One baby is born in Dubai every 3.5 hours, according to Dubai Statistics Centre with the expat birth rate nearly triple that of UAE nationals.
Official figures revealed that the expatriate births stood at 22,755 babies compared to 7,728 Emiratis during 2016.
The statistics come amid the announcement of the opening of new headquarters in Dubai by IVI Fertility, the globally renowned centre for fertility treatment.
The expansion follows the company’s launch of operations in Abu Dhabi in May and more than 120 successful pregnancies in less than a year, news agency WAM reported.
“The opening of this office is very significant when viewed against the findings of a report by Dubai Statistic Centre that fertility was among the top treatments sought by medical tourists who visited Dubai in 2015, next only to treatment of osteoporosis, dermatology and plastic surgery,” said Dr Human Fatemi, medical director, IVI Fertility Middle East.
“We realised that a lot of our patients at Abu Dhabi clinic came from Dubai, Al Ain and other parts of the UAE. This factor, combined with the booming health travel sector in Dubai, prompted us to open a new clinic in Dubai,” added Dr Barbara Lawrenz, specialist in obstetrics and gynecology at IVI Fertility Middle East.
The Middle East has an estimated 2 to 3 million couples in the age group of 20 – 40 who are facing difficulties in starting a family.
“This challenge of infertility is globally recognised as a major health issue. In the last few years, we all have probably read or heard about advancements in fertility treatments,” said Dr Fatemi.
IVF involves combining the egg and the sperm outside the body in a laboratory. Once an embryo or embryos form, they are then transferred back to the uterus of the woman.
“The Dubai clinic is a major step in making sure that highly advanced, worlds best treatments are easily available to couples desiring to become parents,” added Dr Fatemi.
