QHS believes that the GCC healthcare sector presents attractive opportunities supported by favourable long-term fundamentals and an attractive growth profile.
GCC
The GCC has low hospital bed capacity compared to mature markets, with 1.3 – 2.6 beds per 1,000 capita, compared with 4.8 in OECD countries
Life expectancies are shorter in GCC counties than many developed nations (e.g. 76 years in the UAE and KSA vs. 79 US, 80 UK, 82 France in 2011)
There are 340-550 deaths from non-communicable diseases per 100,000 female population across the GCC, compared with 326 in the US, 309 in the UK and 225 in France
Many GCC residents currently seek healthcare treatment abroad (e.g. Overseas UAE healthcare treatment is valued at USD 2 billion annually, almost 20 per cent of total UAE healthcare spending in 2011)
UAE and KSA
The UAE and KSA are likely to remain the largest markets in the region, accounting for approximately 80 per cent of GCC healthcare spend
The UAE healthcare sector is projected to grow from USD 11.5 billion in 2011 to USD 21.2 billion by 2017, representing a CAGR of 10.7 per cent