Record-breaking Arab Health attracts 50,000 global healthcare professionals

Organised by IIR Middle East, Arab Health was established more than three decades ago and is by far the biggest event of its kind in the region - at the centre of one of the fastest growing and most lucrative healthcare markets in the world.

The region's premier event for the healthcare industry, Arab Health takes place from 28 - 31 January 2008 at Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre. Products and services from more than 2,300 exhibitors representing over 65 countries and more than 50,000 healthcare professionals from all over the world are expected, breaking all previous records. The event also features the world's most comprehensive conference programme under the banner of the Arab Health Congress.

The Congress encompasses 18 internationally accredited conferences in specialised areas of medicine, surgery and healthcare management with over 400 internationally respected speakers and more than 6,000 delegates, making it the world's largest event of its kind. The conferences are accredited by the American Academy of Continuing Medical Education (AACME), recognised in over 96 countries.

Supported by the United Arab Emirates Ministry of Health, the Health Authority Abu Dhabi and the Dubai Health Authority, the 2008 Arab Health Exhibition will showcase products and services from more than 2,500 exhibitors representing over 65 countries. Leading sponsor of Arab Health is Dubai Healthcare City and main corporate sponsor is UAE development company Emaar's healthcare division.

Underscoring the importance of Arab Health to the UAE and the wider region at a press conference in Dubai today (20 January 2008) were Nasser Khalifah Al Bodoor, Assistant Undersecretary for International Relations and Health Affairs, Director for the Minister's Office, Ministry of Health; Dr Ayesha Abdulla, Chief Officer of the Center for Healthcare Planning and Quality, Dubai Healthcare City; Omar Al Shunnar, Executive Director, EMAAR Healthcare Group; and Simon Page, Group Director of Life Sciences at IIR Middle East, organisers of Arab Health.

The Center for Healthcare Planning and Quality is a joint endeavour of Dubai Healthcare City and Harvard Medical International to provide the highest international standards of healthcare delivery. Through planning, regulation and quality improvement initiatives in partnership with key stakeholders, it aims to become a leading centre of excellence in the region.

Dr. Ayesha Abdullah, Chief Executive Officer, Center of Healthcare Planning and Quality, said: 'As one of the world's leading healthcare exhibitions, Arab Health is an incredible success story. It could be quite natural to expect that an event which has been held for 30 years would have lost some its appeal. However, the momentum and growth of the exhibition significantly reflects how much it mirrors the rapid phase of development in the Middle East healthcare sector. As lead sponsors of this key industry event, I'd like to use this prestigious platform to reinforce our commitment to two important aspects of healthcare investments.'

Emaar has announced a healthcare group that plans to develop and manage over 100 hospitals, clinics and medical centres in the Middle East and North Africa, the Indian subcontinent and South East Asia in the next ten years.

'The rising demand for quality healthcare throughout the Arabian Gulf is unparalleled in scale by any other region of the world,' Page said. Demand for hospital beds in the region is set to double by 2025. Three major factors are dramatically increasing healthcare demand - population growth, an aging population and unique health risks.

'Total GCC population by 2025 is expected to be twice what it is today,' Page added. 'In addition, improvements in life expectancy mean more elderly people requiring care. There are major and growing health risk factors among GCC nationals with the prevalence of Type 2 diabetes and obesity at unusually high levels relative to the rest of the world. The health complications associated with both will have a dramatic impact in coming years.

'The challenges faced by government and private healthcare players will be much in evidence at the Arab Health exhibition and congress which bring healthcare providers, manufacturers, dealers and distributors together with key decision-makers in the region's health sector.'