Dubai's NMC Royal Hospital sold for AED 1.4 billion to UAE-based investment firm, with 17-year lease

Forget gold and oil - the smartest money in Dubai is now betting on bandages and beds. In a move that truly shakes up the property market, a major local investment group has just snapped up the building that houses the NMC Royal Hospital for a whopping AED 1.4 billion. This isn't just about buying a building; the buyer, Al Mal Capital REIT , is locking the hospital into an iron-clad, 17-year lease. This guarantees that a critical community healthcare service is now anchored by stable, public investment, offering everyday investors a clear, safe path to earning reliable income from the city’s essential services.

Al Mal Capital REIT just bought NMC Royal Hospital
A massive and unexpected financial transaction has just rocked the Dubai property scene. The investment firm is Al Mal Capital REIT (AMCREIT), the first Real Estate Investment Trust listed on the Dubai Financial Market (DFM). AMCREIT officially bought the building that houses the NMC Royal Hospital in Dubai Investments Park (DIP).

The scale of the deal is impressive: the acquisition, announced around October 13, 2025, instantly inflated AMCREIT's portfolio value to approximately AED 1.4 billion ($381 million). This move is significant because it's AMCREIT's very first investment in the healthcare sector, signalling a profound shift among UAE investors from traditional property to essential infrastructure.

Details of NMC Royal Hospital
The NMC Royal Hospital facility spans 492,332 square feet and includes two hospital blocks along with a fully leased commercial building. It operates nearly 120 inpatient beds, offers extensive outpatient services, a pharmacy, and an emergency response unit. The hospital is secured under a 17-year lease agreement with NMC Healthcare , ensuring stable and predictable income for AMCREIT's investors

REIT explained: Investor dividends
You keep hearing the term "REIT" and "investment firm," so what exactly is it? A REIT (Real Estate Investment Trust) is essentially a company that owns, and in most cases operates, income-producing real estate. Think of it as a huge, public landlord.

• Public Access: AMCREIT is traded on the DFM, which means everyday people—not just billionaires can buy shares.
  
• Mandatory Payouts: By law, REITs have to distribute almost all of their rental income (typically 80% to 90%) back to their shareholders as dividends.
  
• Investor Impact: When AMCREIT buys the hospital building, it means the hospital's rent payments are now pooled and shared with thousands of local investors. This makes the AED 1.4 billion deal a direct, stable income source for the community.

Impact on the community and patients: How the acquisition benefits healthcare access
The acquisition of NMC Royal Hospital in Dubai by a UAE-based investment firm isn’t just a financial move, it has tangible benefits for patients and the local community. With the hospital secured under a long-term 17-year lease, there is greater stability and certainty for ongoing operations, allowing administrators to plan long-term improvements in patient care.

Key benefits include:

• Enhanced Healthcare Services:
  The investment enables the hospital to upgrade medical equipment, attract specialized doctors, and expand outpatient services, ensuring that residents continue to receive high-quality care.
  
• Expanded Facilities:
  With secure, predictable funding, the hospital may invest in new wings, additional inpatient beds, or advanced diagnostic units, directly increasing healthcare capacity in the Dubai Investments Park area.
  
• Community Wellbeing:
  A stable, professionally managed hospital supports faster emergency response times and ensures consistent access to healthcare for both residents and workers in surrounding communities.
  
• Innovation and Technology:
  Long-term investment allows for the adoption of modern healthcare technologies, from telemedicine services to electronic health records, improving patient experience and efficiency.
  

In short, this acquisition not only strengthens the hospital as a financial asset for the REIT but also ensures the community continues to benefit from reliable, high-quality, and accessible healthcare for years to come.