Dubai is set to host the 19th World Congress of Neurosurgery in 2025, bringing one of the most prestigious congresses in the medical field to the Middle East for the first time. The awarding of the event to Dubai follows a successful bid led by the Emirates Society of Neurological Surgeons, and supported by Dubai Business Events, the city’s official convention bureau and part of the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism.
Set to take place under the theme ‘Connecting the Neurosurgical World’, the congress is the flagship event of the World Federation of Neurosurgical Societies (WFNS),and is typically held every two years. Dubai will welcome approximately 4,000 delegates for the event, set to take place 1-4 December 2025 at Dubai World Trade Centre.
The decision by WFNS to award the event to Dubai highlights its rapid growth as a host for international association conferences and builds on the city’s status as the highest ranked destination in the Middle East for the number of association events hosted, according to the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA).
Ahmed Al Khaja, CEO of Dubai Festivals and Retail Establishment, said: “The decision by the World Federation of Neurosurgical Societies to bring this prestigious event to Dubai is a testament to the evolution of our knowledge economy… It also further highlights the platform that Dubai is able to provide to associations around the world for sharing knowledge, networking, and professional development. Business events continue to be important catalysts for Dubai’s development, driving economic growth and powering key sectors, including healthcare and medical sciences. The congress will attract luminaries from the field of neuroscience as well as business leaders and innovators, pushing Dubai to the forefront of scientific and technological innovation.”
In a statement, the Administrative Council of the World Federation of Neurosurgical Societies, said: “There is no better place in the world than Dubai to bring the neurosurgical world together. Science, technology and innovation have been the hallmarks of Dubai’s knowledge economy – and we are delighted that the World Congress of Neurosurgery will be held in such a vibrant and dynamic city. Dubai’s infrastructure, business-friendliness and leisure activities make it a top-of-mind destination for large scale global events, and we are confident this will be an engaging and insightful event.”
Dubai’s focus on attracting more business events is closely tied to wider Dubai Economic Agenda, D33, which aims to double the size of Dubai’s economy in the decade up to 2033. Dubai’s successful bid to host the congress, and the planning for the event itself, has received support from across the public and private sector in Dubai and the wider UAE, including from the Ministry of Health and Prevention – UAE, Dubai Health Authority, Department of Health Abu Dhabi and Dubai Health.
In other news, the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) has signed a strategic memorandum of understanding (MoU) with IHG Hotels & Resorts. The agreement encompasses joint marketing initiatives, training programmes for hospitality professionals, and the creation of new tourism experiences.
And Marriott International, Inc. has announced it has signed an agreement with Al Ali Property Investments (API) to bring Moxy Hotel’s hospitality experience to Dubai’s Al Barsha neighbourhood. A conversion of an existing property, the hotel will undergo a brand positioning process and refurbishment before opening as Moxy Hotel in the summer of 2025. Moxy Al Barsha Dubai is anticipated to mark the debut of Moxy in the UAE and will feature the brand’s industrial design, and modern social spaces.
