SARA ALZAABI (ABU DHABI)
The Department of Health – Abu Dhabi outlined plans for the Abu Dhabi Future Health Summit 2026, taking place from October 20 to 22 under the theme “To Sense Is to Predict.”
The summit will focus on using AI, genomics, and health data to predict and prevent diseases before symptoms develop.
The summit is expected to attract participants from 100 countries, including 130 speakers and over 175 exhibitors.
The event will also feature international healthcare leaders, new partnerships and major announcements.
At the press conference, Dr Noura Khamis Al Ghaithi, Undersecretary of the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi, emphasised that advances in genomics, AI and sensing technologies can enable earlier interventions and help people live healthier, more independent lives.
In addition, Dr. Asma Al Mannaei, Executive Director of the Health Life Sciences Sector at the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi, explained that Future Health operates year-round, connecting promising innovations with funding, expertise and opportunities for implementation.
She highlighted the Future Health Impact Challenge and the importance of translating research into measurable outcomes.
Speaking to Aletihad on the sidelines of the press conference, Dr. Asma Al Mannaei, Executive Director of the Health Life Sciences Sector at the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi, said the Future Health Summit aims to bring together global expertise to transform healthcare innovation into practical solutions.
“Today we are discussing or we have shared about the Future Health Summit that is designed as a year-round platform,” she said.
The summit, taking place in Abu Dhabi from October 20 to 22, will bring together policymakers, researchers, healthcare leaders, scientists, investors, and innovators to advance research, develop capabilities and identify opportunities to implement new healthcare solutions.
“Our objective is to create a pathway where we can shift insight to action and ultimately having a measurable impact,” she said.
Dr. Al Mannaei explained that the initiative seeks to address a major challenge facing healthcare systems worldwide: responding to diseases only after they develop, rather than identifying risks and preventing illness earlier.
“And the gaps that we are seeing in many healthcare systems around the world is that we act late. Only when there is disease then we try to treat. And the objective is to prevent,” she said.
She highlighted Abu Dhabi's anticipatory healthcare approach, which focuses on predicting health risks, preventing diseases and improving population health.
The summit will explore longevity, healthcare resilience, predictive technologies, artificial intelligence and genomics, with several announcements expected across these areas.
Dr. Al Mannaei added that the platform would strengthen Abu Dhabi's position as a global meeting point for healthcare expertise, investment and innovation, helping translate promising ideas into solutions with measurable benefits.
“So, it is how we position Abu Dhabi to be the right place where those creative ideas get translated into reality with impact to our communities all over the world,” she concluded.