Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, opened the 48th Arab Health event on Monday.
Sheikh Mohammed was joined by Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai.
Thousands of health professionals and industry leaders from across the globe have descended on the emirate for the start of the annual conference showcasing cutting-edge technology and innovation aimed at advancing patient care.
The region's largest healthcare exhibition, will take centre stage at Dubai World Trade Centre for the next four days.
The venue will welcome 45 international pavilions, which will demonstrate hi-tech developments, from a digital intensive care unit to a smart operating room.
More than 3,000 exhibitors drawn from 70 countries will take part in the international fair, with about 51,000 healthcare professionals expected to attend.
“The UAE and Dubai have placed a high priority on creating one of the world’s best healthcare sectors, in line with our development vision centred on human wellbeing and happiness," said Sheikh Mohammed.
"Consistent with our unwavering drive for excellence, we continue to transform the sector by bringing together the globe’s leading healthcare expertise, talent and institutions and opening new avenues for innovation to flourish.
"Our goal is to create a vibrant global healthcare hub that serves not only the needs of the people of our nation but also caters to the growing requirements of our vast region. Aligned with our goal of making the UAE one of the world’s best places to live and work, we are on a constantly evolving journey to raise standards of human development and welfare.”
Dh2.8 billion ($762.3 million) of deals were completed at last year's event.
“The UAE will again be the epicentre of the healthcare industry,” said Ross Williams, exhibition director for event organisers Informa Markets.
“We saw a solid bounce back in 2022, and 2023 is at around 97 per cent of pre Covid-19 figures, underscoring the global demand, which is matched by buyers keen to witness first-hand the latest innovations and new technologies in the healthcare sector.
“With the increase in international pavilions, we are providing the ideal platform for the Mena healthcare industry to build relationships with stakeholders from around the world while reaffirming UAE’s position as a global healthcare hub.”
Arab Health will also play host to the second Future Health Summit at the Museum of the Future.
The summit will look into the future of health and healthcare possibilities in the Metaverse. World-renowned industry leaders, visionaries, metaverse experts, authors and futurists will offer their insights.
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Name: Yousef Al Bahar
Advocate at Al Bahar & Associate Advocates and Legal Consultants, established in 1994
Education: Mr Al Bahar was born in 1979 and graduated in 2008 from the Judicial Institute. He took after his father, who was one of the first Emirati lawyers
Three ways to limit your social media use
Clinical psychologist, Dr Saliha Afridi at The Lighthouse Arabia suggests three easy things you can do every day to cut back on the time you spend online.
1. Put the social media app in a folder on the second or third screen of your phone so it has to remain a conscious decision to open, rather than something your fingers gravitate towards without consideration.
2. Schedule a time to use social media instead of consistently throughout the day. I recommend setting aside certain times of the day or week when you upload pictures or share information.
3. Take a mental snapshot rather than a photo on your phone. Instead of sharing it with your social world, try to absorb the moment, connect with your feeling, experience the moment with all five of your senses. You will have a memory of that moment more vividly and for far longer than if you take a picture of it.
India cancels school-leaving examinations
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The Melbourne Mercer Global Pension Index
The Melbourne Mercer Global Pension Index
Mazen Abukhater, principal and actuary at global consultancy Mercer, Middle East, says the company’s Melbourne Mercer Global Pension Index - which benchmarks 34 pension schemes across the globe to assess their adequacy, sustainability and integrity - included Saudi Arabia for the first time this year to offer a glimpse into the region.
The index highlighted fundamental issues for all 34 countries, such as a rapid ageing population and a low growth / low interest environment putting pressure on expected returns. It also highlighted the increasing popularity around the world of defined contribution schemes.
“Average life expectancy has been increasing by about three years every 10 years. Someone born in 1947 is expected to live until 85 whereas someone born in 2007 is expected to live to 103,” Mr Abukhater told the Mena Pensions Conference.
“Are our systems equipped to handle these kind of life expectancies in the future? If so many people retire at 60, they are going to be in retirement for 43 years – so we need to adapt our retirement age to our changing life expectancy.”
Saudi Arabia came in the middle of Mercer’s ranking with a score of 58.9. The report said the country's index could be raised by improving the minimum level of support for the poorest aged individuals and increasing the labour force participation rate at older ages as life expectancies rise.
Mr Abukhater said the challenges of an ageing population, increased life expectancy and some individuals relying solely on their government for financial support in their retirement years will put the system under strain.
“To relieve that pressure, governments need to consider whether it is time to switch to a defined contribution scheme so that individuals can supplement their own future with the help of government support,” he said.
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Company/date started: 2015
Founder/CEO: Rami Salman, Rishav Jalan, Ayush Chordia
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Technology, Sales, Voice, Artificial Intelligence
Size: (employees/revenue) 10/ 100,000 downloads
Stage: 1 ($800,000)
Investors: Eight first-round investors including, Beco Capital, 500 Startups, Dubai Silicon Oasis, Hala Fadel, Odin Financial Services, Dubai Angel Investors, Womena, Arzan VC
