The partnership aims to streamline cross-border healthcare access and position the UAE as a leading destination for international patients
M42, the global healthcare group integrating artificial intelligence, genomics, and technology, has announced a new partnership with the Medical Tourism Association (MTA) and Mastercard to strengthen the United Arab Emirates’ (UAE) position as a hub for international patients.
The collaboration will see M42’s leading facilities featured on Better by MTA, the association’s flagship platform developed with Mastercard to simplify cross-border healthcare. The platform is designed to address key challenges for medical travellers, including secure payments, travel logistics, and care coordination, enabling patients to plan their treatment in the UAE more easily.
The UAE is increasingly recognised as a medical tourism destination, ranked ninth in the global Medical Tourism Index, with Abu Dhabi emerging as a hub for advanced medical care. M42’s facilities, such as Healthpoint and the Imperial College London Diabetes & Endocrine Centre, will now be accessible to international patients via the platform, supported by Mastercard’s secure payment infrastructure.
Dr Ali Anees, Chief Operating Officer of M42’s Global Patient Care Platform in the UAE and Bahrain, said the collaboration “removes the obstacles that stand in the way of seamless global healthcare”, giving patients access to high-quality treatment, secure payment solutions, and top-tier clinical teams “all in one place”.
The Better by MTA platform currently connects around 1.3 million global healthcare seekers annually, with projections to serve up to three million by the end of 2025. According to Gina Petersen-Skryme, Country Manager for UAE and Oman at Mastercard, simplifying payment processes is essential to building trust and confidence among international patients.
With two-thirds of the world’s population within an eight-hour flight, the UAE’s strategic location and M42’s network of 480 healthcare facilities across 26 countries are set to further expand the country’s international healthcare reach.
Earlier this year, HAYAH and APRIL International launched a UAE international private medical insurance (IPMI) partnership.
Source:International Travel&Health Insurance Journal
