Altibbi Success Story: How It Built MENA’s Top Health App

Altibbi is the MENA region’s largest digital health platform, offering 24/7 access to certified doctors through voice calls, chat, and AI tools. It also hosts the biggest Arabic medical content library, trusted by millions. With over 400 million people in the Arab world lacking easy access to healthcare, Altibbi fills a critical gap by delivering fast, private, and reliable medical support. 

This case study breaks down how Altibbi started, scaled across MENA, and built a strong presence in the UAE.

TL;DR – Altibbi Case Study

• Altibbi is the MENA region’s largest Arabic digital health platform, offering 24/7 telehealth consultations and the biggest Arabic medical content library.
• Founded in 2008, the platform now serves 20M+ users annually with millions of consultations across 10+ Arab countries.
• Altibbi solves the region’s healthcare gap, where 400M+ people lack easy access to medical information and advice.
• Its UAE operations play a major role in enterprise telehealth, insurer partnerships, and digital health innovation.
• The company continues to invest in AI tools, remote clinics, and preventive health programs to scale across MENA.

Altibbi Highlights

What is Altibbi and what does the startup do?

Altibbi is a digital health and telemedicine platform built for Arabic speakers across the MENA region.

Founding story and current status

Altibbi began from an Arabic medical dictionary project by Dr. Abdul Aziz Al-Labadi in the early 2000s. The project grew into a full digital health platform and was formally founded in 2008. Today Altibbi is the largest Arabic health platform in MENA. It offers 24/7 doctor consultations by chat and voice, a vast Arabic medical content library, AI triage tools like Sina, and enterprise telehealth programs. The company runs major operations from the UAE and serves users across 10+ Arab countries.

What problem does it solve?

Access to reliable healthcare is still limited for a large part of the Arab world. Many people struggle to reach doctors quickly, wait times are long, and trusted Arabic medical information is not always available. Altibbi solves this gap by offering instant, private access to licensed doctors and by publishing clear medical content in Arabic. The platform helps users get fast answers, avoid unnecessary clinic visits, and receive safe, evidence based guidance across MENA.

Evolution of the product and service

Altibbi started as an online Arabic medical dictionary designed to make medical terms easy to understand. It then grew into a full medical content platform with articles, a drug encyclopedia, and a doctor directory. As user needs increased, Altibbi added a free Q&A service that handled millions of questions every year. In 2016, it launched real-time telehealth consultations to offer direct access to doctors. Today the platform includes AI tools, digital clinics, enterprise telehealth programs, and advanced health support for users across MENA.

What is the size of the digital health market in the UAE?

The UAE digital health market reached about USD 619 million in 2023. Analysts expect the market to grow at a compound annual growth rate of around 23 percent from 2024 to 2030. At this pace, the market is projected to reach approximately USD 2.6 to 2.7 billion by 2030.

Telehealth makes up a major share of this growth. The UAE telemedicine market alone generated about USD 450 million in 2023 and is forecast to cross USD 1.5 billion by 2030. High smartphone usage, strong internet access, and government investment in smart healthcare continue to drive adoption.

Insurers, large employers, and public health programs now actively use digital health platforms. Patients also prefer faster access to care without long clinic waits.

These trends make the UAE one of the most attractive digital health markets in the Middle East, especially for telemedicine, AI health tools, and enterprise healthcare platforms like Altibbi.

Who are the founders and core team members of Altibbi?

Dr. Abdul Aziz Al-Labadi — Founder and Founding President

Dr. Abdul Aziz started the Arabic medical dictionary that became Altibbi. He is a medical professional who saw the lack of reliable Arabic medical content. His early work set quality standards for content and clinical accuracy. He remains a visible founder figure and a key voice on medical editorial policy and trust. His role anchors Altibbi’s mission to provide reliable Arabic health information.

Jalil Al-Labadi — Founder and CEO

Jalil Al-Labadi has led Altibbi for more than a decade and played a key role in turning it into MENA’s leading digital health platform. His work focuses on scaling telehealth services, building strong teams, and expanding Altibbi’s reach across 12 Arab countries. 

Under his leadership, Altibbi’s medical content grew to more than two million pages and now supports hundreds of thousands of users daily. Jalil also brings global experience as an MBA graduate from Thunderbird and serves on the board of the Royal Health Awareness Society. He is also a Schwab Social Entrepreneurship fellow.

Ayman Shraihah — Co-founder and Product Lead

Ayman Sharaiha is the Co-founder and COO of Altibbi and leads the company’s corporate development. His work covers business development, customer acquisition, marketing, operations, and business intelligence. With an MBA from Wharton and an MPA from Harvard Kennedy School, he brings strong expertise in strategy, financial modelling, and scaling digital platforms. 

Before Altibbi, Ayman worked across startups and investment roles, gaining experience in monetization, data, and market expansion. At Altibbi, he plays a key role in driving growth across MENA and building partnerships that support the platform’s telehealth ecosystem.

Alaa Al-Omari — Chief Information Officer

Alaa Al-Omari serves as Chief Information Officer and leads engineering and data. Clinical leads manage medical content, doctor onboarding, and quality assurance. The partnerships team handles insurers, telecoms, and corporate clients in the UAE. Operations and trust teams run doctor vetting, privacy, and compliance across different countries.

How did Altibbi start?

Altibbi began with an Arabic medical dictionary created by Dr. Abdul Aziz Al-Labadi in the early 2000s. He noticed that reliable medical information was not easily available in Arabic, which created confusion for patients trying to understand basic symptoms or treatments. 

This dictionary became the foundation of Altibbi. In 2008, the founders expanded the project into a full digital health platform to make medical knowledge and doctor access easier for people across the Arab world.

Initial challenges faced by Altibbi

In the early years, Altibbi faced several challenges. Many users were unsure about trusting online medical platforms, and building a strong doctor network across multiple countries took time. The founders also needed to create large amounts of high-quality Arabic medical content in a short period. These challenges pushed Altibbi to broaden its services, from a content-only website to free Q&A features and later real-time telehealth consultations.

Altibbi Early growth or viral moment

Altibbi’s growth accelerated when it launched its free Q&A feature. Millions of users began submitting questions, and doctors responded with reliable, easy-to-understand answers. This service spread quickly across the region and positioned Altibbi as a trusted medical knowledge source. The high demand for quick, private advice led the company to introduce 24/7 telehealth consultations, which became one of its strongest growth drivers.

What is the meaning behind Altibbi’s name, tagline and logo?

Meaning behind the name

“Altibbi” translates to “The Medical” in Arabic. The name reflects the platform’s purpose of being a trusted medical resource for Arabic speakers and offering clear, accessible information and support.

Tagline evolution

Altibbi’s tagline is “Your doctor is with you wherever you are”, capturing its shift from content to direct care. It highlights the platform’s main promise: fast, private access to licensed doctors at any time. As the company expanded into AI tools and enterprise health services, the tagline continued to reinforce trust and accessibility.

Logo design and changes

Altibbi’s logo evolved as the platform grew. The early logo represented medical information and academic credibility. As Altibbi shifted toward telehealth, the design became cleaner and more modern, using simple shapes and medical symbols to reflect trust, care, and digital healthcare. The current version signals reliability, professionalism, and compliance with health standards across MENA.

How does Altibbi make money? (Business Model and Revenue Streams)

B2C Telehealth Consultations

Altibbi offers paid doctor consultations through voice calls and chat. Users pay per consultation or subscribe to monthly plans. This serves individuals who need quick and private medical advice.

Subscription Packages

Users can choose subscription plans that give unlimited or discounted consultations. These packages increase retention and help users manage chronic or recurring conditions through regular follow-ups.

B2B Enterprise Services

Altibbi partners with insurers, telecom companies, employers, and government programs. Enterprises pay to give their beneficiaries 24/7 access to Altibbi doctors, reducing clinic visits and improving health outcomes.

Insurance-Integrated Health Programs

Altibbi offers chronic disease management, antenatal support, and children’s health programs. These programs help insurers lower costs by reducing unnecessary in-person visits.

Content Monetization and Medical Directory

Altibbi hosts more than a million medical pages and a large doctor directory. Traffic generates revenue through partnerships, awareness campaigns, and collaborations with health organizations.

AI Health Tools and Digital Clinics

Altibbi offers AI triage tools, the “Sina” smart assistant, and virtual clinics for doctors. These solutions create new revenue streams while improving care efficiency.

What are the growth metrics and revenue figures of Altibbi?

• 192M+ annual users: Altibbi’s platforms attract hundreds of millions of user interactions each year, showing its strong regional reach and high demand for Arabic digital healthcare.
• 5.2M+ consultations delivered: The platform has provided millions of telehealth consultations through chat and voice, making it one of the most active digital care networks in MENA.
• 3M+ medical questions answered: Users rely on Altibbi’s doctors for fast, trusted answers to medical questions, creating one of the largest health Q&A databases in Arabic.
• 900K+ medical content pieces: Altibbi hosts a vast library of verified medical articles, drug information, and health guides, making it the leading Arabic medical resource online.
• 150K+ on-duty doctors: A large network of licensed healthcare providers supports users across multiple Arab countries, ensuring real-time access to medical advice.
• Recognized globally: Altibbi has received major awards, including recognition from the Schwab Foundation and the World Summit Award for digital health excellence.
• Fast UAE adoption: Telehealth usage grew sharply in the UAE as national health programs embraced digital care, strengthening Altibbi’s presence in the market.
• Largest Arabic medical platform: With its scale, content depth, and consultation volume, Altibbi is now the biggest Arabic-language medical platform in the region.

Funding and Investments of Altibbi

Altibbi has raised over 50 million USD in funding from leading regional and global investors. These investments helped Altibbi grow from an Arabic health content platform into one of the largest digital health and telemedicine companies in the Middle East and UAE. The funding supported technology development, doctor network expansion, regulatory compliance, and large scale market entry across GCC countries.

Seed Investment

Altibbi secured its seed funding from Middle East Venture Partners (MEVP) and DASH Ventures during its early growth stage.
This initial investment played a key role in transforming Altibbi from a static medical information website into an interactive healthcare platform. The capital supported the launch of doctor led Q and A services, early chat based consultations, and platform infrastructure needed for scale. It also enabled Altibbi to test demand for Arabic language digital healthcare across the region.

Series A Investment (2017)

In 2017, Altibbi raised 6.5 million USD in Series A funding. The funding round was backed by MEVP, DASH Ventures, Endeavor Catalyst, TAMM, and RIMCO which marked Altibbi’s shift from content driven growth to a telehealth first business model.

The Series A capital helped Altibbi expand across the GCC region, including the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Kuwait. It strengthened 24 7 teleconsultation services, increased the number of licensed doctors on the platform, and improved mobile app performance. The funding also supported compliance with healthcare regulations in markets like the UAE.

Series B Investment (2022)

In 2022, Altibbi raised 44 million USD in Series B funding, one of the largest digital health funding rounds in the MENA region. The round was led by Foundation Holdings, with participation from Hikma Ventures, Global Ventures, and DASH Ventures.

This investment focused on scaling Altibbi’s operations in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt. The funds were used to expand beyond telemedicine into online pharmacy services, diagnostic testing, and preventive healthcare programs. It also supported advanced AI driven triage, faster doctor matching, and enterprise healthcare solutions.

Strategic Investments and Corporate Backing

Altibbi has attracted strategic healthcare investors, including pharmaceutical focused funds such as Hikma Ventures. These investors bring deep industry expertise, regulatory understanding, and access to healthcare partnerships across the UAE and the wider MENA region.

This strategic backing helps Altibbi navigate complex healthcare regulations, build trust with insurers and providers, and scale safely in regulated markets like the UAE. The combination of capital and healthcare expertise strengthens Altibbi’s long term growth and positions it as a trusted digital health infrastructure provider.

What partnerships has Altibbi formed?

Uber – On-Demand Telehealth for Drivers

Altibbi partnered with Uber to provide 24/7 medical consultations to Uber partner-drivers via phone. This gave drivers quick access to certified doctors without visiting a clinic, helping them get medical advice more easily. The service was rolled out in Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and Egypt as part of Uber’s driver well-being initiatives.

Pharmaceutical & Insurance Industry Partnerships

Altibbi works with pharmaceutical companies and insurance providers across the MENA region to bring digital health into B2B offerings. These collaborations help insurers and pharma clients provide telehealth access and health guidance to their customers or employees. 

• Partnerships with pharma firms like Hikma Ventures (strategic investor and ecosystem collaborator).

Publicis Groupe Middle East – Healthcare Marketing & Data Insights

Altibbi teamed up with Publicis Groupe Middle East to help healthcare brands use data-driven insights and local cultural understanding to reach Arabic-speaking audiences more effectively. This partnership blends Altibbi’s health platform data with Publicis’ marketing expertise for better health communications.

ZenHR – HR Software Integration

Altibbi partnered with ZenHR, a leading HR and payroll platform, to integrate telehealth services directly into HR systems. This allows employees to access doctor consultations and health services through the ZenHR app, improving corporate wellness offerings.

Healthcare & Government Collaborations (Region)

Though not always specific corporate brand deals, Altibbi has worked with governments and health organizations in Egypt and other countries to support broad public health programs. Examples include:

• Collaborations with Egypt’s Ministry of Health and Population for large-scale consultation services.

Investor-Linked Strategic Partnerships

Some of Altibbi’s investors are also partners in scaling services, especially in regulated healthcare markets:

• Hikma Ventures co-leads strategy around healthcare solutions and market expansion.
• Global Ventures supports regional growth across MENA.

Medical Network & Lab Collaborations

Altibbi works with a network of medical labs and certified doctors to deliver telehealth, test result delivery, and diagnostic support. This ecosystem approach makes healthcare easier and faster for patients across multiple markets.

What are the Products and Service offerings of Altibbi?

Telehealth Consultations

Altibbi provides 24/7 medical consultations through chat and voice calls. Users can ask about symptoms, medications, or ongoing treatment and receive private, secure advice in minutes.

Altibbi Medical Content

The platform hosts more than 1.5 million medical pages written by accredited doctors. This includes news, articles, guides, disease information, and treatment explanations. It is the largest Arabic medical content library online.

Sina – AI Smart Assistant

Sina helps users ask questions, understand symptoms, and find the right medical information or service. It supports early triage and guides users through the platform.

Digital Clinics for Doctors

Altibbi’s clinic feature allows doctors to manage consultations, patient history, and follow-up care through a digital interface designed for remote healthcare.

Encyclopedias and Directories

Users can access medical dictionaries, drug encyclopedias, medical guides, and more than 10,000 doctor listings across MENA. These tools help users find accurate information quickly.

Enterprise Telehealth Solutions

Altibbi supports insurers, governments, NGOs, telecom companies, banks, and corporate clients. These services help reduce costs, improve care quality, and support preventive health programs.

What challenges has Altibbi faced?

Altibbi built a digital health platform in one of the most regulated and complex regions in the world. As the company scaled across the UAE and MENA, it faced several challenges that shaped its product, strategy, and pace of growth.

Navigating healthcare regulations

Altibbi operates in a sector where governments control licensing, medical practice, and patient data.

Each market, including the UAE, required Altibbi to register entities, use locally licensed doctors, and follow strict telemedicine rules. Before clear telehealth laws existed, the company had to slow expansion and work closely with regulators to stay compliant.

Earning patient trust in online care

Many users initially doubted whether online doctors could replace clinic visits. Altibbi had to prove that teleconsultations were safe, private, and medically reliable. The company focused on verified doctors, clear medical protocols, and consistent care quality to build long term trust with patients.

Scaling a reliable doctor network

Altibbi needed doctors who spoke Arabic, understood local health needs, and could work 24/7. Recruiting, verifying, and managing doctors across multiple countries required constant effort. The company invested in onboarding systems, medical reviews, and performance tracking to maintain service standards.

Adapting to fragmented regional markets

The UAE, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and other markets differ in insurance coverage, pricing sensitivity, and user behavior. Altibbi adjusted its services, payment models, and user experience for each country. This localization increased operational complexity but remained necessary for adoption.

Turning free users into paying customers

Altibbi started as a free health information platform. When it introduced paid consultations and subscriptions, it had to change user expectations without losing traffic. The company balanced free access with premium services to build sustainable revenue.

Competing in a fast growing health tech space

As telemedicine gained acceptance, hospitals, insurers, and new startups launched their own digital platforms. Altibbi competed with local health apps, government backed tools, and international players. It relied on Arabic content depth, scale, and availability to stand out.

Protecting sensitive medical data

Altibbi manages millions of health interactions that include personal and medical information. The company invested heavily in secure systems, encrypted communication, and privacy controls to meet UAE and regional data laws. Maintaining data security remained a continuous responsibility.

Who are the main competitors of Altibbi and how do they compare?

Okadoc

Okadoc is a UAE-based telehealth and appointment booking platform with strong integrations across local hospitals and clinics. While it performs well in scheduling and provider connectivity, it offers less regional coverage and significantly less Arabic medical content compared to Altibbi.

WebTeb

WebTeb is a well-known Arabic health content platform that provides extensive articles and medical explanations. However, its offerings are primarily informational, and it does not match Altibbi’s scale or depth in real-time telehealth consultations.

Mawdoo3 Health

Mawdoo3 Health covers a wide range of general Arabic topics, including health and wellness. Although it attracts large traffic, the platform is not focused on medical consultations, making it less specialized than Altibbi in delivering clinical support.

Healthigo

Healthigo focuses mainly on appointment scheduling and clinic management services. It has limited telehealth capabilities, which places it behind Altibbi’s 24/7 consultation model and multi-country service coverage.

Cura (Saudi Arabia)

Cura is a strong telehealth player in Saudi Arabia, offering video consultations and digital health programs. While popular in its local market, it does not match Altibbi’s reach across multiple Arab countries or its extensive medical content library.

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FAQs

What is Altibbi?

Altibbi is the largest Arabic digital health platform in the MENA region. It provides 24/7 access to licensed doctors through chat and voice calls and hosts the biggest Arabic medical content library used by millions every year.

Who founded Altibbi and when did it start?

Altibbi was founded by Dr. Abdul Aziz Al-Labadi, Jalil Al-Labadi, and Ayman Shraihah. Its roots go back to an Arabic medical dictionary project started in the early 2000s, and it officially became a company in 2008.

How does Altibbi make money?

Altibbi earns revenue through paid telehealth consultations, subscription plans, and enterprise services. It also partners with insurers, employers, telecom companies, and governments to provide large-scale digital healthcare programs.

Where is Altibbi based and which markets does it serve?

Altibbi is headquartered in Dubai, UAE. It serves users across more than 10 Arab countries, including the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan, and other MENA markets.

Why is Altibbi important in the UAE digital health market?

Altibbi supports the UAE’s shift toward smart healthcare by offering scalable telemedicine, Arabic-first medical content, and enterprise integrations. It helps insurers and employers reduce costs while giving users fast and private access to doctors.