Abu Dhabi state-owned holding company ADQ and private equity firm CVC Capital Partners are both considering purchasing the core hospital business of NMC Health, which could fetch $1bn according to reports.
Last year saw higher in-patient occupancy as a result of the pandemic, leading to higher profits for hospital operators in the region.
Reuters reports that NMC has hired advisers for the sale of its healthcare business in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Oman.
ADQ is a wealth fund holding company set up in 2018 and already owns Abu Dhabi Health Services Co (Seha), according to two unnamed sources.
Saudi Arabian healthcare operator Sulaiman Al Habib Medical Group (HMG) has been invited to the process, said one of the two sources and a third source.
Hospital chain operator Mediclinic is also in the running, one of the sources said.
An NMC spokesman said: “A process to explore the possibilities of a sale was launched last month and, while it is understandably attracting considerable interest, it is at an early stage”.
ADQ and HMG were unavailable to comment when contacted by Reuters. CVC declined to comment. Mediclinic said it cannot comment on market speculation.
