The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted medical travel across the globe. In the GCC, hospitals had to pause international patient admissions, tighten infection control, and reassess travel and quarantine policies. The recovery has brought with it new norms: enhanced screening, telehealth triage, clear cancellation/refund policies, and strict accreditation for safety.

Risk management is now central—both for patients and providers. Hospitals advertise their safety protocols, bolster emergency readiness, and improve post‐operative monitoring to reduce risks for foreign patients. For many medical tourists, minimizing health risk is now as important as cost and quality.

Interest in elective procedures dropped during the pandemic; now, pent-up demand is returning. Patients who delayed cosmetic or dental treatments are rescheduling. Meanwhile, chronic or critical care treatments are resuming with priority. The surge in digital check-in, contactless services, and virtual follow-ups are now standard in many GCC facilities.

For details about how post-COVID protocols have been factored into market forecasts, what shifts in patient preference have been observed, and the tabulated risk factors, see the GCC Medical Tourism Market Report.