On 3 January 2022, Malaysia Pavilion during EXPO2020 Dubai, the opening ceremony of the Malaysian Healthcare Week witnessed the signing of a new MoU partnership between Hadid International Services (HADID) and the Malaysia Healthcare Travel Council (MHTC). The agreement will enhance Malaysia's outreach to customers and industry practitioners by promoting the Malaysian healthcare sector in the Middle East market, the ASEAN region and beyond, to HADID’s growing international client base. Furthermore, the agreement serves to strengthen future cooperation between the two organisations.

Established in 1981, HADID comprises a wide network of international teams, strategic partners and suppliers, evolving over 40 years into a worldwide provider for a full suite of aviation services such as international flight planning, ground support services, air charter services, executive aviation terminals as well as travel and concierge services. In addition to the executive services offered by HADID, the company has leveraged its network and expertise in elite travel and trip planning to develop bespoke health and wellness travel services for international travellers.

Malaysia consistently ranks among the top countries for healthcare in indices such as the “Best Healthcare in the World” category of the International Living Annual Global Retirement Index and "Destination of the Year" by the International Medical Travel Journal (IMTJ). Hospitals in both Penang and Kuala Lumpur were also among the first recipients in Southeast Asia to receive the prestigious Joint Commission International (JCI) certification, widely considered the gold standard for health care services providers around the world. Furthermore, Malaysia offers an exotic locale and exceptional value for patients to rest and recuperate. This includes medical follow-up, hotel accommodations, and an automatic three-month visa for visitors upon entry, which gives health and wellness travellers peace of mind during their recuperation period.

During EXPO2020, Malaysia has further strengthened its position as a major destination for infertility, cardiology, cancer and hepatitis C treatment. With the opening ceremony of the Malaysian Healthcare Week observing the signing of several new partnerships by the Malaysian Medical Tourism Board, HADID joins a list of successful partnerships and strategic cooperation agreements which bolster the reach and viability of Malaysia as a top international health and wellness destination.

In a media outlet covering the event, CEO of the Malaysian Medical Tourism Board, Muhammad Dawood Muhammad Arif, was quoted commenting that "Malaysia realises [on] the importance of forming strategic partnerships after successfully dealing with the pandemic period for 18 months, in order to enhance the recovery process in the health care sector with the advent of the world 2022," Mr Dawood went on to say, "It is very important the healthcare sector in Malaysia is joining forces with partners who share the same values and commitment to provide excellence in services and safety in standards, so we are proud to collaborate with IASB and HADID to join forces towards providing a safe and distinguished service and a comfortable experience for our patients.”

Through HADID, health and wellness travellers can connect to healthcare providers directly or via intermediaries, including insurance and health and other travel facilitators. This makes the arrangements for travellers a more seamless process, reflecting the type of concierge services which HADID aims to provide. Patients can also garner the benefits of improved safety and security, shorter waiting times, quicker access to necessary procedures and treatments and most importantly, meetings with skilled doctors in state-of-the-art facilities. One of the unique benefits HADID offers to its health and wellness clients is a Personal Butler service, which provides each client with assistance, including:

• A professional consultation to determine the most suitable location and treatment
• Communicating medical cases and reports with the physicians
• Communicating and agreeing on treatment processes and cost information
• Ensuring the pre-registration, preparation, and details requested by the client
• Visa assistance
• Seamless arrangement of flights
• Arrangements for all land transportation
• Arrangements for airport meet and greet services
• All hotel bookings and local services
• Spa treatments and other amenities

HADID Commercial Director, Issa Zuriqi, emphasised that “HADID is proud of the partnerships it has created, which are centred around the quality of service the company provides its executive clientele. With over 40 years of providing exclusive aviation services and more, HADID is ready and able to provide the same exclusive clientele with the premier option for health and wellness travel so they may receive the necessary and most effective medical care available.”

HADID Chairman, Mohamad Hadid commented "It has been a great honour to work with Team MHTC with whom we share a similar long-term strategy and future vision for Malaysia’s medical tourism industry. Both HADID and MHTC aim at making critical and elective medical treatments accessible to everyone whilst also enhancing patients’ experience by providing them with professional medical advice and seamless medical travel solutions." Mr Hadid further stated, "We are especially excited to announce this partnership during EXPO2020 in Dubai, which has truly become the World’s headquarters."

The UAE itself is ranked among the top 10 global destinations by the Medical Tourism Association, the first among GCC countries, for people travelling overseas seeking medical treatment. This recognises the country as the home of internationally accredited healthcare and wellness institutions. With its own headquarters in Dubai, HADID is well positioned to offer its range of health and wellness travel services to travellers to and from the UAE and aims to enhance the coordination of medical services between the two regions.

About HADID

Hadid International Services, headquartered in Dubai UAE, has been a leader in the aviation industry for over four decades and offers a comprehensive range of flight support services. These services include flight permits, charter, travel services, flight planning, navigation support and ground support services including handling, fuelling and concierge. In addition, the company operates and manages luxury executive aviation terminals also known as fixed-base operators (FBO) at strategic international locations. As a long-established company, HADID offers an unrivalled legacy of on-demand reliable services. Evolving with the rapid growth and change in the aviation industry HADID are continually looking for ways to stay ahead of the curve and provide added value to consumers.

About MHTC

Malaysia’s healthcare travel industry brand, Malaysia Healthcare, was created in 2011, with its own logo and tagline, ‘Quality Care for Your Peace of Mind’. As a leading healthcare destination, Malaysia has grown over the years from being recognised as the Hidden Jewel of Asia, to being crowned the Destination of the Year for healthcare travel thrice-in-a-row from 2015 to 2017 and mostly recently in 2020, positioned as the Fertility and Cardiology Hub of Asia, and today, known as The World’s Healthcare Marvel. Malaysia Healthcare comprises government ministries and agencies, premier Malaysian private healthcare facilities, airline companies, travel agencies, hotels and many more. Together we craft a seamless end-to-end healthcare journey experience for all our visitors.