Ajman, UAE: Thumbay Medicity welcomed His Excellency Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, UAE Minister of Foreign Trade, to its Ajman campus, marking his first visit to one of the region’s largest integrated hubs for medical education, healthcare and research.
The visit highlighted the growing connection between the UAE’s trade and economic development agenda and the advancement of healthcare, medical education and research within the country.
Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi was received by Dr. Thumbay Moideen, Founder President of Thumbay Group, and Mr. Akbar Moideen Thumbay, Vice President – Healthcare Division, along with senior academic and clinical leaders of the institution.
Tour of healthcare and academic facilities
During the visit, the Minister toured various facilities across Thumbay Medicity, including Gulf Medical University and Thumbay’s academic hospitals.
He observed firsthand how medical education, patient care and research are integrated within the campus ecosystem. The delegation was also briefed on the institution’s growth from a single college established in 1998 to a globally recognised healthcare and educational destination attracting students from more than 111 countries.
The Minister later met Dr. Thumbay Moideen at the President’s Office inside Thumbay University Hospital, where discussions focused on the role of private healthcare and educational institutions in strengthening the UAE’s knowledge economy.
The discussions also explored opportunities to advance medical research, life sciences, innovation and talent development in alignment with the nation’s long-term economic vision.
Supporting the UAE’s knowledge economy
The visit comes at a time when the UAE continues to expand its global trade partnerships and attract international talent and investment through initiatives such as the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreements (CEPAs).
Officials noted that Thumbay Group’s contributions in healthcare education, clinical services, precision medicine and population health research align closely with the country’s ambition to become a global hub for innovation, healthcare excellence and knowledge-based industries.
“The visit signals a shared belief that healthcare, education and research are not separate from the trade and investment story, but central to it,” the institution stated.
Leadership remarks
Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Thumbay Moideen, Founder President of Thumbay Group, said the visit was a significant recognition of the role played by educational and healthcare institutions in the nation’s development.
“It is an honour to welcome His Excellency Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi to Thumbay Medicity. When we started Gulf Medical University in 1998, our goal was to build something that would serve the UAE for generations. A visit like this affirms that the work of educating healthcare professionals and investing in medical research is part of the nation’s wider economic journey,” he said.
Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi praised Thumbay Group’s contribution to healthcare and medical education in the UAE.
“The UAE’s strength has always come from the ambition of its people and the quality of its institutions. Thumbay Group continues to make a significant contribution to the delivery of world-class healthcare services in the country and to the development of the UAE as a centre for medical education and clinical research,” he said.
He added that Thumbay Medicity aligns closely with the goals of the UAE’s national vision, including aspirations to position the country among the world’s leading destinations for quality healthcare, innovation and global partnerships.
The visit concluded with the presentation of a memento and a group photograph with the leadership team.
Founded in 1997 by Dr. Thumbay Moideen, Thumbay Group operates across healthcare, education, medical research, diagnostics, retail pharmacy, hospitality and real estate sectors. Thumbay Medicity in Ajman houses Gulf Medical University, Thumbay University Hospital, Thumbay Dental Hospital and Thumbay Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Hospital.