Arab Health 2005 - Medical Exhibition, Dubai

Citation

(2005), "Arab Health 2005 - Medical Exhibition, Dubai", International Journal of Health Care Quality Assurance, Vol. 18 No. 3. https://doi.org/10.1108/ijhcqa.2005.06218cab.008

Arab Health 2005 - Medical Exhibition, Dubai

Keywords: Personal health, Middle East, Medical conferences

From a small trade show organized under canvas on a patch of land next to the Intercontinental Hotel in Dubai, Arab Health has grown into one of the world’s largest and most successful medical events in. The 2005 event will see Arab Health occupy all eight halls plus the Sheikh Rashid Hall of the Dubai International Exhibition Center for the first time in its history.

“Arab Health’s history and growth reflects the expansion and development of the Middle East healthcare sector as a whole,” said John Hassett, IIR ME exhibitions director, healthcare division. “As the event has developed, it has hosted a growing community of local specialist companies, medical institutions and government delegations. Arab Health 2005 will welcome over 2,000 companies from more than 50 countries, indicating that the event remains a hub for international interest”.

The first Arab Health exhibition was launched in Dubai as one of three trade shows that aimed to support the Gulf’s growth industries: construction, power, and healthcare.

With the help of local authorities, the event overcame a number of significant challenges to bring together global healthcare companies in one location. Hotel rooms were so scarce at that time that organizers had to charter a cruise ship and moor it alongside the exhibition to provide attendees with a roof over their heads.

However, many of the deals struck proved to be highly significant, providing local hospitals with essential resources and materials, and several of the companies that attended in the early years have grown into giants in the healthcare space.

Hopes are high that this year’s event will deliver similar success to attendees. Research conducted at the 2004 show revealed that 72 per cent of visitors are prime decision makers over purchases or the specification of products and services, 63 per cent of visitors expected to do business with a new supplier at the show, and 86 per cent of visitors came across an interesting product while at the show.

“Historically, Arab Health has proved a vital entry point for companies looking to do business in the Middle East and for Middle Eastern companies looking to raise their profile with international organizations. The first companies to do business at Arab Health dealt in the essentials of healthcare – hospital beds, bandages and X-ray equipment – while today, we see a full range of providers attend,” said Hassett.

“Throughout the expansion, the entrepreneurial and humanitarian impulse that drove the first exhibition still drives participation today,” added Hassett.

The international character of the exhibition is reflected in the number of returning exhibitors booking for next year’s events.

“Arab Health is so important we started exhibiting with our own booth five years ago; we found that, as a manufacturer, it is very important to exhibit here as the event attracts visitors from countries from all over the Gulf region,” said Alessandro Zuest, a representative of Swiss medical equipment manufacturer, Schiller AG.

“From the continued success we have had here, we have consistently had to enlarge our booth; we will definitely be here next year as the show meets our needs and the customers we want to see are here,” added Zuest.

Part of the reason for widespread interest in Arab Health within the Middle East’s medical community has been its facility to offer accreditation to doctors that participate in the congresses that run alongside the exhibition.

The first congress was held in 1979, with the support of Dubai’s Department of Health and Medical Services. One of the first health seminars to be held within the region, it made a demonstrable impact on the development of medical training by contributing to the skills-base and knowledge of a new generation of Arab doctors.

This growth of the conference side of Arab Health has enabled it to maintain its place at the heart of the evolution of the healthcare sector in the region, and provided exhibitors with access to industry-leading decision-makers and key opinion leaders.

At Arab Health 2005, physicians from across the region will be able to earn Continuing Medical Education (CME) following the decision by the American Academy of Continuing Medical Education (AACME) to provide approval for the Congress sessions.

Arab Health is the only event in the region that brings together medical specialists and manufacturers under one roof. It affords major companies a platform to showcase their equipment while simultaneously affording medical practitioners from various disciplines an opportunity to update their knowledge.

“The expanding health sector not only demands that local healthcare professionals are kept abreast of latest developments, but also necessitates the installation of state-of-the-art equipment in the region’s hospitals, clinics and diagnostic laboratories,” said Hassett. “The region’s health market is currently estimated at around US$74bn, with 16 per cent annual growth, making it one of the world’s most attractive markets for hospital equipment and services companies,” he added.