness economy is not only the largest in the Middle East and North Africa, it is also one of the fastest-growing markets in the world, which speaks to the country’s bold vision and strategic investments in wellbeing.

“With momentum building toward the 2025 Global Wellness Summit in Dubai, it’s the perfect moment to highlight these impressive numbers and what they mean for the future of wellness in the region,” added Ellis.

The full report is available on the GWI’s Geography of Wellness platform.

The Global Wellness Summit, which is being held at the Mandarin Oriental Downtown Dubai between 18-20 November, will address this research. The event will also feature a range of keynote speeches and opportunities for leaders to shape the global wellness economy, worth an estimated US$6.3 trillion (€5.6 trillion, £4.8 trillion).