The UAE – and also the wider Middle East region – is set to see the launch of a pioneering new healthcare system – Tulåh – targeting holistic health management through the integration of evidence-based traditional medicine with modern medical practices, leading to a comprehensive alignment of mind, body and soul.

The trailblazer initiative – billed as the world’s first Integrated Clinical Wellness Resort – spearheaded by Tulåh Clinical Wellness, the latest venture of the DIFC-headquartered KEF Holdings, is slated to be soft-launched in the UAE in December.

The $100 million initiative, to be offered in collaboration with esteemed partners like Auroville, Arya Vaidya Sala and Cleveland Clinic, among others, will offer a combo package of the best of modern medicine, traditional Indian healthcare and luxury hospitality.

The project will introduce a multidisciplinary approach to disease prevention and reversal, with an exclusive and uniquely curated ecosystem.

It will also address emotional well-being, intellectual enhancement through Vedanta – an age-old Indian philosophy – in a nature-centric experience on a lush green campus surrounded by waterways.

“Tulåh Clinical Wellness will represent a transformative approach to healthcare, blending pioneering clinical practices with personalised wellness strategies,” Faizal E. Kottikollon, Founder and Chairman of KEF Holdings, told Arabian Business.

“Our model integrates modern and traditional medicine, supported by a comprehensive range of offsite services and innovative digital tools,” said Kottikollon, who is also the Chairman of UAE India Business Council – UAE Chapter (UIBC – UC).

Kottikollon said Tulåh’s primary markets will include the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, and Oman, besides India.

“We are also targeting expansion into Russia, the UK, Germany, Switzerland, France, and the US,” he revealed.

The KEF Holdings Founder said the company’s expansion strategy will encompass several key initiatives to enhance the Tulåh experience.

“First, we will introduce Tulåh Digital, a sophisticated healthcare companion app designed to deliver a seamless and personalised journey, from pre-arrival preferences to treatment schedules and post-departure access to medical reports.

“Additionally, we will be launching Urban Tulåh, which will bring the Tulåh experience to urban centres worldwide,” he said.

The Urban Tulåh initiative will offer integrated therapies, bespoke experiences and farm-to-table cuisine, to ensure that the unique wellness approach is accessible in diverse metropolitan settings.

The company will also roll out ‘Tulåh at Home’, a service aimed to create a personalised wellness sanctuary within the comfort of one’s home.

The proposed home extension will be to integrate Tulåh’s principles into daily life, allowing individuals to maintain holistic well-being.

“Our commitment is to offer comprehensive well-being through our sanctuary, digital platform, urban initiatives, and home-based services, ensuring a consistent and supportive wellness experience across various environments,” Kottikollon said.

Kottikollon said the soft launch in December this year will be followed by a grand opening soon after, featuring a series of exclusive events designed to showcase its unique offerings and holistic wellness approach, as well as the extensive research and development that has been invested in bringing Tulåh to fruition.

Industry watchers said ambitious and aggressive launch and expansion plans indicate the company’s keenness to tap the surging medical tourism in a big way through its new initiative.

The global medical tourism market, valued at $115.6 billion in 2022, is anticipated to reach a whopping $286 billion by 2030.

“This growth reflects a rising global interest in integrated wellness approaches, including within the UAE and the broader Middle Eastern region,” said a senior executive at a Dubai-based healthcare group, who wished not to be identified.

The executive said the region already has several wellness centres which offer traditional healing and wellness therapies, catering to the rising medical tourism demand.

Kottikollon, however, said their company prefers not to compare existing wellness and Ayurveda trends with Tulåh “due to our focus on preventive wellness and evidence-based outcomes”.