The U.S.-U.A.E. Business Council hosted a reception on Sunday, January 26th in Dubai to kickoff the 50th annual Arab Health conference, which takes place in Dubai from January 27-30. This reception at the Ritz Carlton DIFC Hotel featured remarks from CEO of Dubai Health His Excellency Dr. Amer Ahmad Sharif, CEO of Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi (CCAD) Dr. Georges Pascal Haber, and U.S. Ambassador to the U.A.E. Martina Strong.
Ambassador Martina Strong highlighted the robust bilateral healthcare relations between the U.S. and U.A.E. As a passionate advocate for U.S. business interests in the U.A.E., Ambassador Strong gave advice on ways U.S. businesses can successfully engage with U.A.E. healthcare stakeholders, make inroads into the U.A.E. healthcare market, and build lasting partnerships during the Arab Health conference. Reflecting on the growing bilateral U.S. and U.A.E. relationship, Ambassador Strong said that the bilateral relationship will deepen in multiple sectors, including advanced technologies, AI, clean energy, space, and healthcare. Ambassador Strong once again thanked the U.S.-U.A.E. Business Council for its promotion of bilateral healthcare and life science collaborations between the U.S. and U.A.E.
Dr. Georges Pascal Haber showcased CCAD’s accomplishments since its opening in Abu Dhabi in 2015, including performing the U.A.E.’s first robotic breast surgery, liver transplant, and combined heart and double lung transplant. Dr. Haber unveiled CCAD’s plans to celebrate its 10 year anniversary in March 2025. As a model of bilateral healthcare relations, Dr. Haber provided valuable insights into the enduring success of CCAD in the U.A.E. healthcare market. Dr. Haber concluded by lauding the U.A.E. healthcare and life sciences sector for supporting the integration of AI and advanced technologies, and creating an environment that embraces bilateral U.S. and U.A.E. ties to elevate healthcare and life science research and development.
His Excellency Dr. Amer Sharif spoke about Dubai Health’s strengthening of bilateral ties between the U.A.E. and United States, and thanked the U.S.-U.A.E. Business Council’s work to facilitate bilateral relations. In discussing the growing bilateral partnerships with leading U.S. healthcare and academic institutions, H.E. Dr. Sharif emphasized the importance of academic research in healthcare and life sciences to advance patient care. He also underscored the importance of academic research and advanced technology integration into the U.A.E. healthcare and life sciences sector to elevate patient care. H.E. Dr. Sharif acknowledged his eagerness to build on this momentum to chart a new course forward bilaterally to advance “health for humanity.”
U.S.-U.A.E. Business Council President Danny Sebright outlined the U.S.-U.A.E. Business Council’s upcoming programming during the Arab Health 2025 conference. Mr. Sebright also highlighted the recent publication of the U.S.-U.A.E. Business Council’s U.A.E. Healthcare and Life Sciences Sector Report published in January 2025.
For more information about the U.S.-U.A.E. Business Council’s healthcare and life science programming, please contact Adam Karadsheh at akaradsheh@usuaebusiness.org. To read the 2025 edition of the U.A.E. Healthcare and Life Sciences Sector Report, please see here.
