A. SREENIVASA REDDY (ABU DHABI)
The UAE’s wellness economy has reached $40.8 billion, making it the “fastest-growing market in the Middle East and North Africa”, according to a new report released by the Global Wellness Institute (GWI). The findings appear in report titled “The Global Wellness Economy: UAE (2019–2024)”, developed in partnership with Aldar.
The GWI said the UAE’s wellness economy expanded at average annual growth rate of 14.3% between 2019 and 2024, the highest regional growth rate, and now ranks second in MENA and 26th globally. The report highlights the country’s strong performance across several sectors, reinforced by national wellbeing initiatives and sustained investment in tourism, real estate, and public health.
“The UAE's National Strategy for Wellbeing 2031 aims to position the country as a global leader in quality of life, so it's not surprising that its wellness economy is the fastest growing in the Middle East and North Africa,” said Susie Ellis, GWI chair and CEO.
“Blending innovation with heritage, the UAE is redefining itself as a wellness destination for visitors and residents alike.” She added that GWI is “especially grateful to Aldar—who are creating some of the most innovative wellness real estate projects in the world—for partnering with us to bring these country-specific insights to light.”
The UAE ranks number one in the region in Wellness Real Estate, Personal Care & Beauty, and Spa revenues. Wellness real estate reached $1.44 billion in 2024 after growing at an annual average of 22.8% since 2019, well above the global average.
Personal Care & Beauty remains the country’s largest single sector at $14.83 billion, reflecting robust consumer demand and a rapidly expanding services and retail environment. Spa revenues rose to $2.87 billion, with the number of spa establishments increasing to 1,812 across hotel, medical, and day-spa categories.
The GWI report also shows significant momentum in physical activity, which reached $3.68 billion in 2024, driven by fitness facilities, sports participation, and rapidly growing mindful-movement activities.
Public Health, Prevention & Personalised Medicine surged to $3.21 billion, reflecting the UAE’s heavy investment in advanced diagnostics, preventative healthcare, and AI-enabled medical services.
Wellness tourism—one of the UAE’s fastest-expanding components—grew at a 23.5% CAGR, reaching $11.26 billion in 2024. Wellness-focused trip volumes rose sharply, with total domestic and inbound wellness trips increasing from 2.06 million in 2019 to 4.31 million in 2024, supported by the UAE Tourism Strategy 2031 and the country’s increasing role as a medical and wellness travel hub.
Jonathan Emery, Chief Executive Officer at Aldar Development, said the UAE is “leading a global transformation in how communities are designed to actively shape better, healthier lives.”
He added: “When wellness is intentionally embedded from the earliest planning stages, through walkable layouts, community-focused designs, and amenities that promote social connection, it creates environments where healthy choices become intuitive. Our collaboration with the Global Wellness Institute is an important part of this ambition as it enables us to inform our design process with data and insights that will help to make wellbeing an everyday standard.”
The UAE’s wellness identity draws from ancient traditions—herbal remedies, hammam rituals, and Bedouin practices—now integrated into modern treatments using botanicals such as frankincense and myrrh, the report said. These run alongside advanced offerings such as biometric skin analysis, AI-driven diagnostics, and personalised nutrition and fitness planning.
The detailed report reinforces these trends, highlighting that mental wellness has grown steadily to $1.02 billion, with strong demand for sleep-related services, self-improvement programmes, and meditation and mindfulness activities. Outdoor and nature-based experiences are also expanding, supported by the UAE’s diverse landscapes—from mountains to desert retreats.
The GWI notes that the UAE’s wellness economy now accounts for 7.6% of national GDP, among the highest global proportions. With sustained government support, strong private-sector participation, and expanding consumer interest, the sector is forecast to continue outpacing global and regional growth trends.
GWI defines the wellness economy as industries that enable consumers to incorporate wellness activities and lifestyles into their daily lives. According to its definition, the wellness economy encompasses 11 varied and diverse sectors.
GWI began measuring the size of the global wellness economy more than ten years ago, when it published the first edition of the Global Spa & Wellness Economy Monitor and estimated wellness as a $3.4trillion industry in 2013.
“This was the first time that wellness was defined and measured as a global industry, with underlying sector-level and country-level data,” the report said. The global wellness economy has doubled in size in just eleven years, reaching a new peak of $6.8 trillion in 2024.