Global leaders, innovators and visionaries gathered in the UAE capital to explore the future of healthcare, technology and human wellbeing.
Abu Dhabi once again positioned itself at the center of global dialogue as the Forbes Middle East Healthcare Leaders Summit – Abu Dhabi 2026 brought together some of the most influential voices in healthcare, business, science and innovation.
Hosted by Forbes Middle East in partnership with PureHealth, the fifth edition of the summit took place on September 22–23, 2026, at the prestigious Emirates Palace Mandarin Oriental, Abu Dhabi, under the patronage of H.E. Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, UAE Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence.
Under the theme “Defining Global Standards in Healthcare Excellence,” the two-day gathering welcomed more than 100 speakers and approximately 3,000 participants, including policymakers, healthcare executives, scientists, physicians, entrepreneurs and specialists from the UAE, the wider Middle East and around the world.
Where Innovation Meets Humanity
The summit opened an important conversation about what healthcare excellence should mean in a rapidly evolving world.
Artificial intelligence, genomics, precision medicine, longevity, fertility and reproductive health, advanced diagnostics, digital health, prevention and population health were among the subjects explored throughout the event. Discussions also examined how technology can enable healthcare systems to become increasingly predictive, personalized and proactive.
Yet one of the strongest messages emerging from the summit was that technological advancement must continue to be accompanied by humanity.
During the inauguration, H.E. Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan highlighted the UAE’s ambition to contribute not simply to adopting international healthcare standards, but to helping define them. He also emphasized the importance of ensuring that increasingly intelligent and automated healthcare systems remain centered around people, accessibility and human care.
The message reflected a broader vision increasingly associated with the UAE: bringing together technology, global expertise and ambitious leadership while maintaining quality of life and human wellbeing at the center of progress.
The UAE as a Global Healthcare Hub
The summit also highlighted Abu Dhabi’s expanding role within the international healthcare landscape.
From advanced medical facilities and international partnerships to genomics, AI and precision medicine, the UAE continues to invest in an ecosystem designed not only to respond to illness, but increasingly to anticipate health risks and focus on prevention and longevity.
Khuloud Al Omian, CEO and Editor-in-Chief of Forbes Middle East, described the 2026 edition as taking place during a period of accelerating scientific and technological transformation, with Abu Dhabi providing a platform where international expertise can contribute to shaping more proactive, precise and responsive healthcare.
PureHealth Group CEO Shaista Asif similarly emphasized the growing potential of AI to make healthcare more personal, proactive and connected, while highlighting the importance of collaboration between industries, experts and institutions.
Leadership, Technology and the Future of Care
Across its two days, the Healthcare Leaders Summit went far beyond traditional conversations about medicine.
Sessions addressed regulatory innovation, pharmaceutical development, longevity, women’s health, mental health, virtual healthcare, remote monitoring, chronic disease management and the future of patient experience.
The program also explored the convergence of genomics, molecular and digital biomarkers, integrated health data and advanced diagnostics—technologies that could allow healthcare professionals to identify risks earlier and provide increasingly precise forms of care.
The summit concluded on September 23 after further discussions including mental health and early intervention, reinforcing the broader shift from simply treating disease toward prevention, early detection and long-term wellbeing.
Waves & Runways at the Summit
Among the international media professionals attending the event was Pamela Quinzi, Founder and Editor-in-Chief of Waves & Runways Magazine and Founder of Melapa International.
With an international career spanning fashion, publishing, media, public relations and entrepreneurship, Quinzi attended the summit representing her expanding media platforms and their commitment to covering the people, companies and ideas influencing today’s international landscape.
For Waves & Runways, attending events such as the Forbes Middle East Healthcare Leaders Summit represents an opportunity to extend the magazine’s editorial vision beyond fashion and entertainment into business, leadership, innovation, entrepreneurship and global impact.
“Being present at events of this international level is extremely important to me as a media professional. Today, media is about much more than reporting what is happening—it is about connecting people, industries and ideas. Abu Dhabi and the UAE are creating an extraordinary environment where leaders from around the world can meet, exchange knowledge and build new possibilities for the future.”
— Pamela Quinzi
From Abu Dhabi to the World
The Forbes Middle East Healthcare Leaders Summit demonstrated how healthcare is becoming increasingly interconnected with technology, investment, entrepreneurship, communication and global collaboration.
It also reflected Abu Dhabi’s growing ability to bring international decision-makers and innovators together around conversations with implications far beyond the region.
For Waves & Runways, the event represented another opportunity to document a rapidly changing Middle East—one where global business, technology, culture and innovation increasingly intersect.
From fashion and entertainment to entrepreneurship, leadership and healthcare, the stories shaping tomorrow are no longer confined to individual industries.
They are connected.
And increasingly, many of those conversations are taking place right here in the UAE.
Pamela Quinzi
Owner and EIC of Waves & Runways International Magazine
Special Coverage — Abu Dhabi, UAE
