Dubai Home Healthcare Facilities Jump 22.7% in First Half of 2026

– PUBLISHED: Fri 16 Oct 2026, 5:44 PM

Home Care Sees Sharp Rise

Home care services in Dubai recorded the fastest growth of any health sector segment in the first half of 2026, with licensed facilities increasing 22.7 percent to reach 249, up from 203 during the same period in 2025. This surge indicates a shift toward delivering treatment in patients’ residences rather than hospitals or clinics.

Overall Health Workforce and Facilities Expand

The Dubai Health Authority reported that the total number of licensed health facilities rose 7 percent to 5,931, compared with 5,541 in the first half of 2025. Licensed health professionals grew 6.5 percent to 70,566, up from 66,277. Of this workforce, 47,927 were women and 22,639 were men. Obstetrics and gynaecology, followed by paediatrics and dermatology, showed the highest growth among medical specialties. Pharmacies increased 6.8 percent to 1,794 outlets. Complementary and alternative medicine centres rose 8.1 percent from 99 to 107. Medical complexes and optical centres expanded 9.9 percent to 1,903, up from 1,731 a year earlier.

Regulatory Oversight Intensifies

Dr Alawi Alsheikh-Ali, Director General of the Dubai Health Authority, said the growth reflects the development of the emirate’s healthcare system and its ability to meet community needs by expanding high‑quality services, attracting talent, and providing a supportive regulatory and investment environment. He added that the DHA continues to strengthen oversight and enhance the regulatory framework to promote higher‑quality, more specialised healthcare growth and to reinforce Dubai’s appeal as a destination for health‑sector investment. The report also showed a significant rise in regulatory activity: the DHA carried out 5,378 inspection and monitoring visits in the first half of 2026, an increase of 36.3 percent over the same period in 2025, comprising 3,154 on‑site visits and 2,224 remote inspections and audits. Compliance with regulatory standards among health facilities improved to 80 percent, up from 75 percent in the first half of 2025. Together, the faster expansion of home care, a larger health workforce and more inspections point to a health sector that is growing in both scale and quality, with home‑based services emerging as a clear area of demand.