- FAI Aviation Services DMCC, the Dubai-based subsidiary of FAI Rent-a-jet GmbH, has signed a first-of-its-kind cooperation agreement with Medcare Royal Specialist Hospital, part of the Aster DM Healthcare Group. The partnership will integrate local ICU medical teams into FAI’s air ambulance missions and support joint training and readiness initiatives.
- The agreement aims to enhance air ambulance capabilities throughout the UAE, reduce response times, and enhance Dubai’s position as a regional center for medical tourism. This collaboration builds on a history of successful joint missions and reflects both parties’ commitment to operational excellence and patient-centered care.
FAI Aviation Services DMCC, the Dubai-based subsidiary of FAI Rent-a-jet GmbH, has signed a cooperation agreement with Medcare Royal Specialty Hospital in Al Qusais, a premium healthcare facility that is part of the Aster DM Healthcare Group.
This collaboration represents the first of its kind for FAI in the region, combining its capabilities as a world-class international air ambulance operator with the local medical expertise of Medcare Royal Specialist Hospital as a trusted healthcare facility. The contract was signed in Dubai by Barbara Baumgartner, General Manager of FAI Aviation Services, DMCC, and Dr. Chanela Lygo, CEO of Medcare Hospitals and Medical Centers Group.
As part of the agreement, Medcare Royal Specialist Hospital will provide ICU flight doctors and specialist medical teams to the FAI’s air ambulance services. Both partners will implement joint training and clinical readiness programs to maintain the highest standards of patient care and operational excellence. This collaboration is expected to improve logistics services, shorten response times, and ensure smooth coordination for patients who require urgent or critical transfers. The agreement aims to enhance the capabilities of the air ambulance in the United Arab Emirates and support its broader vision to become a global center for high-quality medical tourism.
Barbara Baumgartner said: “We are pleased to sign this first-of-its-kind collaboration with Medcare Royal Specialist Hospital, which strengthens FAI’s link between air and land medicine in the UAE. By partnering with Medcare Royal Specialist Hospital, FAI is utilizing local medical talent that understands the cultural and patient needs.”
Dr Shanila Lygo, Group CEO of Medcare Hospitals and Medical Centres, said: “We are proud to partner with FAI Air Ambulance to enhance our emergency response capabilities and ensure patients receive life-saving care in a timely manner. This collaboration reinforces our commitment to providing the highest level of medical service wherever and whenever our patients need it most. Together with FAI Air Ambulance, we are ensuring that high-quality compassionate support is always on hand for those who need it most.”
Medcare Royal Specialist Hospital is the premier premium facility for Medcare Hospitals and Medical Centres, providing a multi-sensory therapeutic experience to its patients. This multi-specialty hospital features state-of-the-art infrastructure and advanced clinical technologies, including AI diagnostics in MRI, oncology and comprehensive trauma care through 24/7 emergency services, which provide prompt and high-quality medical assistance for a range of emergency situations. The hospital’s emergency and orthopedic departments are well-equipped to manage trauma, from initial stabilization and assessment to complex surgeries, prioritizing timely, expert care of patients’ injuries. In addition, the hospital ensures continuous follow-up care for international patients once they return home. Medcare Hospitals & Medical Centers is part of an elite group of 208 JCI-accredited hospitals that provide comprehensive, internationally recognized services to their patients. This process is often facilitated by committed patient support professionals like FAI, who work to ensure a smooth and stress-free recovery journey.
The FAI has already had some positive experiences working together, with some doctors having worked at the FAI since 2008 including as flight doctors. In addition, Medcare Royal Specialist Hospital already provides crucial support during urgent admissions to hospital for incoming life-saving medevac missions.
The latest assignment involved a young American expat woman residing in the United Arab Emirates who was seriously injured during a car accident while on vacation in Kyrgyzstan. Her doctors advised her that she would not be able to endure the long flight back to the United States. After some urgent phone calls, FAI quickly secured her treatment in the UAE and urgently transported her to Dubai on board a Challenger 604, where she received excellent care at Medcare Royal Specialist Hospital. She was discharged and was able to be discharged six weeks later.
Multi-award winning FAI has been operating air ambulance flights to and from the UAE for over two decades. In 2023, it received EURAMI (European Aeromedical Institute) accreditation for the fifth time, an endorsement of quality, safety and excellence in air medical transport.
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