Arab Health 2010, the Middle East’s largest gathering of healthcare professionals, was inaugurated today (January 25) by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.

The Arab Health Exhibition and Congress, which runs until January 28 at the Dubai World Trade Centre, is featuring more than 2700 exhibiting companies from 70 countries.

“The healthcare world has descended on the Arab Health Exhibition and Congress which has again confirmed it is by one if the world’s most important healthcare exhibitions,” said Simon Page, group director of the Life Sciences Division of organisers IIR Middle East.

“Arab Health provides an unrivalled opportunity for professionals to bring their knowledge and understanding up to date and a testament to the continuing development of the region’s healthcare sector,” Page added.

With the Middle East healthcare sector continuing to enjoy robust growth despite the global downturn, more companies than ever are exhibiting at Arab Health this year in their search for new business, according to the organisers.

Germany has this year mounted its biggest ever representation at a health event outside of Germany with more than 400 companies participating.

The second biggest representation comes from China with around 300 exhibiting companies. Big representations also come from the UAE, the UK and the US, each with around 200 exhibiting companies; and India, Iran, Italy, South Korea and Taiwan with upwards of 100 companies each.

Arab Health is the flagship of the Life Science Division of IIR Middle East, the largest trade and consumer event business in the region, and features the world’s biggest multi-track medical congress at which healthcare professionals can earn continuing medical education credits.

The 2010 conferences, sponsored by US-based Cleveland Clinic Centre for Continuing Education, are being addressed by around 500 speakers and are hosting more than 5,500 attendees.

The winners of the Arab Health Achievement and Innovation Awards, recognising individuals, hospitals, departments, teams or organisations contributing to the growth and development of the industry, will be announced at an event on January 26 at the Grand Hyatt Hotel. – TradeArabia News Service