Arab Health 2024 opens with a twist as the booming home market triggers growing interest in investing in the global healthcare sector, including the state-dominated UK NHS, which will be showcased at this week's event.
While domestic healthcare markets are rapidly developing within Gulf Co-operation Council countries, cash-rich investment funds are looking to life sciences, pharmaceutical and healthcare assets in the UK, the US and Europe.
Current Health Expenditure (CHE) in the GCC is projected to reach $135.5 billion in 2027, an increase of 5.4 per cent from 2022, according to Aspen Capital.
Jonathan Evans, director at the Association of British HealthTech Industries, noted the significant investments coming from GCC countries into Britain.
“In UK HealthTech alone, there are in the region of 4,500 companies. Add to that the thousands of pharmaceutical businesses and ancillary healthcare companies, and you have a huge ecosystem that will be looking for investment, so I would imagine we will see plenty more deal-making in the years ahead,” he told The National.
At the same time, the growth in the number of people choosing private health care over NHS treatment has ballooned as waiting lists lengthened in the wake of the Covid pandemic.
“NHS waits, increasing media coverage around patients choosing private options and treatment restrictions have driven wider interest in private health care, and the independent sector has seen higher volumes of patients willing to pay privately year on year,” said Liz Heath in a report for the healthcare business advisory firm LaingBuisson.
“Forward projections are always difficult to make, but based on the recent growth trajectory, all indicators are that self-pay growth will continue.”
Mr Evans feels the UK government has taken some encouraging steps to enable foreign investment to find a home in Britain's life sciences and healthcare sectors.
“The direction of travel is therefore very positive, and the opportunities are clear,” he said.
“The UK has a very strong science base, and is a genuine world leader within research, but where we could see improvements in terms of support is through the help that is available to scale these brilliant scientific ideas to better equip UK companies for growth.”
Gateway connecting East and West
This spectacular growth in health care in the GCC is mainly centred in the UAE and Saudi Arabia, with the two countries expected to make up almost 80 per cent of CHE in the region by 2027.
“The GCC region continues to stand out as a pivotal hub for the pharmaceutical and healthcare sectors in the Middle East, especially over the next decade,” Mohamed Abu Shawish, cluster general manager for the GCC at the Japanese drug maker Kyowa Kirin Pharma, told The National.
“Furthermore, the GCC’s strategic geographic location offers a gateway to connect East and West, making it an ideal hub for global companies.”
The Covid pandemic acted as the catalyst for the rapid expansion of the healthcare sector in the GCC region, sparking strong growth from automation and data-driven precision medicine to government reforms.
In a $1.2 billion deal, PureHealth bought Circle Health, a group that operates 53 private hospitals in the UK.
The PureHealth deal really illustrated the ambitions held by many healthcare companies and investment funds across the GCC.
“This acquisition is more than an expansion; it’s a significant stride towards establishing PureHealth as a global healthcare platform,” managing director of PureHealth Farhan Malik said at the time.
“This move aligns with our vision of pioneering a healthier future for all and underscores our commitment to elevating the global position of Abu Dhabi in the healthcare sector and revolutionising healthcare services globally.”
'Huge ecosystem'
The opportunities for investment into the UK healthcare sector often happen at the “edges” of Britain's NHS, said Mr Evans.
Former British political leaders Tony Blair and William Hague last week issued a joint call to put countries “unmatched wealth” of national health data to work to harness the global artificial intelligence revolution in health care.
“We propose establishing an NHS Data Trust, with a controlling stake owned by the NHS and additional investments from companies,” the report said.
“While strictly preserving privacy and preventing misuse, this structure would permit health data to be of massive benefit to research, public health and patient treatment.”
The report said the NHS could provide anonymised data to research entities, including biotech companies, in return for payment. This would place the UK at the frontier of global research.
Private equity groups have already bought up dozens of British healthcare companies, from eye-care clinics to diagnostics firms to ambulance fleets.
Arab Health 2024
The growth of healthcare in the GCC, as well as the burgeoning relationships being forged with life sciences, pharmaceutical and healthcare companies overseas will be illustrated at the Arab Health 2024 conference at the World Trade Centre in Dubai this week.
Almost 4,000 delegates from more than 180 countries will exchange views and ideas, make contact and do business at the event. Last year, $1.81 billion in business was done at the show.
“It provides an excellent opportunity for innovative companies, and healthcare providers, to drive investment between the GCC and the UK,” Mr Evans said.
“For us, it is all about creating that space to showcase UK healthcare expertise and quality, and how these solutions can benefit patients not just in the GCC, but around the world.”
Company%C2%A0profile
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The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo
Power: 178hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 280Nm at 1,350-4,200rpm
Transmission: seven-speed dual-clutch auto
Price: from Dh209,000
On sale: now
Specs
Engine: Duel electric motors
Power: 659hp
Torque: 1075Nm
On sale: Available for pre-order now
Price: On request
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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Conflict, drought, famine
Estimates of the number of deaths caused by the famine range from 400,000 to 1 million, according to a document prepared for the UK House of Lords in 2024.
It has been claimed that the policies of the Ethiopian government, which took control after deposing Emperor Haile Selassie in a military-led revolution in 1974, contributed to the scale of the famine.
Dr Miriam Bradley, senior lecturer in humanitarian studies at the University of Manchester, has argued that, by the early 1980s, “several government policies combined to cause, rather than prevent, a famine which lasted from 1983 to 1985. Mengistu’s government imposed Stalinist-model agricultural policies involving forced collectivisation and villagisation [relocation of communities into planned villages].
The West became aware of the catastrophe through a series of BBC News reports by journalist Michael Buerk in October 1984 describing a “biblical famine” and containing graphic images of thousands of people, including children, facing starvation.
Band Aid
Bob Geldof, singer with the Irish rock group The Boomtown Rats, formed Band Aid in response to the horrific images shown in the news broadcasts.
With Midge Ure of the band Ultravox, he wrote the hit charity single Do They Know it’s Christmas in December 1984, featuring a string of high-profile musicians.
Following the single’s success, the idea to stage a rock concert evolved.
Live Aid was a series of simultaneous concerts that took place at Wembley Stadium in London, John F Kennedy Stadium in Philadelphia, the US, and at various other venues across the world.
The combined event was broadcast to an estimated worldwide audience of 1.5 billion.
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
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Specs
Engine: Electric motor generating 54.2kWh (Cooper SE and Aceman SE), 64.6kW (Countryman All4 SE)
Power: 218hp (Cooper and Aceman), 313hp (Countryman)
Torque: 330Nm (Cooper and Aceman), 494Nm (Countryman)
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh158,000 (Cooper), Dh168,000 (Aceman), Dh190,000 (Countryman)
Tips to stay safe during hot weather
- Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of fluids, especially water. Avoid alcohol and caffeine, which can increase dehydration.
- Seek cool environments: Use air conditioning, fans, or visit community spaces with climate control.
- Limit outdoor activities: Avoid strenuous activity during peak heat. If outside, seek shade and wear a wide-brimmed hat.
- Dress appropriately: Wear lightweight, loose and light-coloured clothing to facilitate heat loss.
- Check on vulnerable people: Regularly check in on elderly neighbours, young children and those with health conditions.
- Home adaptations: Use blinds or curtains to block sunlight, avoid using ovens or stoves, and ventilate living spaces during cooler hours.
- Recognise heat illness: Learn the signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke (dizziness, confusion, rapid pulse, nausea), and seek medical attention if symptoms occur.
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Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Biog
Mr Kandhari is legally authorised to conduct marriages in the gurdwara
He has officiated weddings of Sikhs and people of different faiths from Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Russia, the US and Canada
Father of two sons, grandfather of six
Plays golf once a week
Enjoys trying new holiday destinations with his wife and family
Walks for an hour every morning
Completed a Bachelor of Commerce degree in Loyola College, Chennai, India
2019 is a milestone because he completes 50 years in business
Gothia Cup 2025
4,872 matches
1,942 teams
116 pitches
76 nations
26 UAE teams
15 Lebanese teams
2 Kuwaiti teams
COMPANY PROFILE
Company name: SimpliFi
Started: August 2021
Founder: Ali Sattar
Based: UAE
Industry: Finance, technology
Investors: 4DX, Rally Cap, Raed, Global Founders, Sukna and individuals
Profile
Company: Libra Project
Based: Masdar City, ADGM, London and Delaware
Launch year: 2017
Size: A team of 12 with six employed full-time
Sector: Renewable energy
Funding: $500,000 in Series A funding from family and friends in 2018. A Series B round looking to raise $1.5m is now live.
UK-EU trade at a glance
EU fishing vessels guaranteed access to UK waters for 12 years
Co-operation on security initiatives and procurement of defence products
Youth experience scheme to work, study or volunteer in UK and EU countries
Smoother border management with use of e-gates
Cutting red tape on import and export of food
GAC GS8 Specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh149,900
The National's picks
4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young
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
The Perfect Couple
Starring: Nicole Kidman, Liev Schreiber, Jack Reynor
Creator: Jenna Lamia
Rating: 3/5
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Abu Dhabi race card
5pm: Maiden (PA) | Dh80,000 | 1,600m
5.30pm: Maiden (PA) | Dh80,000 | 1,400m
6pm: Liwa Oasis (PA) Group 2 | Dh300,000 | 1,400m
6.30pm: Arabian Triple Crown Round-2 (PA) Group 3 | Dh300,000 | 2,200m
7pm: Wathba Stallions Cup (PA) Handicap | Dh70,000 | 1,600m
7.30pm: Maiden (TB) | Dh80,000 | 2,200m
THE CLOWN OF GAZA
Director: Abdulrahman Sabbah
Starring: Alaa Meqdad
Rating: 4/5
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
The National Archives, Abu Dhabi
Founded over 50 years ago, the National Archives collects valuable historical material relating to the UAE, and is the oldest and richest archive relating to the Arabian Gulf.
Much of the material can be viewed on line at the Arabian Gulf Digital Archive - https://www.agda.ae/en
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Key developments in maritime dispute
2000: Israel withdraws from Lebanon after nearly 30 years without an officially demarcated border. The UN establishes the Blue Line to act as the frontier.
2007: Lebanon and Cyprus define their respective exclusive economic zones to facilitate oil and gas exploration. Israel uses this to define its EEZ with Cyprus
2011: Lebanon disputes Israeli-proposed line and submits documents to UN showing different EEZ. Cyprus offers to mediate without much progress.
2018: Lebanon signs first offshore oil and gas licencing deal with consortium of France’s Total, Italy’s Eni and Russia’s Novatek.
2018-2019: US seeks to mediate between Israel and Lebanon to prevent clashes over oil and gas resources.
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