Under the patronage of the Ministry of Economy and Tourism, and in partnership with American Hospital Dubai, the Forbes Middle East Medical Tourism & Wellness Summit 2026 brings together leaders shaping the future of global medical tourism and wellness.
Global healthcare mobility is entering a new phase. Patients are becoming more informed, mobile, and outcome-focused, while wellness, preventive care, longevity science, and digital innovation are reshaping expectations around treatment, recovery, and long-term wellbeing. Medical tourism is evolving beyond clinical intervention into integrated ecosystems that combine advanced medicine, personalized wellness, hospitality, recovery, and lifestyle transformation.
As destinations compete to attract international patients and build world-class medical tourism ecosystems, the convergence of healthcare, tourism, hospitality, technology, and investment is becoming increasingly critical. The summit examines how destinations can create seamless patient journeys, strengthen international partnerships, attract investment, and deliver experiences that extend from arrival and treatment through recovery and long-term wellness.
Now in its third edition, the summit convenes policymakers, healthcare leaders, investors, wellness innovators, hospitality groups, technology providers, and destination authorities to explore the forces shaping the next generation of medical tourism.
With the UAE strengthening its position as a leading global destination for healthcare, tourism, and wellness, the summit provides a strategic platform to advance dialogue, foster cross-sector partnerships, and explore the policies, investments, technologies, and destination strategies that will shape the future of medical tourism and wellness worldwide.
Beshara became CEO of the Mohamed & Obaid Almulla Group in 2018, having joined the group in 2017 as Group General Counsel. The group’s portfolio covers healthcare, travel and tourism, hospitality, and real estate. Beshara is also the CEO of American Hospital Dubai, the group's flagship brand. In 2021, the American Hospital Dubai announced a collaboration with Siemens Healthineers for enhanced diagnostic imaging and core diagnostics capabilities. In the same year, the American Health Academic Institute was launched as the education arm of American Hospital.
Dr. Mohaymen Abdelghany is a seasoned healthcare executive and physician leader, currently serving as Group CEO of Fakeeh Health – UAE and CEO of Fakeeh University Hospital, Dubai. He also serves as an executive member of the Board of Fakeeh Health, helping shape the group’s long-term strategy and impact across the UAE. With over 25 years of international experience, Dr. Mohaymen has led and worked with complex healthcare systems across Egypt, KSA, UAE, India, and the United States. He is widely recognized for building high-performing, patient-centered organizations and driving transformative change across both public and private sectors. He holds dual master’s degrees in Anesthesia and Healthcare Management and is an alumnus of Harvard University’s executive programs in healthcare leadership and strategy. He has also completed strategy and leadership development programs at INSEAD, bringing together clinical expertise and global strategic acumen.
Christian Schuhmacher is a seasoned healthcare executive and board director with over 20 years of international experience in healthcare operations, investments, management, and strategy. As the Founder and Managing Director of Swissglobal Advisory, he provides strategic advisory services to healthcare investors and organizations across the Middle East, Europe, and beyond.
Christian holds multiple board positions, including Executive Chairman of Emirates Hospitals Group Dubai Board, Non-Executive Board Member at VAMED Switzerland and smc Hospital Group in Saudi Arabia, and Non-Executive Director at Awali Hospital in Bahrain. Previously, as Managing Director at VAMED, he played a key role in expanding the international footprint of the healthcare service vertical across the Middle East, South-East Asia, and Africa. His expertise includes healthcare management, turnarounds, and growth strategies, as well as operational transformation and clinical strategy. He has successfully led major healthcare institutions, including King’s College Hospital London in Dubai and Mediclinic City Hospital Dubai, driving sustainable growth and innovation.
With a Master of Law from the University of Basel, Switzerland and an Executive MBA from the University of Toronto and the University St. Gallen, Switzerland, Christian combines legal, financial, and operational acumen to drive sustainable growth in the healthcare sector. He is a sought-after speaker and thought leader, contributing to discussions on innovation, healthcare leadership, and investment strategies.
Lina Shadid began her consulting career in 1994. Since then she has held a series of positions, most recently as the Health Industries Lead Partner at PwC, Middle East. Prior to that, she was the Vice President for an 80B. corporate as the Global Healthcare and life science Centre of Competence serving a number of global healthcare clients. Her responsibilities included setting business and strategic direction, market prioritization and operations for the global healthcare CoC in addition to serving as lead consulting partner for several clients in both public and private healthcare sector. Throughout her professional career, Lina has focused on developing transformation strategies, operational improvement projects and large public and healthcare transformation and digitisation programs. Her prime focus is on digital health strategies, digital hospital implementations, HIE and Patient experience all underlying innovation, data and AI. Before assuming her current position with PwC, Lina held several executive positions leading the public sector, government and healthcare where she established the Healthcare Business for IBM in the Middle East and Africa since 2009. As an Industry Academy Member, Lina’s focus is on health transformation, patient engagement and AI enabled health and social care coordination. Lina has a special interest in promoting innovation culture, better healthcare for everyone and women empowerment in the region.
Fouad Darwish is the CEO & Managing Director of Palms Sports PJSC, a publicly traded company on ADX. Having taken on this leadership role in early 2015, he directs the company with over 25 years of extensive managerial and strategic experience gained across the banking and financial sectors.
Concurrently, Mr. Darwish holds various prominent leadership positions and directorships. He serves as Vice President of FIDE (International Chess Federation), First Vice President of the UAE Chess Federation, and Vice Chairman of the Institute of Art & Culture. His board memberships include Sama International School, Lunate Capital, Ekthar Wildlife Development, Exceed Holding for Sports, and the Abu Dhabi World Pro Jiu Jitsu Championship Committee, while he also sits on the Al Ain Club Other Sports Committee and the UAE–Italy and UAE–Albania Business Councils. His directorships span Palms Sports PJSC, Securiguard, Yas Physiotherapy, Resilience Response Security Technology, and Neuronso AI Technology. He further serves as Executive Director of Al Rabeeh Academy and Al Rabeeh School, chairs Al Qudra Sports Management, and is President of UAE Warriors MMA FC.
Prior to his current executive roles, Mr. Darwish held significant positions including Senior Vice President – Head of Brokerage at Global Investment House K.S.C.C. (2010-2015) and Head of Institutional Sales and Customer Services at Abu Dhabi Financial Services Company (2006-2010). His career also features a tenure at the Central Bank of the UAE (2004-2006), and recognition as a key financial and economic analyst for Al Arabiya news channel.
Alia Abdel Razeq, the Chief Operating Officer at CellSave Arabia, stands as a prominent figurehead at the forefront of the stem cell and regenerative medicine revolution in the Middle East. She has a background rooted in chemical and pharmaceutical engineering, complemented by extensive experience in healthcare management and research. Under Alia’s insightful leadership, CellSave Arabia has expanded its offerings to cater comprehensively to the diverse needs of individuals and institutions. Notably, a groundbreaking addition is newborn stem cell storage for longevity purposes, empowering families with future-use options with stem cells and stem cell-derived exosomes. Furthermore, CellSave Arabia is pioneering stem cell therapy services, revolutionizing treatments for conditions such as autoimmune disorders, heart disease, neurological ailments, regenerative medicine, and more.
Jason is a 53-year-old former global C-suite executive who has worked with many of the world’s leading brands including Apple, Google, Nike, HSBC, BMW, Marriott International and Unilever. His international experience saw him live in Dubai for a number of years and he’s overseen teams in markets as diverse as Brazil, India, the United Arab Emirates and Japan. He trained as an Executive Coach at INSEAD, the French business school, in 2018. He was part of INSEAD’s first ever coaching cohort under the stewardship of Professor Derek Deasy, one of the world’s leading academics in the Executive Coaching space. He is also a member of the Institute of Coaching, which is part of Harvard Medical School. He is a certified Personal Trainer and a Crossfit C-1 trainer. In the past he has been a national Tae Kwon Do champion and amateur boxer.
Sally is a senior presenter and keynote speaker who has interviewed many of the world’s most influential change-makers across every field over the last two decades. She regularly speaks on transformation, leadership, communication, women's empowerment, and intercultural dialogue. From Prince Khaled bin Alwaleed bin Talal to Nobel Laureates like Kailash Satyarthi, Hollywood superstars like Steve Harvey, Olympic medallists like Ibtihaj Muhammad, visionaries like Dr Jane Goodall, top coaches and authors like Robin Sharma and Jay Shetty, amongst many others, Sally has a gift for telling the stories of those who have made a global impact, revealing deeper insights that others miss. As an Arab-Australian, Sally is passionate about powerful stories that explore diverse narratives and are part of conversations driving change worldwide.
Budour Al Mousa is a Senior Presenter and Producer at Forbes Middle East, where she covers business, economics, investment, technology, and leadership across the Middle East.
She has conducted interviews with ministers, policymakers, CEOs, entrepreneurs, and senior executives from some of the region’s leading organizations, delivering in-depth conversations on the trends shaping the future of business and economic development.
Alongside her work in media, Al Mousa lectures in Public Speaking and Presentation Skills at Moscow State University. Her expertise spans broadcast journalism, executive interviews, event moderation, and strategic business storytelling, making her a trusted voice in conversations at the intersection of business, policy, and innovation.
Jayda is a content producer at Forbes Middle East; her experience ranges from writing and editing to video production across radio and television. As a member of the multimedia team, Jayda has conducted many interviews with experts in various fields and frequently covers macroeconomic, tech, and energy news. Jayda holds a Bachelor’s degree in Mass Communication and Journalism from Monash University and is currently pursuing her Masters in TV & Digital Journalism at the American University in Cairo.
As the Women Editor and Researcher at Forbes Middle East, Layan oversees a few lists and rankings and helps in creating the rest. She also writes for the cover of the printed monthly magazine of Forbes Middle East and hosts and produces The Under 30 Chit-Chat, a podcast dedicated to highlighting our 30 Under 30 listers who are shaping the future of the region. Layan holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism from The American University of Sharjah and has interviewed top decision-makers and some of the most important business leaders of the MENA region for print and video. She has also moderated and hosted several events across the region.
Explore how government strategy, policy, investment, innovation and international partnerships are advancing Dubai’s position as a leading global medical tourism destination and shaping the next phase of its growth.
In the UAE’s Year of Family, explore how national strategy, healthcare policy and public-private collaboration are strengthening the health and wellbeing of families across generations, and how Dubai’s healthcare ecosystem and leading hospitals are translating this vision into accessible, integrated and family-centered care.
Examine how airlines, tourism authorities, hospitality groups, and travel ecosystems are enabling seamless patient mobility and strengthening destination competitiveness.
Explore how leading healthcare systems are attracting, developing and retaining world-class medical talent, while advancing specialist expertise, continuous education and international knowledge exchange to meet the evolving needs of patients.
A candid conversation with Kinda Alloush on her personal health journey, the importance of early detection and supportive care, and how navigating a health challenge can reshape our understanding of wellbeing, family and resilience.
Explore how specialized centers, multidisciplinary expertise and complex-care capabilities are becoming powerful drivers of international patient choice and how healthcare institutions can build global recognition around clinical specialization.
Explore how leading medical destinations are combining world-class medicine, personalized care, hospitality, and concierge services to deliver seamless experiences for high-net-worth patients—from arrival through recovery.
Explore how hospitals and destinations use digital reputation, online reviews, social media, and marketing strategies to attract international patients.
Explore how mental health is becoming an integral part of everyday healthcare, and how greater awareness, earlier intervention and more accessible models of care are reshaping the way individuals and communities' approach emotional wellbeing.
Discuss how healthcare organisations can harness data and AI responsibly while protecting patient privacy, strengthening cybersecurity, and building trust in digital medicine.
Discuss how diagnostics, technology, and personalised wellness programmes are transforming prevention and long-term health.
Discuss how diagnostics, technology, and personalised wellness programmes are transforming prevention and long-term health.
Explore how regulation, quality standards, patient safety and clinical governance are advancing healthcare excellence in Dubai and how regulators and healthcare providers are working together to deliver trusted, high-quality care aligned with international best practices.
Explore how specialized training, advanced technology and international collaboration are developing the next generation of robotic surgery expertise and strengthening surgical excellence across the region.
Explore how sports medicine, rehabilitation, recovery and wellness are coming together to shape new approaches to injury prevention, physical performance and long-term health, while opening new opportunities across the global health and wellness economy.
Explore how insurers, employers, governments, and providers are developing innovative models for international coverage, affordability, and access to care.
Explore how advances in nutrition and our understanding of the gut microbiome are reshaping approaches to health, immunity and long-term wellbeing, and the growing role of personalized nutrition in preventive care.
Explore the growth of longevity science, healthy ageing, and preventive medicine as destinations compete to attract the next generation of health-conscious travellers.
Bringing The Doctors Show to life through conversations with leading physicians, expert insights, real-world perspectives, and an engaging look at the realities of modern medicine.
Explore how green hospitals, sustainable wellness resorts, and ESG-driven investment are creating resilient, future-ready medical tourism ecosystems.
Explore how greater attention to women’s health across different life stages is advancing prevention, earlier diagnosis and personalised care, and creating new opportunities for healthcare systems to address historically underserved needs.
Explore how individuals and organizations can create healthier ways of working and living, addressing stress, burnout, boundaries and everyday habits while supporting sustained wellbeing in an increasingly demanding world.
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Jumeirah Beach Hotel offers the perfect escape. The five-star hotel has a decades-old history and is a shining example of Dubai’s commitment to fine hospitality and the beloved property stands out for its sweeping design that represents a breaking wave.
Janat Bahar Garden, located within the luxurious Jumeirah Beach Hotel and set along the pristine beachfront, offers a breathtaking setting beneath moonlit skies. The expansive garden provides an ideal backdrop for elegant dining and stylish gatherings, framed by the iconic Burj Al Arab. Surrounded by lush greenery and the gentle sounds of the sea, it delivers a serene and unforgettable atmosphere.
The first property by the homegrown Jumeirah Hotels and Resorts, Jumeirah Beach Hotel stands out for its sweeping design that represents a breaking wave.

Forbes Middle East is a licensee of Forbes Media and extends the Forbes brand of journalism across the Arab world. Forbes Middle East’s distinctive editorial style attracts a readership of Arab leaders, entrepreneurs, C-level executives, government officials and investors united by a belief in the spirit of free enterprise and entrepreneurial values.Across the region, Forbes Middle East sets the pace for preemptive business journalism. By uncovering trends and anticipating opportunities in the regional marketplace, each monthly issue brings top executives the information critical to their success – in both Arabic and English language editions. The magazine researches and publishes original rankings, based on methodologies set by Forbes Media.
Forbes Middle East is a licensee of Forbes Media and extends the Forbes brand of journalism across the Arab world. Forbes Middle East’s distinctive editorial style attracts a readership of Arab leaders, entrepreneurs, C-level executives, government officials and investors united by a belief in the spirit of free enterprise and entrepreneurial values.Across the region, Forbes Middle East sets the pace for preemptive business journalism. By uncovering trends and anticipating opportunities in the regional marketplace, each monthly issue brings top executives the information critical to their success – in both Arabic and English language editions. The magazine researches and publishes original rankings, based on methodologies set by Forbes Media.