The 2008 edition of the Middle East’s largest healthcare event, Arab Health concluded at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre after achieving record success through display of the latest medical breakthroughs and technical developments and attracting participants from over 100 countries.

Arab Health 2008 was inaugurated by Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al-Maktoum, Prime Minister and Vice President of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai. His Highness Sheikh Mohammed visited several stands of more than 2,200 exhibitors and witnessed the vast array of products and innovations on show with interest.

Described by His Excellency Mr. Humaid Al Qutami, the UAE Minister of Health, as “the greatest science gathering in the Middle East and the Arab world”, Arab Health 2008 broke all past records by putting over 2200 exhibiting companies from 65 countries on display and attracting over 45,000 medical and trade professionals from over 100 countries as participants at the event. This is a 10% increase over last year’s event.

‘Arab Health is a world class medical and healthcare event where the latest medical technologies are revealed and healthcare achievements are addressed,’ said His Excellency Mr. Humaid Al Qutami. ‘I am confident that all the expertise brought to Arab Health by the health industry and the scientists will benefit the development of the medical sector and health knowledge, which will eventually serve the entire the world’s population,’ he added.

Healthcare experts and leading industry representatives said that the substantial growth over the last few years of both the exhibition and the congress is a catalyst for healthcare in the region and represents an important gauge of its process.

International reports estimate the Middle East’s healthcare sector is worth US$74 billion, and is growing at a rate of 16% annually. The sector, analysts suggest, is emerging as one of the fastest growing and most attractive markets for the world’s hospital equipment and services companies, with expenditure on healthcare in the region predicted to continue rising for several years to come. The healthcare spending alone in the Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC) countries is forecast to reach $60 billion annually by 2025 – a fivefold increase over current spending, indicating massive continuous demand for the foreseeable future and triggering phenomenal response from the international manufacturing and service industry.

New models of private and public sector collaboration in healthcare are emerging in the Arabian Gulf as the region grapples with the challenge of unprecedented growth, according to industry experts.

Conferences Sold Out At World's Biggest Medical Congress

The multi-track Arab Health Congress – encompassing 18 internationally accredited conferences in specialised areas of medicine, surgery and healthcare management with over 400 internationally respected speakers and more than 5,500 delegates – continued to dominate the healthcare literary events around the globe as the largest event of its kind in the world.

Organisers, IIR Middle East, said they had been overwhelmed by demand with conferences sold out.

"The Arab Health conferences meet rigorous international standards in continuing medical education and we have been overwhelmed by demand from health professionals from all over the region and elsewhere," said Simon Page, Group Director of Life Sciences at IIR Middle East.

The Arab Health Conferences are accredited by the American Academy of Continuing Medical Education (AACME), recognised in over 96 countries. The Congress is one of only a handful of events in the world to receive the Gold Seal of Accreditations from the AACME. Delegates receive an accreditation certificate that can be used towards maintaining their annual quota of continuing medical education credits, now necessary to renew medical practicing licences in the UAE and many other countries

Exhibitors Confirm Space For 2009

As the Middle East’s biggest gathering of medical professionals entered its fourth and final day, the organisers of Arab Health announced that a major part of exhibition space for the 2009 event has already been booked.

“Arab Health is an incredible show and has reached capacity in terms of space at what is currently the Middle East’s biggest event facility,” said Simon Page, Group Director of Life Sciences at IIR Middle East. Arab Health 2009 will take place in Dubai from 26-29 January.

“Tens of thousands of visitors from over 100 countries came to do millions of dollars worth of business with a huge gathering of some of the most important manufacturers in the global healthcare sector,” Page added. “We are delighted with the turnout."

Page said he was now eagerly waiting to see the world’s biggest venue dedicated to major trade fairs – the Dubai Exhibition World, offering a massive 120,000 square metres of column free exhibition space in its first phase. This compares with the current Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre which has a total of more than 60,000 square metres of exhibition space – all of which was taken up by Arab Health 2008.

Achievements Acknowledged at Arab Health 2008

The Arab Health Achievement and Innovation Awards, the region’s most coveted healthcare industry awards, were announced at Arab Health this year at a spectacular gala dinner held at Jumeirah Beach Hotel.

The awards recognise excellence and outstanding achievement of individuals, hospitals, departments, teams and organisations that have contributed to the growth and development of the Arab health industry.

The Arab Health Awards for 2008 were announced at the gala dinner that was attended by more than 500 of the world's leading health professionals.

The winners were:

Specialist Achievement - Imaging and Diagnostics
NMC Specialty Hospital, Dubai, for an integrated radiology information and image management system. 

Specialist Achievement – Surgery
Tawam Hospital, Al Ain, for advances in cardiovascular intervention therapy.

Specialist Achievement – Laboratory
American Hospital, Dubai, for the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine

Specialist Achievement - Quality Healthcare Improvement Initiative
Tawam Hospital, for a contractors partnership programme.

Special Achievement - Emergency Medical Services
The leadership team of InterHealth Canada at the Rashid Hospital Trauma Centre, Dubai.

Special Achievement - Information Technology
Dubai Healthcare City for a healthcare information reporting and analysis system.

Hospital Education/Training
Saudi German Hospitals Group for initiating an evidence-based medicine project.

Infection Control Initiative
Tehran Heart Centre, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Infection Control Committee.

Arab Health Golf – A Leisurely Retreat for Participants

The Arab Health Show 2008 got off to a flying start on Sunday 27 January with the Arab Health Golf Classic, sponsored by Dubai Health Care City.

Over 90 medical industry professionals competed in 2-player teams to compete for the crown to become the Arab Health Dubai Golf Classic Champions.   Played on the stunning Dubai Creek Golf and Yacht Club course, the afternoon competition allowed all players to enjoy the exciting, friendly competition and camaraderie that can only be experienced by playing with fellow real estate industry peers and colleagues. A resounding success, the tournament is set to become a key feature of Arab Health in the years to come.

In addition to the main team competition, numerous fun and challenging individual competitions also took place during the day, gearing up medical professionals for immeasurable amounts of important industry contacts during the four days of the show.

New Beginnings

Many pharmaceutical companies enjoyed their last Arab Health, but voiced their enthusiasm at relocating to participate in PABME 2009. This is a new exhibition to be launched by IIR Middle East specifically for Pharmaceutical and Biotechnology companies in April this year.

‘Arab Health is a prominent reflection of the growing importance of the healthcare industry in this region,’ said Simon Page, Group Director of Life Sciences at IIR Middle East. ‘For practitioners, it is an ideal platform to get acquainted with the latest technologies and scientific advances; for companies, it is an opportunity to listen to the needs of the customers in the region,’ he added.

Supported by the United Arab Emirates Ministry of Health, the Dubai Health Authority and the Health Authority Abu Dhabi, the 2008 Arab Health Exhibition showcased products and services from more than 2,200 exhibitors representing over 65 countries. Leading sponsor was Dubai Healthcare City and main corporate sponsor was UAE development company, Emaar’s healthcare division.

The 2009 edition of Arab Health is due from 26 – 29 January at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre, UAE.

Contact Arab Health Team at:

IIR Middle East
PO Box 28943
Dubai – UAE
Tel: +971 4 336 5161
Fax: +971 4 336 4021
Email: arabhealth@iirme.com
Web: www.arabhealthonline.com