Medcare Royal Hills to offer six operating theatres, advanced cancer treatment and more.
Dubai: A new luxury hospital featuring a comprehensive cancer centre, robotic-assisted surgery, advanced cardiac care and a dedicated water birth unit is scheduled to open in Dubai Studio City by 2029. The project involves a Dh350 million investment by Aster DM Healthcare and UAE-based engineering company MENASCO.
The planned 144-bed Medcare Royal Hills Hospital will provide multi-specialty tertiary care, with six operating theatres and advanced diagnostic facilities, including PET-CT scanning and radiation therapy for cancer patients.
The development marks another expansion of Aster’s healthcare network in the UAE, where the group has pledged to invest more than Dh1 billion over the next five years.
The partnership agreement was signed by Alisha Moopen, managing director and group chief executive of Aster DM Healthcare, and Bahaa H. Badawiyeh, chief executive of MENASCO. The signing was attended by MENASCO partner Ahmed Alraqbani and Dr Shanila Laiju, chief executive of Medcare Hospitals and Medical Centres.
Cancer care
A key feature of the hospital will be its integrated oncology centre, bringing medical, surgical and radiation oncology services together under one roof.
The facility is expected to include a dedicated breast care diagnostic and treatment unit, an apheresis unit and services spanning cancer screening, diagnosis, treatment and follow-up care.
Planned technology includes a linear accelerator (LINAC) for radiation therapy, PET-CT imaging, gamma scanning, iodine therapy and chemotherapy. Aster also intends to introduce bone marrow transplantation (BMT) as a longer-term addition.
The hospital will provide specialised immunology and haematology services, covering the treatment of autoimmune and inflammatory conditions, anaemia, clotting disorders and blood cancers.
The combination of diagnostic and treatment services is designed to give patients access to multiple stages of cancer care within a single facility.
Heart care
Cardiology and cardiac sciences will be another key focus, with comprehensive cardiac services and surgery supported by a catheterisation laboratory, or cathlab, for diagnostic and interventional procedures.
The hospital will also offer neurology and spine care, alongside neuro-interventional radiology and interventional radiology services.
Robotic-assisted surgery is also planned as part of its advanced surgical facilities.
Other specialities will include internal medicine, paediatrics, gynaecology, orthopaedics, gastroenterology, ENT, general surgery, vascular surgery, plastic surgery, ophthalmology, endocrinology, nuclear medicine, urology, dermatology, neurosurgery, pulmonology and rheumatology.
Emergency services
The hospital is expected to feature an emergency department with 18 observation beds and facilities to handle medical and surgical emergencies, including trauma cases.
Other planned facilities include a dedicated paediatric intensive care unit (PICU), advanced critical care services, endoscopy and endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP), as well as a sleep laboratory.
Women’s healthcare facilities will include a dedicated labour, delivery and recovery (LDR) suite with a water birth unit.
The development will have a gross floor area of approximately 239,000 square feet and a built-up area of around 430,000 square feet.
Aster’s expansion
The project is part of Aster DM Healthcare’s wider investment strategy in the UAE, where the group is expanding its network of hospitals, clinics and specialised care facilities.
“Medcare’s growth has always been guided by one clear purpose: to bring high-quality healthcare closer to the people and communities we serve,” Alisha Moopen said.
“Our partnership with MENASCO is an important step in expanding Medcare’s footprint in Dubai and making advanced specialised and tertiary care more accessible.”
She added that the new hospital would complement the group’s existing network of 12 clinics in the area.
Aster founder and chairman Dr Azad Moopen said the project reflected the group’s commitment to developing healthcare institutions that address the evolving needs of the UAE population.
“Across the GCC, our dedicated team of over 20,000 healthcare professionals and staff work tirelessly to provide every patient with the highest standards of quality, compassionate and patient-centred care,” he said.
Badawiyeh said the partnership reflected a shared ambition to contribute to Dubai’s evolving healthcare landscape. He described the project as a modern healthcare destination that would bring together advanced infrastructure and specialised clinical capabilities.
More investment
The hospital announcement follows a series of expansion initiatives by Aster across the UAE.
The group has reached an agreement with Al Tawfeeq for Development and Investment (ATDI) to invest in International Modern Hospital in Dubai’s Al Mankhool area. The transaction, which is subject to regulatory approvals, will add 116 beds and 39 outpatient clinics to Aster’s network.
International Modern Hospital has been operating in Dubai since 2005. Its addition is expected to increase Aster Hospitals’ existing capacity in the UAE, which currently stands at 399 beds.
Aster Clinics UAE has also announced plans to expand its primary care network from 85 to more than 100 facilities by 2030, supported by an investment commitment of Dh100 million.
The expansion is expected to increase the company’s workforce to 4,100 employees across the country. New facilities will introduce speciality centres, enhanced diagnostic capabilities and digital health services.
According to the company, annual patient visits across its clinics network rose by 15 per cent over the past year.
“The UAE continues to be a cornerstone market for Aster’s long-term strategy. Our confidence in this market is rooted in its strong fundamentals, progressive healthcare ecosystem, and clear national vision for integrated care delivery,” Alisha Moopen said.
