Forbes Middle East in partnership with PureHealth will organise the fifth edition of the Healthcare Leaders Summit at Emirates Palace Mandarin Oriental in Abu Dhabi on September 22 and 23, the Emirates News Agency reported this month. The gathering, held under the patronage of Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence, will draw an elite group of policymakers, executive leaders, experts and specialists in the healthcare sector. Discussions will centre on key priorities that redefine healthcare beyond treatment while contributing to the establishment of global standards of excellence. The fifth edition marks a significant milestone in the summit’s evolution from an initial concept into a collective movement that fosters cooperation and practical solutions across the industry.
The event builds on the fourth edition staged in November 2025 at the same venue, which Sheikh Nahyan inaugurated under the theme “Community at the Heart of Healthcare Innovation,” according to the Abu Dhabi Media Office. That edition convened government health authorities, hospital executives, payers, providers, investors and technology pioneers for strategic dialogue on transformations shaping the future of healthcare regionally and globally. Sheikh Nahyan used his keynote address to reaffirm the UAE’s role as a global hub for collaboration, innovation and excellence in the sector. The current programme will again feature high-level participation from both public and private spheres.
A dedicated Doctors Circle platform will run alongside the main summit in cooperation with Sheikh Shakhbut Medical City, affiliated with the PureHealth Group, the Emirates News Agency reported. This sub-platform offers accredited continuing medical education sessions, enabling participating physicians to earn credit hours while engaging with the latest clinical advancements. Organisers have structured the agenda to address rising challenges including non-communicable diseases, the potential of precision medicine, artificial intelligence applications and next-generation health technologies. Such sessions align with the summit’s goal of championing collaborations that drive healthier and more resilient societies.
The summit takes place as the broader MENA healthcare market reached $254 billion in 2025 and is projected to expand to $400 billion by 2032, according to a Ken Research assessment cited in a Forbes Middle East compilation.[[1]](https://www.forbesmiddleeast.com/lists/top-healthcare-leaders-2026-executives/) Within this landscape the UAE has established itself as a leader, with 57 of the 100 executives featured in the publication’s 2026 ranking of top regional healthcare leaders. Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi topped recent Newsweek-Statista evaluations of the best hospitals in the region, reflecting the emirate’s advancing infrastructure in smart hospital systems that integrate artificial intelligence, robotics and real-time data analytics. These developments support national visions that position healthcare as a cornerstone of economic diversification and innovation.
Earlier editions of the summit have consistently attracted ministers, health authority directors, group CEOs from hospital networks, insurance leaders and clinical innovators, a pattern organisers expect to continue this week. The 2025 gathering, for instance, included senior figures from the UAE Medicines Foundation, Emirates Health Services and the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi, the Abu Dhabi Media Office noted. This year’s focus on defining global standards will explore integrated systems that respond to evolving health needs while delivering stronger outcomes at scale. Participants will also examine robotic-assisted surgery techniques that produce smaller incisions, reduced complications and shorter hospital stays.
UAE authorities recorded 1,026 organ transplants between the start of 2024 and mid-2026, with deceased donations rising 35 percent from 2024 to 2025, a surge detailed by the chairman of the National Committee for Organ Transplantation in remarks carried by Gulf News. Such achievements underscore the country’s progress in specialised care that the summit is positioned to address through knowledge exchange. The two-day forum concludes with sessions that consolidate insights from both the main programme and the Doctors Circle, leaving attendees with actionable strategies for advancing healthcare delivery across the region.
