Asan Medical Center to establish digestive disease hospital in Dubai

Asan Medical Center announced plans on Thursday to establish a 65-bed gastrointestinal specialized hospital in Dubai Healthcare City in Dubai, UAE, by 2026.

The renowned South Korean hospital, founded in 1989 by Chung Ju-yung, the founder of the Hyundai Group, will take charge of the overall operation and management of the medical system, while the UAE-based global investment firm Scope Investment will provide the necessary business framework.

The joint venture agreement signed in 2021 paved the way for subsequent milestones, including land acquisition, hospital design, and the establishment of a joint corporation.

Positioned as the first global hospital of Asan Medical Center and the pioneering integrated specialized facility for digestive ailments within the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), the tentatively named Asan GI Hospital-UAE will span multiple floors, covering an extensive area of 22,150 square meters and featuring essential facilities such as an intensive care unit.

A medical team of around 6-7 doctors and 4-5 nurses from the Seoul-based hospital will be deployed to offer comprehensive treatment for various digestive diseases, encompassing gastric, colon, liver, bile duct, and pancreatic conditions.

Asan Medical Center's activities in the project will involve sharing advanced medical systems and management expertise without requiring separate investment. In return, operational fees, including a portion of the revenue for the next 15 years, personnel expenses, and performance incentives, will be received.

The establishment of this specialized hospital is expected to notably enhance the quality of life for patients from the UAE and other Middle Eastern countries, eliminating the need for seeking treatment abroad for complex digestive disorders like gastrointestinal cancers, liver transplantation and advanced bariatric surgery.

Notably, AMC witnessed a significant influx of 3,197 UAE patients seeking treatment last year, highlighting its growing prominence as an international healthcare institution catering to diverse patient needs.

Write to Ji-Hyun Lee at bluesky@hankyung.com