Abu Dhabi's Saadiyat Island pinpointed as key emerging medical and wellness destination by DNA Health Corp

Held in the lead-up to the opening of the company's 'DNA Center for Integrative Medicine & Wellness' on Saadiyat Island in the first quarter of 2013, the three-day workshop provided the opportunity for DNA Health Corp's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Nasim Ashraf, to share his vision and strategy for the company's inaugural global centre.

"Our aim is to establish a centre of excellence for health and wellness in the region, with the highest standards of US healthcare protocols for the treatment of chronic diseases, lifestyle management, bio-aesthetics and healthy aging," said Dr Ashraf.

"Abu Dhabi is the pivot of our vision, with the stunning environment of Saadiyat Island the natural choice for a centre of this calibre. It is our ambition to pro-actively contribute to the local healthcare infrastructure and provide a state-of-the-art holistic diagnosis, treatment and care centregiving residents, as well as regional and international visitors, access to global standard family healthcare in a luxurious and serene setting."

A lack of locally-based medical skills and long waiting periods were cited by a recent UAE healthcare survey as the top reasons why approximately 8% of UAE residents currently seek medical treatment abroad annually.

"We hope to address this trend with the establishment of our integrative medicine & wellness centre on Saadiyat Island," commented Jere Stocks, Chief Strategy Officer, DNA Health Corp, "In fact we aim to reverse it by providing residents with access to world's best-practice treatment and care right here in the UAE"

"Additionally, we will also be attracting high-net worth individual clients from across the globe to seek treatment at our centre, with a view to establishing Abu Dhabi as a desirable and respected global medical and wellness destination."

The global market for anti-aging products and services will be worth US$274.5 billion by the year 2013, according to an industry report by BCC Research . The largest portion of this market involving the treatment of disease is expected to reach US$119.2 billion next year, closely followed by growth in the aesthetics segment, expected to increase to US$105.4 billion.

"It is very clear that enormous opportunity exists to tap into the potential of this global industry and position Saadiyat Island as a key destination to seek healing, rejuvenation and to replenish the spirit," said DrAhsan Malik, Chief Operating Officer and Project Director for the Middle East, DNA Health Corp.

"We are working very closely with our hotel partners on the island to ensure unparalleled five-star treatment and accommodation packages are available to our guests when our doors open early next year."

Saadiyat Island's 'DNA Center for Integrative Medicine & Wellness' in The Collection retail complex at the five-star St Regis Saadiyat Island Resort Abu Dhabi will offer a new model of family health care based on a holistic approach uniting leading-edge Western medicine advanced diagnostics and cellular therapies complemented by Eastern alternative modalities. It is due to open Q1 2013.