As the UAE announces a 66 per cent increase in its healthcare budget for 2008, MEED’s Middle East Healthcare Projects 2007 provides a timely insight into the opportunities for investment and development in the Gulf’s healthcare sector.

MEED’s Healthcare Projects 2007 conference will be held on December 4 and 5, 2007, at the Al Murooj Rotana Hotel in Dubai, UAE. 

Conference delegates will witness unique insights into the latest business opportunities in line with the regional growth of public private partnerships, increased budgets stimulated by petrodollars, and new sector regulation and legislation which is beginning to have a critical impact on the design and build of healthcare facilities across the Middle East.

"Existing healthcare structures are quite simply outdated and can’t cope with the growing demand from increasing populations. This has seen local governments call on the skills and experience of major players in the healthcare sector to develop the struggling healthcare infrastructure,” said MEED events chairman Edmund O’Sullivan.

“The UAE for example has identified the expansion of the healthcare sector as its number one priority for the year.  It’s a decision that will have a huge impact on the healthcare project sector in the Gulf and beyond,” he added.

Latest trends indicate that leading international private sector providers in the region are focused on the use of international best practices to develop centres of excellence, with dedicated healthcare zones in the Middle East including Dubai Healthcare City (DHCC), Abu Dhabi Sheikh Khalifa Medical City and Qatar Foundation providing key project opportunities. 

“I'm honoured to be a presenter at the upcoming MEED Healthcare Projects 2007 Conference.  The event falls right in line with Ellerbe Becket's philosophy of working for the long-term success of its clients,” said CEO at Ellerbe Becket Rick Lincicome.

The conference will feature cutting edge presentations and keynote speeches by Faisal Belhoul, founder and managing partner of Ithmar Capital and executive vice-chairman
Belhoul Group Holdings, Dr Muhadditha Al Hashimi – CEO of Dubai Healthcare City (DHCC) and Dr Sobhi Batterjee – president of Saudi German Hospitals Group.

Middle East Healthcare Projects 2007 provides a platform to exchange information and ideas on project opportunities in the healthcare sector, and to engage with the key individuals who are shaping this fast-evolving industry. 

Delegates are also able to participate in a special post-conference workshop, led by leading international experts, GE Healthcare, which explores the techniques and processes needed to develop successful sector partnering strategies. – TradeArabia News Service