News

Healthtrip Expands Into Middle East To Boost Health Tourism

The company has also launched THRIVE, a unique personal transformation program designed to rejuvenate the mind and body.

Published

2 years ago

September 12, 2024

Nour Nasir

healthtrip expands into middle east to boost health tourism

Healthtrip, a UK-based platform specializing in medical and wellness travel, has officially extended its operations into the Middle East, opening offices in both the UAE and Saudi Arabia. This expansion is aimed at meeting the growing demand for advanced healthcare services in the region.

Middle Eastern countries are increasingly focused on becoming global hubs for health tourism, and the region already attracts millions of international visitors each year. The health tourism industry, currently valued at over $1 trillion annually, caters to individuals seeking high-quality medical treatments abroad.

With a rapidly aging Western population and significant wealth among older generations, the sector is growing at an impressive 18% per year. The rise is further driven by increased awareness of available treatments and improved lifespans.

danish ahmed ceo of healthtrip

Danish Ahmed, CEO and co-founder of Healthtrip, stated: “Our recent expansion into the Middle East aligns with the region’s mission to advance health, wellness, longevity, and anti-aging experiences for global travelers. Treatments such as longevity and aesthetics are rapidly growing in demand in the region’s destinations, complementing its well-established medical offerings”.

To date, Healthtrip has served more than 65,000 clients from 38 countries via its cutting-edge AI-powered platform. The technology connects patients with healthcare providers based on factors such as treatment type, ratings, cost, and location. Additionally, the platform offers a range of destination services, such as hotel bookings, airport transfers, concierge services, and interpreter support.

Also Read: Google’s New AI Technology May Revolutionize Cancer Treatment

Healthtrip’s unique offering has quickly made it a dominant player in the global health tourism sector, along with support from several UAE-based venture capital firms. In the Middle East, the company has established partnerships with respected healthcare providers, including Saudi German Hospitals, Burjeel Group, American Hospital, Kings College Hospital, Zoya Wellness, and Kaya Skincare.

Along with its recent expansion, Healthtrip has also created THRIVE, a unique transformation program designed to rejuvenate the mind and body. THRIVE offers a residential experience focusing on physical therapy, mental wellness, and holistic health practices, appealing to individuals looking for a comprehensive lifestyle reset.

News

Lebanon Ministers Meet Visa Over National Digital Payment Platform

Finance and technology ministers say a comparative study and roadmap will follow before any decision on adopting a model.

Published

23 hours ago

May 5, 2026

Joanna Melki

lebanon ministers meet visa over national digital payment platform

Lebanon’s finance and technology ministers met representatives from Visa last week to discuss a proposed unified national digital payment platform for government services, according to a readout from the Ministry of Finance.

The meeting brought together Finance Minister Yassin Jaber, Minister of State for Technology and Artificial Intelligence Kamal Shehadeh, a Visa delegation, and experts from both ministries. Discussion focused on whether Lebanon could establish a single platform through which citizens and institutions would pay taxes, fees, fines and other official transactions electronically, using mobile phones and other digital channels.

The Visa delegation presented examples from countries that have adopted unified government payment platforms, including the United Arab Emirates, Singapore, Estonia and Jordan. According to the readout, the examples were presented as having increased collection rates and expanded financial inclusion.

Talks covered settlement mechanisms, direct transfer to the treasury account, financial reconciliation, risk management, cybersecurity, fees, and an operational model that would involve the private sector. The parties agreed to continue technical and institutional consultations, prepare a comparative study, and develop an implementation roadmap before any decision on adopting a model for Lebanon.

Jaber said the Ministry of Finance had already enabled citizens to pay using credit cards and e-wallets through transfer companies, but described the proposed platform as a further step. He framed the development of electronic payment and collection systems as a priority within the ministry’s modernization plan.

Also Read: Deezer Says AI Tracks Now Make Up 44% Of Uploads

Shehadeh outlined the citizen-facing concept as a single mobile application through which users could settle obligations to ministries, government institutions and other bodies.

“The idea, in short, is that any citizen downloads an application on their mobile phone, through which they can pay all service obligations for all ministries, government institutions, or those owned by the Lebanese state, and others as well, as the platform is not limited only to state institutions,” he said.

Shehadeh added that the platform would not displace banks and money transfer companies that currently provide collection services to the state, calling it complementary to their work.