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The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region is poised for a significant boost in healthcare spending, with forecasts suggesting that expenditure will reach a staggering $124 billion by 2028. This growth is driven by governments in the Middle East pushing for increased localization to attain self-sustainability in the healthcare sector.

According to JLL, a leading investment management firm in the region, this heightened investor confidence is driving sustained demand across the healthcare value chain in the region. The company’s healthcare advisory team has worked on more than 100 healthcare projects in the region and recently advised a consortium led by UAE-based Fajr Capital to acquire a 65% stake in the ownership of the GCC business of Aster DM Healthcare.

This strategic move is expected to unlock value within the GCC’s dynamic healthcare landscape and enable greater access to quality services across physical and digital channels. The company’s long-term strategy will bolster expansion plans in key GCC markets such as the UAE and Saudi Arabia.

Sandeep Sinha, Head of Healthcare Consulting – MEA at JLL, notes that “the GCC’s healthcare expenditure is projected to reach $124 billion in 2028. Under their economic diversification agenda, countries in the GCC are driving the transformation of this critical sector with infrastructure development, clinical capabilities, human capital development, digital transformation, and establishment of healthcare innovation hubs.”

This growth in healthcare expenditure has attracted more private equity companies and witnessed an increase in active deal-making, further positioning the region as a key healthcare player on the global stage. Supported by solid economic fundamentals and in line with national priorities, more regional players across the healthcare landscape in the GCC are acquiring local companies or international brands to build their portfolios and transform their business models.

JLL will continue to lend its expertise in commercial, technical, and operational due diligence, business planning, feasibility studies, and market entry strategies, helping streamline transaction processes and boosting the competitiveness of the region’s prominent healthcare brands.