The World Health Expo (WHX) launched the first edition of WHX Leaders in Dubai , an invitation-only leadership platform that brought together the world’s most renowned healthcare leaders, innovators and decision-makers. The invitation-only summit brought together global health ministers, CEOs, investors and innovators to shape the next decade of health policy and investment. Aligned with UAE Vision 2031, WHX Leaders in Dubai position the UAE as a global hub for health leadership, intelligence and system-level transformation.
The pilot program began with a special preview on Sunday, 8 February, ahead of the full WHX Leaders program scheduled for 2027. In conjunction with WHX in Dubai (formerly Arab Health) and WHX Labs in Dubai (formerly Medlab Middle East), WHX Leaders reinforced the UAE’s position as a global hub for healthcare leadership, investment, and innovation.
WHX was part of inD, the partnership between Informa Group PLC and Dubai World Trade Centre. WHX Leaders in Dubai, held under the patronage of the UAE Ministry of Health and Prevention and aligned with UAE Vision 2031, addressed mounting global pressures on healthcare systems. These include aging populations, rising rates of chronic disease, workforce shortages projected to result in a shortfall of around 11 million health workers by 2030, and increasing costs that strain infrastructure. At the same time, breakthroughs in digital health, data, and AI are transforming how care is planned, delivered, and financed, often outpacing regulation. These shifts underscore the urgent need for a dedicated platform to address the future of healthcare leadership.
WHX Leaders in Dubai was an invitation-only environment for coordinated action. Dubai served as an exceptional connector, uniting over 150 of the most influential decision-makers in global health to address shared priorities and align on decisions with long-term national and regional impact. As the global flagship event, WHX Leaders occurred alongside the World Health Expo, the world’s largest healthcare event, creating an unparalleled platform for health policy, innovation, and investment.
The event convened approximately 200 senior leaders, including health ministers, government strategists, CEOs, global investors, and influential figures in AI, digital health, and academia. These individuals shaped national healthcare policies, directed significant investments, and influenced governance frameworks determining the future of global health systems.
Lord Stephen Carter, Group CEO of Informa, stated, “At Informa, we create opportunities for entire markets to connect, collaborate, and innovate. WHX Leaders Dubai was an excellent expression of our commitment to this, bringing together key influencers from across the global healthcare ecosystem. Dubai, as a global hub for progress and connectivity, provided the appropriate setting for these conversations.”
The 2026 launch preview highlighted the calibre of dialogue that would define the platform. It included a flagship strategic leadership discussion on how digital and intelligence-driven healthcare systems require more innovative approaches to policy, governance, and leadership. Designed as a closed-door, outcomes-driven forum, WHX Leaders, which held its inaugural edition in Africa in 2024, addressed the need for a trusted environment where senior leaders could engage in strategic dialogue beyond the constraints of traditional conferences.
The platform enabled high-level discussions on policy alignment, institutional readiness, long-term system resilience, investment, and governance models required to support next-generation health systems across the Middle East and beyond.
Speakers at the event included Shaista Asif, Group CEO of Pure Health; Daniel Kraft, Founder and CEO of NextMed Health; Dimitris Moulavasilis, Group CEO of M42; Maneesh Goyal, Chief Operating Officer of Mayo Clinic; Dr. Sania Nishtar, CEO of GAVI, The Vaccine; and Sameh ElFangary, Chairman of The Pharmaceutical Research & Manufacturers Association Gulf (PHRMAG) and President of GCC & Pakistan for AstraZeneca.
The launch preview sets the direction for WHX Leaders 2027, a multi-year initiative aimed at accelerating system-level reform across policy, investment, and innovation. WHX Leaders was organized by Informa as part of the World Health Expo (WHX) brand and took place on 8 February 2026 at Cheval Maison, Expo City.
inD is a leading B2B Live Events Group in South Asia, the Middle East, and Africa. With a portfolio of over 40 major B2B brands, inD serves high-growth market categories, including Healthcare, Energy, Aviation, Food, Technology, Information Security, HR, and Education. Headquartered in Dubai with more than 1,000 colleagues across the region, inD was a partnership between Informa Group PLC, the world’s leading B2B Live Events Group, and DWTC, the region's leading business enabler and global events powerhouse. As a subsidiary of Informa PLC, a publicly listed company on the London Stock Exchange, inD combined international scale and expertise with leadership in large-scale B2B event intellectual property to deliver world-class events that sparked innovation, stimulated trade, and drove economic growth.
