His Excellency Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence, inaugurated the fourth edition of the Forbes Middle East Healthcare Leaders Summit, held in partnership with PureHealth under the theme Community at the Heart of Healthcare Innovation.
The summit, taking place on 18-19 November 2025 at Emirates Palace Mandarin Oriental in Abu Dhabi, brings together top policymakers, leaders of healthcare institutions, and pioneers in science and technology for a strategic dialogue exploring the major transformations shaping the future of the healthcare sector in the region and the world.
During the keynote address, His Excellency welcomed the distinguished attendees, reaffirming the UAE’s pivotal role in advancing the healthcare sector and reinforcing its global leadership.
His Excellency began by saying: “It gives me great pleasure to welcome you all to Abu Dhabi and to the fourth edition of the Healthcare Leaders Summit. We gather today in a city and a nation deeply committed to their role as a global hub for collaboration, innovation, and excellence in healthcare. In the United Arab Emirates, we affirm that the well-being of our people is the foundation of our national strength, and that the prosperity of our society grows from the health and welfare of its individuals.”
His Excellency emphasised: “Building a world-class healthcare system is a national priority and a central pillar of the vision of His Highness the President, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, may God protect him. Under his visionary and inspiring leadership, our nation recognizes that good health is the cornerstone of individual well-being and collective prosperity.
“Guided by His Highness’s vision, we are steadily advancing every aspect of our healthcare sector, ensuring that excellence, innovation, and compassion reach every member of our society. His Highness is committed to forging strong partnerships with global leaders in medicine and technology, aspiring for the UAE to be a regional and global beacon of healthcare quality and excellence.”
His Excellency noted: “The ambition of this summit reflects a strong commitment to advancing all dimensions of healthcare. As someone outside the medical profession, but who holds deep admiration for it, I am pleased to share several reflections inspired by the summit’s themes.”
He explained: “First, healthcare today has become an information-driven science. Rapid advances in bioinformatics, extraordinary computational power, and new insights in molecular biology are transforming the ways we prevent, diagnose, and treat disease. Innovations in nanotechnology, gene therapy, precision medicine, cancer immunology, artificial intelligence, and robotic surgery are extending lives and strengthening our collective fight against illness.”
His Excellency highlighted: “To fully benefit from these advancements, we must strengthen investment in research and development, build public trust in science, and support digital transformation and advanced data analytics. But technology alone is not enough; global collaboration among scientists, policymakers, and health authorities remains essential to translate discovery into meaningful human benefit.”
“Second, efforts to improve healthcare systems worldwide remind us that health is a truly global concern. Every nation, regardless of its circumstances, faces similar challenges in caring for its people. You—professionals devoted to this noble field - work with a spirit of compassion, service, and knowledge. Strengthening regional and international cooperation is vital to ensuring that your impact continues to benefit humanity.”
“Third, our region must adopt a clear and sustained strategy grounded in research, continuous data collection, and deep analysis, to ensure that innovation effectively serves both immediate and long-term national needs.”
His Excellency affirmed: “Fourth, as Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence, I am deeply moved by the exemplary humanity demonstrated by healthcare professionals. You do not differentiate based on gender, age, nationality, religion, or background; rather, you treat every person with dignity, respect, and compassion. I salute your unwavering commitment and your noble dedication to serving every patient with kindness and integrity.
“This is an extraordinary moment in the history of medicine, as rapid scientific progress opens new frontiers in prevention and treatment. Through your dedication, the great promise of the life sciences is being realized, transforming healthcare for the benefit of all. I express my sincere gratitude for your presence here in Abu Dhabi and for your engagement with these vital issues. I also extend my appreciation to Forbes Middle East and PureHealth for organizing this important summit. I wish you all a productive and successful edition. Thank you.”
The first day witnessed the attendance of prominent leaders from both the public and private sectors, including Her Excellency Dr. Fatima Al Kaabi, Director General of the UAE Medicines Foundation; Her Excellency Mubarakah Mubarak Ibrahim, Chief Information Officer and Chief Artificial Intelligence Officer at Emirates Health Services; His Excellency Ibrahim Al Jallaf, Executive Director of Digital Health at the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi; Her Excellency Dr. Najla Ahmed Al Midfa, Vice Chairperson and Managing Director of the Emirates Growth Fund; and Dr. Asma Ibrahim Al Mannaei, Executive Director of the Healthcare Licensing and Life Sciences Sector at the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi.
The summit also welcomed leading business figures, including Ayman Mokhtar, Regional President for the Middle East, North Africa, and Eurasia at Viatris; Sherif Beshara, CEO of the Mohamed & Obaid Al Mulla Group and the American Hospital Dubai; Nasser Al Yammahi, CEO of Hayat Biotech; Dimitris Molavisilis, CEO of M42; and Joseph Hezl, CEO of Apex Health.
Commenting on the event, Shaista Asif, Co-Founder and CEO of PureHealth, emphasized in her opening remarks the importance of innovation and public-private collaboration in building more inclusive and sustainable healthcare ecosystems.
Shaista Asif, Group Chief Executive Officer at PureHealth, said: “We are proud to once again be the presenting partners for the Forbes Middle East Healthcare Leaders’ Summit, which serves as an invaluable forum for uniting visionaries who are shaping the future of medicine, from longevity and preventive care to AI and biotechnology. Guided by our belief that community lies at the heart of healthcare innovation, PureHealth is dedicated to driving collaboration, advancing science, and creating a healthier, more resilient society for generations to come.”
Khuloud Al Omian, CEO and Editor-in-Chief of Forbes Middle East, said: “The Healthcare Leaders Summit is a platform that brings together the power of scientific knowledge and the vision of innovation at a time when the world is redefining the meaning of modern care. From Abu Dhabi, we affirm that the future of health is not shaped solely in laboratories, but through collaboration among governments, the private sector, and technology pioneers – and by investing in people first. This summit is not just a conference; it is a meaningful step toward a smarter, more inclusive healthcare ecosystem capable of addressing tomorrow’s challenges.”
The day featured rich panel discussions exploring advanced visions across various healthcare domains, highlighting how the UAE is shaping a smart, integrated, and sustainable healthcare model. Discussions focused on the role of global partnerships in accelerating medical innovation, the future of healthcare through public policy and community initiatives, and the transformative impact of artificial intelligence in redefining well-being and expanding access to healthcare services.
Panels also emphasized the importance of prevention to ensure longer and healthier lives, and examined how genomics and AI tools are reshaping healthcare systems by shifting focus from treatment to prevention – supported by advancements in longevity science, regenerative medicine, and stem-cell therapies.
The participation of leading physicians and thinkers added a scientific dimension through Doctor’s Lab sessions, which showcased breakthroughs in precision medicine, AI-driven clinical decision-making, robotic surgery, neuro-technology, fetal surgery and early pregnancy care, as well as trust-building in aesthetic medicine.
Forbes Middle East collaborates with a distinguished group of partners to deliver this summit, including Principal Partner: PureHealth; Supporting Partner: UAE Medicines Foundation; Strategic Partners: Emirates Health Services, and Emirates Growth Fund.
Other Partners are Indiana University Health, Hayat Biotech, Viatris, Apex Health, The Global Limo, Bateel, InBody, Hatta Honey, No More Bottles, The Ginger People, Xphere Technologies, and Canadian University Dubai.
