Dr. Thumbay Moideen
Founder President – Thumbay Group
Dr. Thumbay Moideen
“EDUCATION, HEALTHCARE & RESEARCH became the core sectors of THUMBAY, a world-class business group”
THUMBAY GROUP’S SUCCESS STORIES IN MEDICAL, EDUCATION, STATE-OF-THE-ART HEALTHCARE AND CUTTING-EDGE RESEARCH.
Thumbay hospitals and clinics feature the latest technological innovations in patient services, diagnosis and treatment. “Hospitals” magazine met Dr. Thumbay Moideen, Founder President-Thumbay Group who talked about the various services of the Group.
Let’s introduce our readers to the various services offered by Thumbay Group?
Thumbay Group is a diversified conglomerate with global presence, operating multiple brands across 20 sectors of business including in Education, Healthcare, Medical Research, Diagnostics, Retail Pharmacy, Health Communications, Retail Opticals, Wellness, Nutrition Stores, Hospitality, Real Estate, Publishing, Technology, Media, Events, Medical Tourism, Trading and Marketing & Distribution. In addition to the various Emirates of the UAE, the Group now has presence in Africa and India, with upcoming projects in Europe.
Since 1998, the Group has expanded enormously. Can you give us an idea about your journey?
Thumbay Group was established in the UAE in 1998, as a single entity company. Gulf Medical University (GMU) was Thumbay Group’s first venture. The need to take care of the clinical training requirements of GMU led our foray into healthcare, and we established the first private academic hospital in the country, Thumbay Hospital – Ajman, in 2002.
This was followed by the establishment of a network of academic hospitals and clinics under the healthcare division. A state-of-the-art research facility was also set up at GMU.
Education, Healthcare & Research became the core sectors of Thumbay Group. Subsequently, the Group started diversification, mostly venturing into areas related to its core sectors. The healthcare sector, in particular, flourished with more hospitals, clinics and day care hospitals.
Outside of the UAE, Thumbay Group established an academic hospital, pharmacies and diagnostic labs as well as an outlet of Blends & Brews Coffee Shoppe in Hyderabad, India. Educational/healthcare projects are at various stages of completion at various countries in Africa and Europe. Today, the Group employs over 5000 people.
What about the state-of-the-art technologies, experienced medical caregivers and premium facilities offered to the patients?
State-of-the-art technology and professional expertise are the mainstays of Thumbay Group’s healthcare division. Thumbay hospitals and clinics feature the latest technological innovations in patient services, diagnosis and treatment. A case in example is the Thumbay University Hospital at Thumbay Medicity, Ajman. The hospital features a first-of-its-kind special robotic pharmacy and a radiology department with PET-CT scan.
Every Thumbay Hospital has a ‘Marhaba Lounge’ where patients can avail premium, fast-tracked services. The healthcare division also operates Thumbay Clinic ELITE, providing premium services.
An advantage of Thumbay hospitals in terms of professional expertise is that most of the doctors are also academicians and researchers closely associated with GMU in teaching and research, hence always staying updated with the latest developments in healthcare.
What about the world-class medical services offered to your patients?
Thumbay hospitals aim to provide world-class healthcare services at affordable costs.
We have built a strong reputation in terms of services, expertise and world-class care that we receive medical tourists from as far away as Africa, Southern Europe and the Western hemisphere, in addition to patients from the Middle East.
Thumbay Group’s medical tourism company, Thumbay Medical Tourism (TMT) offers customized packages for medical tourists, taking care of everything right from the moment they decide to visit one of our hospitals. TMT now has representative offices in 87 countries.
Thumbay Group believes that innovation is the key to growth. What are your future strategies and vision for shaping up the future?
Thumbay Group considers innovation a part of our corporate culture. Innovation helps us stay dynamic and vibrant, and is the driving force behind our growth. Our culture of innovation permeates each department and employee, helping us achieve efficiency and cost-effectiveness.
Your history is rich in awards and achievements. Can you brief us about them? What do they add to your reputation?
Thumbay Group as well as its constituent companies have won several awards and recognitions at the global and national levels, including the Dubai Quality Appreciation Award, Dubai Human Development Appreciation Award, Sheikh Khalifa Excellence Award etc. GMU has won awards internationally for the quality of its teaching, training and academic superiority. Thumbay hospitals have won international recognitions for medical tourism and for quality healthcare.
All our awards and achievements motivate us to further improve our quality standards. We take pride in our achievements as each reassures us that we are progressing in the right direction. Moreover, they help in consolidating the trust and confidence of our clientele.
Lately, Thumbay Group announces the inauguration of Thumbay Medicity, located in Ajman. What is the added value of such a project for the private sector in the region?
Built with an investment of over a billion Dirhams, this is the first project of its kind in the UAE’s private sector. Thumbay Medicity combines advanced facilities in education, healthcare, research, leisure, luxury, fitness, entertainment. With quaternary care facilities, the Thumbay University Hospital will be a referral hospital having unique inpatient services, in addition to 120+ clinics. This is in addition to other specialized hospitals in the Medicity; the Thumbay Dental Hospital and the Thumbay Physical Therapy & Rehabilitation Hospital.
“THUMBAY GROUP HAS PLANS TO GO PUBLIC BY 2023.”
What is your occupancy capacity?
Thumbay University Hospital will have a total capacity of 500 beds, with 350 bed capacity in the first phase of development. The hospital will have 50 dedicated beds for the rehabilitation hospital, and will feature a therapeutic garden. Thumbay Medicity is well-equipped to serve a floating population of 20,000+.
What about the group global expansion?
We follow a strategic vision plan according to which Thumbay Group aims to scale up our businesses at least ten times and establish global presence, increasing the employee strength to 25,000 by the year 2023.
Other objectives include:
The Thumbay academic hospital network will have a total of 1000 beds in the UAE, 1500 beds in India and 750 beds elsewhere in the Gulf and Africa by 2023.
- The Thumbay academic hospital network will have a total of 1000 beds in the UAE, 1500 beds in India and 750 beds elsewhere in the Gulf and Africa by 2023.
- GMU is soon to add Engineering and Management courses.
- Plans are afoot to open three new University campuses across 3 different countries.
- To add 25 Thumbay labs, 100 Thumbay pharmacies, 40 Zo & Mo Opticals outlets, 100 Blends & Brews coffee shops, 25 Body & Soul health clubs, 50 Nutri Plus Vita stores.
Thumbay Group has plans to go public by 2023.
In addition to our new and
upcoming healthcare projects in different parts of the world, we are also keen to acquire existing hospitals, either on long-term lease or on management basis.
After this long experience in healthcare, how do u evaluate the sector in UAE?
The UAE has a robust healthcare sector, with the visionary leadership of the country actively promoting innovation and advancements in healthcare.
Healthcare is one of the focus areas of the Government’s Vision 2021 startegic plans, signifying the importance of the sector. Recent government reforms like long-term visas for professionals and investors as well as the mandatory health insurance of the Dubai Government are progressive steps in healthcare. The government is keen to ensure the health and well-being of its residents.