Emirates has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Medical Tourism Association (MTA), as the airline seeks to expand its presence in medical, wellness, and longevity travel, according to a statement from Emirates issued on Thursday.

Emirates signed the agreement on the sidelines of the Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2026, held in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates' commercial hub. Emirates said the partnership reflects its strategy of building structured, long-term relationships in medical tourism, a segment it described as one of the fastest-growing verticals in international travel, combining Dubai's position as a healthcare and wellness hub with the airline's network of nearly 140 destinations.

Emirates said it will serve as MTA's preferred airline partner for international medical and wellness travellers, working to identify key markets and medical travel corridors, particularly across Africa, Asia, and the Middle East, and to develop tailored travel solutions for patients, referring physicians, insurers, and employers.

Adnan Kazim, Emirates' Deputy President and Chief Commercial Officer, said healthcare is among the most important reasons people travel internationally and is a fast-growing category. He said the airline's network, along with its onboard and ground products, gives it a natural platform to serve these travellers, and that insights gained from the MTA partnership would help shape offerings tailored to how such travellers plan, book, and experience their journeys.

Jonathan Edelheit, CEO and founder of the Medical Tourism Association, said hospitals and clinics have long worked to reach international patients individually, and that the partnership now provides a direct path for that demand from a global airline to accredited providers through the MTA's "Better by MTA" programme.

Beyond commercial development, Emirates and MTA said they would work with providers accredited by the Global Healthcare Accreditation (GHA), the sector's accreditation body, on industry standards, thought leadership, and shared market intelligence. The partnership also supports Emirates' ambition to become the world's first GHA-accredited airline, the statement said.

MTA said its network reaches more than 500,000 healthcare providers, employers, insurers, and industry leaders, along with millions of prospective medical and wellness travellers annually, and includes government relationships in more than 100 countries. Emirates and MTA said they would explore using MTA's platform, which integrates care coordination, travel, and payments through Mastercard, to help travellers find accredited providers and arrange treatment and travel.