U.S.-U.A.E. Business Council's Healthcare Working Group holds meeting on the sidelines of Arab Health in Dubai

The event brought together members of the U.S.-U.A.E. Business Council's 'Healthcare Working Group' and featured remarks by the Honorable Michael H. Corbin, U.S. Ambassador to the U.A.E., Mr. William Peacock III, Chief Operations Officer of Cleveland Clinic, and Mr. Tom Gentile, President and CEO of General Electric Healthcare Systems. Colin Rutherford, Vice President of the U.S.-U.A.E. Business Council chaired the off-the-record discussion throughout the meeting.

U.S. Ambassador Michael Corbin provided welcome remarks and addressed the group of senior officials and executives. During his comments, Ambassador Corbin highlighted the potential for commercial partnership for American healthcare providers and periphery companies with counterparts in the U.A.E.'s growing healthcare sector. In his comments, Ambassador Corbin noted that the U.A.E. has become "a crossroads for the whole world" in the healthcare sector. After providing a quick overview of the U.S.-U.A.E. commercial healthcare landscape, Ambassador Corbin introduced Peacock for his keynote remarks.

During his presentation, Mr. Peacock provided the group with Cleveland Clinic's corporate profile and focused on the Cleveland Clinic's experiences since the recent expansion of its global network to Abu Dhabi. In his comments, Peacock noted the evolving dynamics of commercial partnership in the U.A.E.'s broader healthcare sector.

He also underscored the importance of relationship-building and developing a keen awareness of the regulatory infrastructure governing the U.A.E.'s nascent healthcare industry.

Throughout his presentation, Peacock emphasized the amount of work and partnership that has gone into his organization's preparation for the opening of Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, scheduled for later this year. Following Peacock's remarks, GE's Tom Gentile provided additional comments on the potential of the U.A.E. healthcare market from GE's perspective.

In his remarks, Gentile noted the strong domestic need for world-class healthcare infrastructure, services, and technology in the U.A.E., stating that GE has been in the region for over 80 years.

He also noted that the Emirates serves as a host nation to several of the world's cultures and as such, requires a diverse assortment of healthcare solutions to successfully meet the needs of its citizens and residents.

According to Gentile, GE Healthcare — a $20Bn global company— sees the U.A.E. as a huge growth region and is excited about the opportunities in the U.A.E. and Arab Health.

Following the formal speaking program, the floor was opened for general discussion. During the session, questions were asked about the U.A.E.'s corporate legal framework, issues affecting U.S.-U.A.E. healthcare industry collaboration, and experiences working with Emirati companies.

Members of the U.S.-U.A.E. Business Council's 'Healthcare Working Group' and officials who attended the meeting are in Dubai this week for Arab Health 2013, the largest healthcare industry event in the Middle East.