International efforts to extend life expectancy, champion personalised medical care and unleash the power of artificial intelligence in health care will be put under the microscope at a major Abu Dhabi conference taking place next week.
The second annual Abu Dhabi Global Health Week (ADGHW) – which runs from April 15 to 17 – is expected to attract 15,000 visitors, 1,900 delegates and 200 speakers from 90 countries in a quest to harness emerging technology and medical advances to enhance patient care.
The science of longevity, precision health, the resilience and sustainability of health systems, digital health and AI, and investment in life sciences will be explored during the high-profile summit, being staged at Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre.
The event will serve as a critical gathering place for the world to come together to address pressing health care challenges.
Dr Asma Al Mannaei, executive director of the health sciences sector at the Department of Health, set out the UAE's vision to help people live not only longer but healthier lives.
“Longevity is actually our aim and a target priority for us,” Dr Al Mannaei told The National. “What do we mean by longevity? It's not only living longer – it's also living healthier and happier. So longevity is the ultimate aim of what we are trying to drive within health care and it is one of our priorities.”
“There are different mechanisms and different ways we can make an impact. It starts with prevention, it starts with behavioural changes, and it can expand to the application of interventions using advanced technology, artificial intelligence and machine learning to encourage healthy living – which is what we aim for in our community.”
“I believe Abu Dhabi is pioneering and we are actually at the right time to take forward these breakthrough advancements that are happening worldwide – provided by an evidence-based approach. All our decisions and initiatives are based on solid information and scientific data.”
Celebrating innovation
The three-day conference will recognise the contributions of innovators seeking to drive progress in the health care sector.
The winners of the ADGHW Innovation Awards will be announced at the event and will share a $200,000 prize fund.
Meanwhile, the winners of the Smart Health Hackathon, which took place between April 4 and 7, will also be revealed.
The challenge featured rising entrepreneurs and innovators competing to develop cutting-edge solutions for specific health and well-being challenges.
Additionally, the Health Leaders Roundtable, to be held on April 16, will bring together global leaders to focus on the crucial need for decisive and collaborative efforts to boost health care.
The Start-up Zone will serve as a hub for collaboration and innovation, designed to provide health start-ups with the resources, visibility and networking opportunities required to bring their ideas to life.
Dr Noura Al Ghaithi, undersecretary of Abu Dhabi's Department of Health, told of the significance of the event in boosting health care services and improving patient care.
“Longevity and personalised medicine are at the heart of this year’s event – chosen for their potential to transform not only individual health, but also the well-being of entire communities," said Dr Al Ghaithi.
"To realise this potential, Abu Dhabi Global Health Week is driving global collaboration, aligning priorities and advancing solutions that are built to last."
"The ADGHW Innovation Awards are a reflection of that commitment – recognising pioneering health advancements from around the world, empowering the next generation of innovators and fostering a collaborative ecosystem that drives progress in global health.”
How much do leading UAE’s UK curriculum schools charge for Year 6?
- Nord Anglia International School (Dubai) – Dh85,032
- Kings School Al Barsha (Dubai) – Dh71,905
- Brighton College Abu Dhabi - Dh68,560
- Jumeirah English Speaking School (Dubai) – Dh59,728
- Gems Wellington International School – Dubai Branch – Dh58,488
- The British School Al Khubairat (Abu Dhabi) - Dh54,170
- Dubai English Speaking School – Dh51,269
*Annual tuition fees covering the 2024/2025 academic year
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
The White Lotus: Season three
Creator: Mike White
Starring: Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, Natasha Rothwell
Rating: 4.5/5
At a glance
Global events: Much of the UK’s economic woes were blamed on “increased global uncertainty”, which can be interpreted as the economic impact of the Ukraine war and the uncertainty over Donald Trump’s tariffs.
Growth forecasts: Cut for 2025 from 2 per cent to 1 per cent. The OBR watchdog also estimated inflation will average 3.2 per cent this year
Welfare: Universal credit health element cut by 50 per cent and frozen for new claimants, building on cuts to the disability and incapacity bill set out earlier this month
Spending cuts: Overall day-to day-spending across government cut by £6.1bn in 2029-30
Tax evasion: Steps to crack down on tax evasion to raise “£6.5bn per year” for the public purse
Defence: New high-tech weaponry, upgrading HM Naval Base in Portsmouth
Housing: Housebuilding to reach its highest in 40 years, with planning reforms helping generate an extra £3.4bn for public finances
Long Shot
Director: Jonathan Levine
Starring: Charlize Theron, Seth Rogan
Four stars
The Facility’s Versatility
Between the start of the 2020 IPL on September 20, and the end of the Pakistan Super League this coming Thursday, the Zayed Cricket Stadium has had an unprecedented amount of traffic.
Never before has a ground in this country – or perhaps anywhere in the world – had such a volume of major-match cricket.
And yet scoring has remained high, and Abu Dhabi has seen some classic encounters in every format of the game.
October 18, IPL, Kolkata Knight Riders tied with Sunrisers Hyderabad
The two playoff-chasing sides put on 163 apiece, before Kolkata went on to win the Super Over
January 8, ODI, UAE beat Ireland by six wickets
A century by CP Rizwan underpinned one of UAE’s greatest ever wins, as they chased 270 to win with an over to spare
February 6, T10, Northern Warriors beat Delhi Bulls by eight wickets
The final of the T10 was chiefly memorable for a ferocious over of fast bowling from Fidel Edwards to Nicholas Pooran
March 14, Test, Afghanistan beat Zimbabwe by six wickets
Eleven wickets for Rashid Khan, 1,305 runs scored in five days, and a last session finish
June 17, PSL, Islamabad United beat Peshawar Zalmi by 15 runs
Usman Khawaja scored a hundred as Islamabad posted the highest score ever by a Pakistan team in T20 cricket
How to improve Arabic reading in early years
One 45-minute class per week in Standard Arabic is not sufficient
The goal should be for grade 1 and 2 students to become fluent readers
Subjects like technology, social studies, science can be taught in later grades
Grade 1 curricula should include oral instruction in Standard Arabic
First graders must regularly practice individual letters and combinations
Time should be slotted in class to read longer passages in early grades
Improve the appearance of textbooks
Revision of curriculum should be undertaken as per research findings
Conjugations of most common verb forms should be taught
Systematic learning of Standard Arabic grammar
Skewed figures
In the village of Mevagissey in southwest England the housing stock has doubled in the last century while the number of residents is half the historic high. The village's Neighbourhood Development Plan states that 26% of homes are holiday retreats. Prices are high, averaging around £300,000, £50,000 more than the Cornish average of £250,000. The local average wage is £15,458.
Ipaf in numbers
Established: 2008
Prize money: $50,000 (Dh183,650) for winners and $10,000 for those on the shortlist.
Winning novels: 13
Shortlisted novels: 66
Longlisted novels: 111
Total number of novels submitted: 1,780
Novels translated internationally: 66
The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
