More than 2,000 health care professionals, academics and researchers from around the globe are expected to attend a major gastroenterology meeting scheduled to be held in Abu Dhabi in 2016.

The Emirates Gastroenterology & Hepatology Society (EGHS) has signed an agreement to jointly organise Gastro 2016: EGHS/WGO International Meeting, together with the World Gastroenterology Organisation (WGO).

The agreement signing follows a two day official visit to Abu Dhabi city, organised by the Abu Dhabi Convention Bureau, for the WGO delegation to gain first hand insights into the destination and the UAE capital’s range of meeting venues, hotels and tourism attractions.

The meeting, which promises to be the largest ever gastroenterology and hepatology meeting in the Arab World, will be jointly held with the Emirates Gastroenterology & Hepatology Annual Meeting in the same year.

The agreement sets in motion the formation of an international scientific committee with representatives from both organisations to develop a truly international scientific educational programme over three days of scientific and networking events, symposia, forums, debate, including the live broadcasting of a series of operations directly from one of the UAE’s leading hospitals.

International experts, distinguished regional and local faculty and world-renowned speakers will cover the latest scientific research and innovation in the field of Gastroenterology & Hepatology.

A medical exhibition alongside the international meeting will also take place with participation from local and international medical organisations.

Meeting Minds – Experts has been appointed as the professional conference organisers to stage the 2016 meeting.

Dr Maryam Al Khatry, president of EGHS, said, “I am delighted to see that the efforts made by our active and highly committed members, have now made way for the staging of this important international meeting.

“This is the first time in the history of WGO that it joins forces with an Arab based organisation to jointly hold a co-organised meeting, which only emphasises the growing scope and demand for expertise in the UAE and the region. I look forward to welcoming all the distinguished guests, members of WGO and EGHS in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, in 2016.”

Professor James Toouli, president of WGO said: “We are delighted to work with the EGHS leadership team on holding this important international meeting in the beautiful city of Abu Dhabi and we hope that this excellent development will set the scene for further collaboration between WGO and EGHS members.”

“We wish to foster and support joint activities with our member societies and as such holding this international meeting in Abu Dhabi, is especially important as we envisage it will be the highlight and potentially the largest meeting for WGO members in 2016.

“The meeting is also an excellent opportunity to gain first insight into the current and future developments in the United Arab Emirates as well as for members and their families to experience the warm hospitality of Abu Dhabi,” he added.

The WGO mission is to promote, to the general public and health care professionals alike, an awareness of the world wide prevalence and optimal care of digestive disorders through the provision of high quality, accessible and independent education and training.

The meeting has the support of Abu Dhabi Convention Bureau – a one-stop resource of Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority (TCA Abu Dhabi) – which is assisting the emirate to increasingly advance its reputation in the medical meetings sector. – TradeArabia News Service