The 21st Emirates Critical Care Conference kicked off on Friday at the InterContinental Festival City Hotel in Dubai. This event is being held alongside the 2nd World Summit of the World Federation of Intensive and Critical Care (WFICC).

In addition, the conference runs concurrently with several other significant events, including the 7th Global Network for Emergency Medicine and the 16th Asia Africa Conference of the WFICC. The gathering is organized in collaboration with the Seventh Conference of the Emirates Nursing Association – Critical Care Chapter.

Prof. Dr. Hussein Al Rahma, Chairman of the Conference, noted that since its inception in 2004 with 300 participants, the conference has grown to become the largest in the Middle East and North Africa and ranks third worldwide. This year, it welcomes over 2 000 attendees from 45 different countries.

Prof. Al Rahma highlighted that the conference attracts 60% of international medical associations and expressed his ambition to increase this percentage to over 90% by 2028. He attributed this growth to the rising number of international speakers and the quality of scientific papers presented, as well as the variety of workshops available.

The primary goal of the conference is to gather leading doctors, specialists, and researchers in intensive and critical care to share their expertise. The event provides a platform for discussing advancements in mechanical ventilation techniques, the latest pharmaceutical developments, and cutting-edge findings in critical care medicine.

This year’s edition features 275 speakers, including 130 international and 80 local experts. Over the three-day event, attendees will have the opportunity to participate in 381 lectures across 77 scientific sessions, alongside four scientific workshops, four training courses, and six industry-focused seminars. Additionally, 131 scientific research papers will be presented by doctors and resident physicians.

All scientific papers discussed will reflect the collective experiences of critical care professionals on a wide range of topics. These include sepsis, infections, fluid management in intensive care units, nephrology and acute kidney injury, mechanical ventilation, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), anaesthesia and pain management, cardiology, clinical nutrition, geriatric care, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), and infection surveillance. The aim is to share best practices, research outcomes, and treatment protocols developed in recent years.

Participants can earn 22.5 Continuing Medical Education (CME) credit hours accredited by the Dubai Health Authority (DHA).

During the conference, three memoranda of understanding were signed: one with the International Federation of Intensive Care Societies, another with the International Federation of Intensive Care Nursing, and a third with the International Academy of Fluids in critical care departments.

Following the opening session, the conference, along with Dr. Younis Kazim from the DHA and other attendees, inaugurated the accompanying exhibition. This exhibition features 34 international and local companies specializing in critical care equipment and ventilators, showcasing the latest innovations and products in the field of critical care medicine.

The event highlights Dubai’s role as a strategic hub for global medical companies aiming to grow and expand, particularly in regional markets.