FDI World Dental Federation to host world dental congress in Dubai

In preparation for the Congress, senior FDI representatives met with government officials, representatives from the local operations partner, Index Holdings, and corporate partner Unilever, in Dubai on 8 February to discuss essential preparations.

Commenting on the importance of the Congress to the UAE, JT Barnard, Executive Director of the FDI, said:

"The FDI Annual World Dental Congress is the single largest gathering of dental professionals, attracting over 25,000 visitors in any one year. We have chosen Dubai to be the host city for the 2007 Congress, owing to its world class infrastructure, the significant size of the dental community in the region and the very high level of commitment from H.H. Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and President of the Department of Health and Medical Services."

Dr Nasser Malik, Dubai Dental Centre and member of the FDI Annual Congress local organising committee said: "We believe that the health of our nation is reflected in their dental health and look forward to this Congress raising the importance of oral health on the social agenda. We also welcome the thousands of dental professionals and tourists who will visit Dubai as a result of this Congress."

One of the FDI's missions, 'to promote optimal oral and general health for all people', will be realised through the Congress and via the organisation's unique partnership with Unilever. Unilever's partnership with the FDI, 'Live. Learn. Laugh.', funds National Dental Associations in 40 countries around the world, including those in the Middle East and North Africa, to implement oral health programmes at grassroots level.

Comments Dr Analia Mendez, Global Project Director, Unilever/FDI global partnership: " We look forward to improving oral health behaviour throughout the Middle East and North Africa region, working together with the FDI and our leading toothpaste brand in the region, Signal. Unilever has a strong heritage in delivering oral health programmes and our efforts with the FDI will build on this commitment, allowing us to make an ever greater impact throughout the region."