Blog

As war rages in Iran and elsewhere in the Middle East, the world’s economy feels the impact – yet life and business must continue.

Reflecting on a fantastic experience with the Health Innovation Network at the recent World Health Expo Dubai, I feel grateful we were able to introduce some of the UK’s talented innovators to this fast-growing healthcare market, before the current crisis in the Middle East started.

Despite the conflict and amid the ongoing threat of attack, we continue to engage with the potential investors, advisors and fantastic companies from around the globe who we met during the four-day event.

We were one of more than 4,300 exhibitors, representing 180+ countries – an amazing gathering and showcase of healthcare systems and companies, offering unrivalled opportunities to learn and build relationships.

The UK Healthcare Pavilion, organised by ABHI and the Department for Business and Trade (DBT), was one of the largest groups at the exhibition. The new venue – Expo City Dubai – created even more opportunities for networking and attending insightful sessions.

A huge thank you to all our partners – including ABHI and DBT – and to the Hill Dickinson LLP team and their partners at BLK Partners for their fantastic reception, and an excellent session focused on doing business in the UAE and Saudi Arabia.

I also had the opportunity to share the stage with Robert McCough from Hill Dickinson LLP to promote the UK as a great place for international businesses looking to invest in new markets.

The West Yorkshire Combined Authority once again showcased our region as a leader in healthtech and life sciences, with a sector worth £3bn, underpinned by world‑class clinical expertise, leading academic research and a population that reflects real‑world health challenges. This makes our region uniquely placed to develop, test and scale health innovation and attract overseas investment.

The companies who joined us this year ranged from cutting-edge medical devices to AI-driven patient care solutions. Congratulations to PinPoint Data Science, Concentric Health, MaPPs, Zeuss Sleeps, Medovate, JEB Technologies and Agora Labs for putting on a great show during an intense week and laying the groundwork to grow their presence overseas.

WHX Dubai reinforced the importance of bringing the global healthcare community together to share knowledge, tackle challenges, and celebrate innovation. It was an inspiring reminder that progress in healthcare depends on collaboration, creativity, and a willingness to embrace new ideas from every corner of the world – whatever the global challenges.