Peter Hall, president Middle East, India, Türkiye & Africa at Informa Markets, talks about the transition of Arab Health into World Health Expo (WHX) Dubai, strengthening Dubai’s position as a global hub of advances in medicine and healthcare.
Arab Health has been the region’s premier healthcare exhibition for decades. What drove the evolution to WHX Dubai, and how does the launch of WHX Tech reflect both the industry’s transformation and Dubai’s rise as a global hub for health innovation?
Arab Health has been the Middle East’s largest healthcare event and congress since 1975, and it was a special moment to host the 50th anniversary edition this year – a true testament to the event’s global appeal and stature. The anniversary was the perfect platform to introduce a brand evolution and vision that mirrors the next 50 years of healthcare collaboration and innovation, as well as cementing Dubai’s status as not just a global hub, but also an incubator and enabler of medical advancement.
The name World Health Expo (WHX) unifies Informa’s healthcare events across the world to better facilitate connection and collaboration under a single brand. WHX Tech, the latest event launch in our healthcare portfolio, is designed to be an international meeting of minds where healthcare leaders and technologists unite to accelerate the adoption of innovation in healthcare and transform the delivery of care, from leading technologists and industry changemakers to disruptive startups reshaping the sector.
With Dubai being a gateway between East and West, the event will bring together experts and innovators from around the world, spotlighting solutions to rethink care delivery, management, and experience, while providing expert insights from key global industry figures.
Read: Enhancing healthcare, driving progress
WHX Tech aims to bring global innovators and regional leaders under one roof. How will the agenda and speaker lineup deliver on the region’s real healthcare needs?
As the world’s leading event organiser, Informa creates platforms for industries to overcome their most pressing challenges. WHX Tech will spotlight innovations poised to drive meaningful change – technology that moves beyond theory to deliver tangible impact.
To address the region’s healthcare needs, we’re bringing some of the brightest minds in global health to the UAE, including influential voices such as Meong Hi Son, chief medical information officer at Samsung Medical Center; Dr. Rashmi Rao, chief product officer at Philips; and Dr. Harvey Castro, AI and healthcare advisor to the Singapore government.
These experts have successfully tackled the industry’s most significant challenges, including chronic conditions, accessibility and affordability issues and strategies to alleviate pressure on healthcare systems worldwide.
The WHX Tech Startup Competition is being positioned as the region’s largest, but what makes it truly impactful? How will it move beyond the stage to help winning startups to scale and drive real change in the healthcare system?
The WHX Tech Startup Competition represents more than an industry contest – it’s a strategic catalyst for healthcare transformation across our region. By bringing together the most promising innovators in digital health, we’re creating a platform that addresses the fundamental challenges facing healthcare systems today.
What makes our approach truly impactful is the comprehensive ecosystem we’ve built around these emerging companies. Beyond the competition itself, we’re providing winners with substantial resources, market visibility, and – most critically – access to decision-makers who can implement their solutions at scale.
Innovation faces unique barriers to adoption. By connecting startups directly with investors, healthcare providers and government stakeholders, we’re actively dismantling these barriers. The relationships formed during WHX Tech will accelerate the journey from promising concept to widespread implementation.
This competition embodies Informa’s commitment to creating platforms where meaningful connections drive industry transformation. We’re not just showcasing innovation – we’re actively facilitating the partnerships that will bring these life-changing technologies to patients and providers throughout our region and beyond.
Many conferences discuss innovation, but few deliver tangible results. How is WHX Tech designed to turn conversations into action?
As a launch edition, the event is already attracting significant global interest, with over 300 brands, 300 expert speakers and 5,000 healthcare leaders from more than 30 countries. This demonstrates a clear demand for a platform that unites the digital health community to address critical challenges and opportunities.
What truly sets WHX Tech apart is its focus on creating momentum. With the esteemed patronage of the Ministry of Health and Prevention (MOHAP), Dubai Health Authority (DHA) and Emirates Health Services (EHS), the event is uniquely positioned to foster public-private partnerships that can drive systemic change.
The event’s structure is designed to inspire action:
- World X showcases real-world applications of digital health technologies already transforming care delivery.
- Xcelerate provides a dynamic platform for startups to connect with investors, scale their solutions and make a tangible impact on healthcare systems.
Whether you’re attending to launch a product, learn from industry leaders or collaborate on new initiatives – WHX Tech is where these things become reality.
Looking ahead, what’s your long-term vision for WHX Tech across the Middle East, India, Türkiye, and Africa?
For a launch event, the overwhelming support from both industry leaders and government stakeholders highlights the immense demand for a platform like WHX Tech. This enthusiasm underscores the potential for growth and innovation across key markets in the Middle East, India, Türkiye and Africa.
Our long-term vision is to position WHX Tech as the leading platform for driving global digital healthcare transformation, with Dubai as its anchor. As we look to the future, WHX Tech will continue to expand its reach, fostering connections and delivering impactful solutions that address the unique healthcare challenges and opportunities across these dynamic regions.
Peter Hall, president Middle East, India, Türkiye & Africa, Informa Markets
