World Health Expo (WHX) and World Health Expo Labs (WHX Labs) mark a definitive reinvention of what was once the Middle East’s most influential healthcare trade show. The platform, formerly known as Arab Health, has long been a cornerstone of healthcare commerce in the region.
Now, under the WHX banner, it is asserting a broader ambition to transcend geography and anchor events firmly within the globally connected healthcare ecosystem.
This change marks more than a rebrand. This reflects a strategic realignment of purpose, positioning WHX and WHX Labs as powerhouses of innovation, market access and cross-border collaboration at a time when healthcare systems around the world are being reshaped by technology, policy and investment flows, Informa SVP Solenne Singer said in an interview with TradeArabia’s Sree Bhat.
With a growing concentration of senior decision makers, buyers and policy leaders, the event is evolving into a platform for high-level strategy and deal decisions. WHX will be held in Dubai from February 9th to 12th and WHX Labs will be held from February 10th to 13th.
Excerpt from the interview:
WHX marks a new chapter in the program’s history. What is the fundamental difference of this edition in terms of vision and global positioning?
What we’re seeing with WHX is repositioning what this event represents on the global medical calendar. Formerly Arab Health, the show has been the most important healthcare market in the region for decades, and its heritage remains incredibly strong. WHX branding, which includes WHX and WHX Labs, moves us beyond being defined by geography alone and positions us as part of the globally connected World Health Expo platform.
Our current vision is to accelerate innovation, market access and cross-border collaboration. WHX and WHX Labs are designed as meeting points where healthcare systems, policymakers, industry leaders, investors, and innovators come together to not only showcase their products but actively shape the future of healthcare delivery.
Dubai plays an important role in that position. The city is uniquely positioned between East and West, and both events reflect its role as a bridge between mature healthcare markets and rapidly evolving systems in the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia. That ambition is very clear this year as we move into city-wide Healthcare Week and both events will be held in parallel. It is large-scale healthcare with global relevance.
How big is this year’s WHX in terms of number of exhibitors, countries represented, and visitors?
The scale of both events this year is unprecedented and reflects the growing global importance of the events. Across both exhibitions, more than 235,000 professional visitors, 4,800 exhibitors and participants from more than 180 countries are expected.
These aren’t just headline numbers. These reflect the diversity of the global healthcare ecosystem currently represented in Dubai, from multinational manufacturers and digital health leaders to hospital systems, regulators and the next generation of innovators. It’s not just about big numbers. In terms of audience, we have a very high proportion of senior decision makers, buyers and policy leaders, reinforcing our position as a serious business and strategy platform rather than just a trade show.
The UAE is a relatively small healthcare market. Why does WHX still attract such strong participation from around the world?
From a population perspective, the UAE is a relatively small market. However, today’s healthcare is not determined by population size. It is driven by connections, ambition and investment. The UAE, and Dubai in particular, positions itself as a global hub for medical trade, innovation and policy dialogue, and WHX is a natural extension of that role.
Access is what attracts participants from all over the world. Companies can meet with healthcare buyers and decision makers from the Middle East, Africa, South Asia, and even Europe and Asia Pacific in one place and within a week. For many international organizations, WHX and WHX Labs are the most efficient way to engage with multiple growth markets simultaneously.
We also have strong alignment with local health priorities, digital transformation, AI adoption, local manufacturing, supply chain resiliency, and preventive care. Combine this with the ease of doing business in Dubai and the proven commercial results of over $2.5 billion in business value generated in previous editions of WHX, and it becomes clear why global participation continues to grow year on year.
How important is WHX today as a gateway to healthcare markets across the Middle East, Africa, South Asia and global markets?
WHX will become one of the most important gateways globally, uniting markets that are difficult to access individually. Many healthcare companies face fragmented regulatory environments, complex procurement processes, and diverse healthcare needs across emerging markets. We’re simplifying this.
WHX and WHX Labs bring ministries of health, public and private healthcare providers, distributors and manufacturers together in one place, creating a unique environment to form partnerships and develop market entry strategies. The fact that participants consistently come from more than 180 countries shows how central this event is to international medical activity.
Importantly, the role of this gateway is not unidirectional. It’s not just about global companies entering local markets. It’s also about showcasing the region’s innovation, manufacturing and clinical expertise to the world.
The event will be held in two locations. What benefits does this bring and what challenges does this pose?
Having WHX and WHX Labs in two venues simultaneously allows for depth and scale. The Dubai Exhibition Center at Expo City Dubai offers space for a complete WHX Marketplace covering medical devices, healthcare infrastructure, digital health and wellness, while the Dubai World Trade Center hosts WHX Labs, a highly specialized platform focused on laboratory medicine, diagnostics and precision medicine.
Each venue has a clear purpose and audience focus, allowing attendees to delve deeper into the areas most relevant to them. At the same time, the two venues are strategically connected, allowing attendees to move between the venues as part of the broader Healthcare Week experience.
What are the key events and conferences that are co-located with WHX and how do they strengthen the overall proposition?
One of the biggest strengths of both exhibitions is their content programs. As part of our events, we offer a comprehensive portfolio of CME accredited conferences, accredited training programs, and executive-level forums. These are not add-ons. They are essential to the value of the event.
At this year’s WHX, content will be shaped around three major stages: Visionary, Future These stages bring global thought leaders into dialogue with local stakeholders and create a powerful exchange of ideas.
WHX Labs further strengthens this proposition by adding deep scientific and clinical content in diagnostics, genomics, and precision medicine. Together, both exhibitions ensure that they are as much about learning and strategic insights as they are about business.
Which major healthcare trends will dominate WHX this year, especially digital health, AI, and medical technology?
Digital health and AI will be central, but with a notable shift from experimentation to implementation. We are seeing strong demand for solutions that deliver tangible results. Examples include AI to improve clinical decision-making, automation to reduce operational pressures, and digital platforms to seamlessly integrate into care pathways.
Future X (formerly known as Transformation Zone) serves as WHX’s platform for discussing and showcasing innovations in the health sector. Entrepreneurs, investors, digital experts, and healthcare organizations come together to exchange ideas, build partnerships, and explore scalable solutions.
Visionary Stage, which includes AI and digital health capabilities, will feature a dedicated two-day program focused on real-world AI deployments across agent AI and robotics, interoperability, governance, cybersecurity, and case studies that take AI beyond pilots to clinical and operational transformation.
Shaping breakthroughs to enable tomorrow’s healthcare The Frontier Stage features the Biotechnology & Life Sciences track, where biotechnology, AI, and synthetic biology converge to accelerate discovery and clinical breakthroughs. See how global collaborations are getting science from the lab to patients faster than ever before.
Diagnostics and precision medicine, especially through WHX Labs, are gaining attention as fundamental elements of modern medical systems.
Importantly, these trends do not occur in isolation. Both events increasingly focus on how technology intersects with workforce challenges, sustainability, access and patient experience. This systems-level perspective resonates with today’s healthcare leaders.
How clearly is the transition to preventative, personalized, value-based care reflected in events?
This shift is evident and increasingly prevalent at both WHX and WHX Labs. Preventive and personalized healthcare is reflected not only in the conference agenda covering health, longevity, women’s health and oncology, but also in the solutions presented on the exhibition floor.
Value-based care is an important topic, especially for health systems under financial pressure. What we will see this week is a discussion that moves beyond theory to practical examples, such as how data supports outcome measurement, how diagnosis enables early intervention, and how digital tools can help optimize care pathways.
This reflects a broader global transition from quantity to value, and we want to ensure we provide a platform where different regions can learn from each other’s experiences in that transition.
How important are topics like resilient supply chains and local medical manufacturing to WHX?
These themes have received significant attention in recent years. The pandemic has highlighted the fragility of global supply chains, and healthcare industry leaders are now actively exploring more resilient, diversified, and localized models.
Our events bring together manufacturers, distributors, and procurement leaders to directly address these challenges. Additionally, there is strong interest in regional manufacturing partnerships, technology transfer and regional capacity building, particularly in alignment with national health strategies across the Middle East.
Beyond visibility, what tangible business value does WHX provide to exhibitors and visitors?
We have consistently provided high-quality engagement with decision makers, structured networking opportunities, and a commercial environment designed to support deal-making. WHX generated $2.57 billion in business value last year. For WHX Labs, that amount was $621 million.
For exhibitors, this translates into real leads, partnerships, and sales deals. For our visitors, that means access to solutions, insights, and relationships that directly support operational and strategic goals. The education component further enhances this value by enabling faster adoption and more informed purchasing decisions.
How important is deal-making and investment activity within WHX?
This is a fundamental part of our success and popularity. Our healthcare events are designed to generate early conversations that evolve into structured partnerships and formalize investment discussions over time. The expanded format of Healthcare Week will strengthen this dynamic by bringing a broader investment and innovation audience to Dubai at the same time.
How do you see WHX evolving over the next few years as healthcare becomes increasingly digital and outcomes-focused?
WHX will continue to evolve with the health systems it serves. There will be more emphasis on outcomes, implementation, and impact, and more on what will deliver real change at scale.
After all, our evolution is about relevance. As healthcare becomes more complex, more digital and more outcomes-driven, we continue to provide a platform for the global medical community to come together constructively.
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