A new report has revealed that the value of contract awards for GCC?s healthcare projects will increase by US$1.45bn in 2015
According to Ventures Middle East Onsite report GCC Healthcare Construction Market Outlook, around US$5.9bn in contracts were awarded in 2014, but that figure is set to rise to US$7.3bn in 2015, as population growth, higher per capita income, and life expectancy drive demand for healthcare services.
Josine Heijmans, event director at dmg events and The Big 5, said, ?Population across the GCC are increasing in number, disposable income and lifestyle.
?What this latest report demonstrates is that higher birth rates and life expectancies are creating demand for hospitals, health centres, and maternal, child and elderly care services.?
The healthcare industry in Saudi Arabia is projected to remain the largest in the region and register a CAGR of 9.2 per cent from 2015 to 2020. The CAGR of seven per cent will see the UAE join Qatar in registering the fastest growth as both countries seek to capitalise on an emerging medical tourism industry in the region.
According to the report commissioned by The Big 5, the UAE is building more than 20 hospitals to care for the half a million medical tourists that are expected by 2020, with medical revenues to hit US$300mn by 2016. At the same time, the report states that Bahrain, Oman, and Kuwait are also expected to register a significant rise in project completions in 2015.
?Close to 70 mega-hospital projects are under construction, each of which are valued at over US$100mn, and there are a further 280 smaller hospital projects mentioned in the report as being under construction,? added Heijmans.
The report comes ahead of the Middle East region?s biggest construction event, The Big 5, which will be held at Dubai World Trade Centre on 23-26 November 2015. Around 85,000 participants are expected to attend the event, which will feature 30 live demonstrations and 75 free CPD-certified seminars led by experts from across the industry.
More than 3,000 exhibitors are expected to showcase some of the most innovative technologies from around the world and their applicability in GCC markets.
