His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai visited Arab Health Exhibition and Congress 2020 on the opening day of the event (Monday 27th January).
Arab Health will welcome more than 55,000 healthcare and trade professionals from more than 159 countries and 4,250 exhibiting companies from over 64 countries to the Dubai World Trade Centre from 27 – 30 January for the 45th edition of the largest healthcare event in the Middle East.
Commenting on the opening of the exhibition, Ross Williams, Exhibition Director, Arab Health, said: “Arab Health provides a pivotal platform for the Middle East & North Africa (MENA) healthcare industry to build relations with international stakeholders, explore new business opportunities, as well as providing a stage for the leading lights of the global healthcare sector to discuss topical healthcare issues, the latest innovation and technology in the industry, and advancements in the field – all to the benefit of the patient.”
Last year, more than US$ 824 million worth of business was generated by exhibitors at Arab Health, denoting a year-on-year increase of 5.9%. The UAE economy was also boosted by the business tourism benefits of the show, while the healthcare industry in the region benefited from solutions addressing diseases such as diabetes, obesity and cancers.
Once again, public sector entities including the UAE Ministry of Health and Prevention, Department of Health Abu Dhabi, Dubai Health Authority, and Dubai Healthcare City Authority, are showing their support for Arab Health.
Dr Gareth Goodier, Group CEO of Abu Dhabi Health Services Company (SEHA), Arab Health 2020’s Official Congress Supporter, said: “As the healthcare industry continues to evolve at a staggering pace, Arab Health has come to be recognised as a platform where leading minds from across the globe convene to share knowledge and innovation trends with one cohesive goal; to advance the provision of healthcare in the region. It’s an opportunity to focus on how to meet and exceed international benchmarks and ensure we are meeting patients’ and the community’s needs. This year, we are excited to present the latest addition to SEHA’s network – the Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City. With our ground-breaking joint venture with Mayo Clinic, this is a milestone project that is set to have a transformational impact on healthcare delivery in the UAE and wider region.”
The first day of the Innov8 Talks agenda also got underway today, with eight innovative SME’s and entrepreneurs presenting their latest groundbreaking healthcare ideas. A further eight companies will present on each day of the show with the final day hosting a ‘pitch off’ to a select group of judges. Today’s entrepreneurs making their bid for the perfect pitch include Biomedical’s Zeus, a multi-action bionic limb for upper limb amputees; UniExo, the creator of modular exoskeletons using machine learning algorithms and doctor online-surveillance; and Kinestica’s sensor-based rehabilitation systems, among others.
Companies taking the stage over the remaining three days of Arab Health include SensDx, a system that detects the influenza virus at the very early stage of infection; Cardiolyse, a heart health analysing solution that enables affordable real-time remote monitoring; and OKDOK, a tele-medicine app that enables remote diagnostic/consultations for health and wellbeing.
Organised by Informa Markets, an anticipated 4,250+ exhibitors from more than 64 countries and 55,000 visitors are expected to attend the 2020 edition of Arab Health which runs from 10am on Monday 27th to 5pm Thursday 30th January.