UAE - Arab Health-The UK in Good Shape
Published 5 February 2015
© Crown copyright 2015
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0.1 This publication was archived on 5 August 2016.
This article is no longer current. Please refer to Overseas Business Risk - United Arab Emirates.
1. Summary
Earl Howe, Arlene Foster and Lord Kakkar lead a strong UK delegation of academic and clinical institutions to Arab Health. A record 200 UK companies exhibited to an estimated 95,000 global visitors. In the margins, a joint UKTI, Invest Northern Ireland and Enterprise Ireland reception signalled our deepening trade links with Ireland. Engagement with key Emirati healthcare institutions moved us closer to a genuine industrial partnership in the sector. A landmark strategic partnership agreement was signed between Dubai Healthcare City (DHCC) and Queen’s University Belfast.
2. Detail
Earl Howe, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department of Health, Arlene Foster, Northern Ireland Minister of Enterprise, and Professor Lord Kakkar (Business Ambassador for Healthcare and Life Sciences) led a successful delegation of UK companies and academic and clinical institutions to Arab Health, one of the world’s largest health trade shows, attended by 95,000 visitors over four days. 200 UK companies exhibited, showcasing everything from bionic limbs to surgical tools, demonstrated the strength in depth of the UK’s medical technology sector, and its appetite for export opportunities arising from ever expanding provision in the Gulf and the wider region.
Earl Howe and Lord Kakkar had discussions with Abdul Rahman Al Owais, the UAE Minister of Health. Al Owais expressed interest in expanding the NHS footprint as well strengthening bilateral partnerships around medical technology and innovation.
Separately, the Health Authority Abu Dhabi (HAAD) said they are keen to attract UK providers in both clinical services and operation of facilities.
Arlene Foster celebrated the signing of a strategic partnership agreement between Dubai Healthcare City (DHCC) and Queen’s University Belfast to develop the Mohammad Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences and its College of Medicine. Princess Haya of Jordan, the Ruler of Dubai’s wife and Patron of DHCC, has taken a close interest in this alliance and met the Northern Irish delegation. With the centre due to open September 2016, Queen’s now have a consultancy to develop the curriculum and teaching programme. This relationship has grown from a UKTI organised Business Women’s trip to Belfast.
Earl Howe and Lord Kakkar led workshops with a broad range of Emirati public and private healthcare institutions. A meeting of the UK-UAE Business Council Healthcare Working Group brought agreement from our local interlocutors to provide a detailed overview of the key emerging areas of need across both training and education and clinical services. This will pave the way for proposals from UK providers to fill these gaps.
2.1 Public profile and media
Earl Howe, Arlene Foster and Gerald Nash, Irish Minister of State for Business and Employment, delivered keynote addresses at a healthcare networking event attended by 280, which promoted economic cooperation between the UK and Ireland and our flourishing trade relationship, a priority for Prime Minister Cameron and Taoiseach Enda Kenny. Good media coverage of this event and the UK’s presence was picked up by Arabic and English local and regional press, radio and TV outlets.
3. Comment
Senior Emiratis were highly engaged and interested in taking forward cooperation with the UK. There was a focus on training and education, clinical delivery, and genomics and personalised medicine.
A 2014 Commonwealth Fund report ranked the NHS as the best health system out of eleven countries studied, with strengths in quality care, access and efficiency – all Emirati priorities. The UAE’s annual spend is estimated at US$14 billion – and rapidly rising. The door is open to UK providers, but they must demonstrate commitment to the market to successfully compete for a number of significant tenders in the pipeline, and – potentially – engage in the development of health services at a system-wide level.
4. Disclaimer
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