Thumbay Group unveils New Projects & Dh350m expansion plan.

The project includes re-branding of the Gulf Medical University and GMC Hospital.

His Highness Sheikh Humaid Bin Rashid Al Nauimi, Ruler of Ajman and Member of Supreme council UAE unveiled the new proposed 300 bed GMC Hospital & Expansion plan model along with the new brand identity and logos of Gulf Medical University and GMC Hospital, along with the President Mr. Thumbay Moideen Thumbay Group. Also present were Members of the ruling family, business associates, Bank representatives, faculty and staff of GMU and GMC Hospital.

Regional healthcare player Thumbay Group has announced a Dh350 million expansion plan as well as a new brand identity for the Gulf Medical University and GMC Hospital.

The expansion plan in its first phase will cover several new projects, and the investment, apart from the promoter’s equity, will be financed through Islamic banks.

“Learn from the World” will be the new brand statement for the Gulf Medical University. With over a decade of experience, the Gulf Medical University and GMC Hospital have grown into international brands of repute and hence the need for a stronger brand value.

The move aims to boost the existing activities of the Group, which consists of a conglomerate of companies involved in Medical Education, Healthcare, Medical Services, Leisure, and Hospitality. The Group is headed by its founder president Thumbay Moideen, a third generation entrepreneur.

The Gulf Medical University, which has a campus spread across an area of 25 acres of land and a built-up area of 2 million square feet, will be adding more feathers to its cap as it’s going to be the first-of-its-kind full-fledged campus with a 300-bed specialty hospital, a mosque, a health club, an additional floor at the existing building, an expanded library, housing and hostel for faculty and staff, a convention center, an amphitheatre, and a restaurant. This will all be ready by 2012 as part of the first phase expansion.

With the completion of first phase, the group will have a staff strength of around 2,500, with more than 2,000 people housed on the campus including staff, students and faculty.

The second phase of the expansion plan, which will be announced in the next six months, will be huge in scope involving several international companies as part of the project.

The Gulf Medical University’s brand statement, ‘Learn from the World’, depicts learning as a process that cannot be limited to the precincts of the books or the institution alone. The avenues of learning are very broad so why learn from just one place? With a perfect blend of capable faculty from all across the world and an equipped infrastructure, the students will have the best from the world to hone their skills and knowledge.

Apart from the new brand identity, the Gulf Medical University will launch 25 new certificate programs this year alone under the Center for Continuing Education and Community Outreach. The University has a full-fledged ‘Vision 2020 Plan’ in place with several programs to be started every year beginning this year.

The GMC Hospital, a reputed name in international healthcare, is opening up new state-of-the-art hospitals in Ajman, Dubai and Abu Dhabi, as well as a Medical Centre in Sharjah.

Going global, the Group plans to open a second unit of the GMC Hospital in Malawi, Africa, as well as spread its services to India. Already a trusted name in the region – having recently got accredited from the QHA Trent – the Group has brought forth a culture of hospitals with modern facilities and affordable prices.

With the launch of the new brand identity, GMC Hospital promises several hi-tech services with focus on quality and patient safety. The new brand incorporates refined patient services like online appointments, SMS confirmations, refined ward management and hospital management services through state-of-the-art online hospital information system (integrating all departments to deliver better care), valet parking, Marhaba lounge, and fully integrated digital signage. All these facilities will become operational soon.

The QHA Trent, London accreditation has opened the vistas for medical tourism and the inflow of international patients to the GMC Hospital, which is located only 15 minutes from Dubai. Already receiving more than 100 patients a month from various countries, the GMC Hospital has also started Tele-Medicine in a big way linking all its hospitals through high speed Internet and leased lines; the next on the anvil is Tele-Radiology.

Aside from this, the Body & Soul fitness and leisure arm of the Group will soon be opening several outlets in Sharjah and Dubai. It’s already taking memberships for the Ajman and Sharjah clubs – to be opened soon – which have facilities like Ladies Only section with a swimming pool, as well as sport facilities for tennis, squash, badminton, cricket and basketball. It will also have a 25-meter lap pool, a 5-a-Side soccer facility, ladies spa, and a terrace restaurant (at Al Qasba, Sharjah) which will have a Ladies only section with private gym, a yoga studio, a terrace coffee shop, a members-only lounge, a steam/saunas facility, a 2,000 sq ft gym with full audio-visual system, a recreation activity room for kids, and a private fitness assessment room.

The Blends & Brews – the Food and Beverage arm of Thumbay Group – will be opening up a chain of Theme restaurants with the first one to be opened on GMU campus. The Group will also be opening new outlets for Blends and Brews Coffee Shoppe in other emirates.

The proposed expansion plan is expected to shore up several revenue streams for the Group, and on completion of the projects by the end of 2012, the Group hopes to reassert its position as a leader in the sectors of Health Education, Healthcare, and Fitness and Leisure.