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Thumbay Group enters its 30th year in the UAE
From medical education to a major academic healthcare network, the group marks nearly three decades of growth and expansion in the UAE
- PUBLISHED: Mon 17 Aug 2026, 8:15 AM
Thumbay Group, founded in 1997 by Dr. Thumbay Moideen, enters its 30th year in the UAE, marking nearly three decades of growth from a pioneering medical education initiative into a diversified academic healthcare group headquartered in Dubai.
The journey began when Dr. Moideen was invited by the ruling family of Ajman to establish a private medical college — an unprecedented opportunity for an expatriate at the time. Gulf Medical College opened in 1998 and has since evolved into Gulf Medical University (GMU), today recognised as the No. 1 private medical university in the Gulf.
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GMU has seven colleges, 50+ accredited programmes, around 5,000 students from over 111 nationalities, and academic and research collaborations with more than 70 international universities and institutions. The group invests approximately Dh10 million annually in research grants.
Thumbay Group’s healthcare network has grown into one of the region’s largest private academic healthcare systems, with academic hospitals, clinics, medical centres, diagnostic laboratories and pharmacies. Its facilities have treated more than 19 million patients from 175 nationalities and conducted over 100,000 deliveries.
At the heart of this ecosystem is Thumbay Medicity in Al Jurf, Ajman, a 25-acre integrated healthcare and education destination featuring the 350-bed Thumbay University Hospital — the region’s largest private academic hospital along with Thumbay Dental Hospital and Thumbay Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Hospital. The integrated facility receives around 15,000 visitors daily.
The group is continuing to expand its academic healthcare footprint. Over the past year, foundation stones were laid for a 120-bed psychiatric and rehabilitation hospital at Sharjah Healthcare City, the Thumbay Veterinary Teaching Hospital and Thumbay College of Veterinary Medicine at Thumbay Medicity, and the Thumbay International Research Centre, which will house the university’s research programmes and the Thumbay Research Institute for Precision Medicine.
Thumbay Medicity Dubai is the next major project in the pipeline and is expected to create around 1,000 jobs. The group has also announced UAE-first academic programmes in longevity medicine in partnership with Switzerland’s Geneva College of Longevity Science.
Through the Thumbay International Pathway Programme, students can complete their foundation studies in the UAE and clinical training at partner universities in Europe, earning globally recognised degrees.
Recognition
Dr. Thumbay Moideen was honoured with the Rajyotsava Award, Karnataka’s second-highest civilian honour, in October 2024. In January 2026, he received the New Year Award from the Academy of General Education, Manipal, jointly with the Manipal Academy of Higher Education. He holds five honorary doctorates from universities across three continents and has received several recognitions for his contributions to business, education and healthcare.
Looking ahead, Thumbay Group aims to build the world’s largest network of medical education centres, driven by its guiding philosophy: Growth through Innovation.
Thumbay Group at a Glance
29 years of operations in the UAE, entering its 30th year
26 brands across 15 business sectors
19 million+ patients treated from 175 nationalities
7 academic hospitals, clinics and medical centres
46 pharmacies and a major regional diagnostic laboratory network
100,000+ deliveries conducted
350-bed Thumbay University Hospital, the region’s largest private academic hospital
5,000 students at Gulf Medical University
7 colleges and 50+ accredited programmes
Students from 111+ nationalities
70+ international academic and research collaborations
Around 4,000 employees
Approximately Dh10 million invested annually in research grants