Dubai, UAE: Thumbay Healthcare plans to open new rehabilitation centres in Dubai, Umm Al Quwain and Fujairah, and to expand capacity at Thumbay Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Hospital by 30 percent, the group has announced. The expansion brings advanced rehabilitation services closer to patients across the Emirates, according to Thumbay Group.
At Thumbay Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Hospital, treatment areas will increase from 27 to 39 and treatment beds from 36 to 48, the group says. The expansion responds to growing patient demand for rehabilitation services, which have seen rising need as more patients seek recovery support after surgery, injury and neurological conditions.
Robotic and digital rehabilitation technology
The hospital is deploying robotic and digital rehabilitation technologies as part of the expansion, the group says. The equipment includes the GPARM/MOTUS Gait Trainer, MLS Robotic Laser Therapy, Robotic Moxibustion, 3D Nasometry and AR/VR augmented paediatric gait training. The technologies support patients relearning movement, managing pain and rebuilding strength, with therapy programmes tailored to each patient’s condition.
Bringing such technology to new centres in three emirates matters for access, the group says. Patients who previously travelled long distances for specialised rehabilitation will be able to receive treatment closer to home, while the larger hospital capacity shortens waiting times for intensive programmes. The group frames the expansion as part of a wider effort to raise rehabilitation standards across the UAE.
Conference, awards and training
The announcement accompanied the 6th International Annual Awards and Conference on Innovation in Rehabilitation Practice and Medicine, which brought together healthcare professionals, educators and students from the UAE, the GCC and beyond. The event featured the Star of the Year Award 2026, presented to Professor U. T. Ifthikar Fareed, and the Innovation in Rehabilitation Awards 2026, recognising 26 leaders and institutions for their contributions to rehabilitation practice.
The planned expansion will also support the teaching and training of students at Gulf Medical University’s College of Health Sciences, the group says. Students will train alongside working rehabilitation teams, gaining practical experience with the same robotic and digital systems used in patient care. The link between the hospital and the university reflects Thumbay Group’s model of combining healthcare delivery with medical education.
Thumbay Group, founded in 1998 and headquartered in Dubai, is a diversified business group with operations across healthcare, medical education, research, diagnostics, pharmacy and wellness. Its network of academic hospitals serves as the teaching hospitals of Gulf Medical University, and its facilities treat patients from more than 175 countries, according to the group.
Demand for rehabilitation services has grown across the UAE as the population expands and awareness of recovery care increases, the group says. Conditions that benefit from structured rehabilitation include recovery after orthopaedic surgery, stroke rehabilitation, sports injuries and long term neurological care. By adding centres in three emirates and expanding its flagship hospital, the group says it aims to cut travel times for patients and their families, many of whom attend therapy several times a week over months.
The new centres will offer the same technology led approach as the main hospital, the group says, with programmes built around each patient’s goals, from regaining mobility to managing chronic pain. Paediatric services, including gait training supported by augmented reality, form part of the offering, reflecting demand from families seeking specialised care for children closer to home.
The expansion covers Dubai, Umm Al Quwain and Fujairah, alongside the 30 percent capacity increase at the flagship hospital, the group says. New centres will offer the same technology led programmes as the main hospital, including robotic and digital rehabilitation, paediatric gait training and pain management, with therapy tailored to each patient.
- Manager, Media and Events
- Thumbay Group
Disclaimer: All information in this article was shared by Thumbay Group. UAE Startup Story has not verified or confirmed its accuracy and accepts no responsibility for it.
