Emirates is expanding its focus beyond conventional leisure and business travel with a new partnership aimed at tapping the growing international medical tourism market.
The Dubai-based airline has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Medical Tourism Association (MTA), establishing a framework for collaboration on medical, wellness and longevity travel. The agreement was signed on the sidelines of Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2026.
The partnership comes as international travel for healthcare, wellness and specialised treatment continues to develop as a distinct segment, attracting travellers who often require more complex arrangements than conventional holidaymakers. For Emirates, the opportunity also aligns with Dubai’s emergence as a major destination for healthcare and medical tourism and the airline’s network serving close to 140 destinations.
Adnan Kazim, Emirates’ Deputy President and Chief Commercial Officer, said the partnership would give the airline greater insight into the needs of healthcare travellers and help shape services around their journeys.
“Healthcare is among the most important reasons people travel internationally and is growing significantly,” Kazim said. “Our newly established partnership with MTA positions Emirates where premium demand is heading, and our network and superior products both onboard and on the ground provide a natural platform to serve these travellers.”
The collaboration will focus initially on identifying major medical travel markets and corridors, with particular attention to Africa, Asia and the Middle East. Emirates and MTA will also explore tailored travel solutions and customer experiences designed around the needs of patients, referring physicians, insurers and employers.
For travellers seeking treatment abroad, the process often involves coordinating flights, accommodation, healthcare providers, insurance and payments across different countries. The partnership is intended to bring some of these elements together through MTA’s international network and healthcare platforms.
MTA says its network connects more than 500,000 healthcare providers, employers, insurers and industry leaders, alongside millions of prospective medical and wellness travellers. The organisation also maintains relationships with governments in more than 100 countries.
As part of the agreement, Emirates and MTA will explore ways to connect travellers with accredited healthcare providers, coordinate treatment and travel arrangements, and facilitate secure cross-border payments. The organisations will also work with providers accredited by Global Healthcare Accreditation (GHA) on industry engagement, thought leadership and market intelligence.
Jonathan Edelheit, CEO and Founder of the Medical Tourism Association, said the partnership could provide a more structured link between international patients and accredited healthcare providers.
The agreement also forms part of Emirates’ ambition to become the world’s first GHA-accredited airline. Beyond developing medical tourism as a new customer segment, the two organisations intend to promote international standards and practices across the sector.
For Emirates, the partnership represents a broader effort to understand and serve specialised travel demand, while for Dubai it reinforces the city’s positioning at the intersection of international aviation, healthcare and wellness. With Africa, Asia and the Middle East identified as key markets, the initiative could also strengthen the links between the airline’s extensive network and the growing movement of patients seeking healthcare beyond their home countries.
