Kenyans are the second highest visitors to Dubai seeking plastic surgery, a new report has revealed.
According to cosmetic surgeons in the largest and most populous city in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), many wealthy Kenyans are turning to plastic surgeries and other enhancements to change their appearance.
In fact, the numbers are so high that Dubai officials were in Nairobi last week marketing the country as not only a tourist destination but a nip and tuck hub.
Apart from being a business hub of the Middle East, Dubai prides itself in having some of the best cosmetic surgeons who have operated on renowned actors and musicians.
Dr Layla Mohamed Al Marzouqi, the director of Medical Tourism Council in Dubai, said Kenya makes it to the top five African countries with most health tourists to the city and extended a welcome to all those who wanted to try out their services.
Nigeria accounts for the largest number of health tourists to Dubai from Africa, followed by Kenya, South Africa, Ethiopia and Niger, according to the Dubai Tourism Department.
“The largest percentage (39 per cent ) came seeking treatment for bones and muscles, followed by 20 per cent and 18 per cent who came for skin and eye treatments respectively.
“We are welcoming people who are healthy and coming for health enhancement, health checkup, anti-aging treatment, clinical spa, we are putting this into one basket and we are calling it health tourism in Dubai,” said Dr Marzouqi during the second edition of Dubai tourism stakeholders’ roadshow in Nairobi.
In 2016, Dubai received 55,530 Kenyan medical tourists, according to data from its tourism department.
Of these medical tourists, most Kenyans went for cosmetic surgery, dental, bones and muscles, nerves, obesity, fertility and eye treatments, she said.
A section of wealthy Kenyans have also visited Dubai for rhinoplasty (nose surgery), hair transplants and face lifts.
