MIDDLE EAST – The United Arab Emirates has won its bid to host the 34th International Congress of the International Society of Blood Transfusion (ISBT) in 2016, after winning a competitive bid process which included Paris, Rome and Copenhagen.
The congress is expected to attract more than 4,000 healthcare professionals to attend the seven-day event, which will be held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Duabi. The bid was led by the Ministry of Health, with support from the UAE Embassy in Holland, Dubai Convention and Events Bureau and Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC), where the congress will be held.
“We are delighted the organisers of the 34th International Congress of the ISBT in 2016 have chosen Dubai to be the host city, especially as it will be the first time that the event has been held in the Middle East,” said Hamad Mohammed bin Mejren, Executive Director of Business Tourism and Commerce Marketing. “Winning the right to win the congress was a result of the collaboration between ourselves, the Ministry of Health and DWTC and is a demonstration of the power of close partnerships and Dubai’s prominence as an events destination.”
Mahr Julfar, Director of Commercial Venues at DWTC, added: “DWTC has become the epicentre for business tourism in the region, attracting congresses of world class stature and playing a critical role in the growth of international trade for the Middle East. We look forward to welcoming delegates from all over the world for ISBT in 2016.”
ISBT 2016 will take place at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre in September 2016. In 2012 it was held in Cancun, Mexico, while the 2014 edition will be held in Seoul, the Republic of Korea.
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