Dubai - The Qatar pavilion at the Arab Health 2007 exhibition, which opened here yesterday, stands out amidst hundreds of modern-looking stalls with its unique traditional appearance.
This is the first time Qatar is participating in this major international expo with a pavilion of its own.
This annual event has attracted more than 2,000 companies and healthcare providers from 70 countries across the globe, who have gathered in this bustling metropolis to market their products and services.
Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC), which represents Qatar in the show, has made its presence memorable, by deciding to be different.
A high-level delegation from HMC, led by its chairperson Dr Latifa Al Houti and Managing Director Turki Al Khater, is also attending the event.
Designed in the model of a traditional Qatari fort, the country's pavilion is one of the largest in the exhibition, occupying 162 sq. metres at the sprawling Dubai International Exhibition Centre.
The five-day expo was opened by the UAE's Minister of Health, Humaid bin Mohammed Al Qutami, in the presence of other senior officials.
"HMC is participating in the exhibition under the theme 'Tradition of Health Care' that sums up our objectives. We want to introduce Qatar and its prospering healthcare sector to the international community. We have selected a novel yet traditional way to do it. The model is inspired by a traditional fort. The whole idea is to promote Qatar as an upcoming regional centre for world-class healthcare and health education," said Turki Al Khater, while speaking to the press on the sidelines of the show.
"We have a lot to learn through exchanges and interactions with other participants from across the globe. Though delegates from HMC used to attend this annual conference, this is the first time we are participating in a big way," said Latifa Al Houti.
The Qatar pavilion features an eye-catching model of the HMC buildings and the upcoming Hamad Medical City. HMC officials were seen explaining the ambitious plans of Qatar for healthcare to the UAE Minister and other top-ranking officials who took a tour of the various stalls after the opening.
One of the many photographs decorating the walls of the fort (pavilion) depicts the daredevil horse ride of H H Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad Al Thani, who lit the Asian Games torch at the spectacular opening ceremony.
The Weill-Cornell Medical College in Qatar (WCMC-Q) has also joined the HMC team to introduce the college to visitors, especially potential students from the region.
"One-third of current students are from the GCC region. We want to attract more students from the GCC," said Michael Vertigans, Director of Public Relations at WCMC-Q.
Abdul Rahman Al Dosari, Director, Public Relations, at HMC, noted that the exhibition provided the best opportunity for the Qatari team to learn more about the latest technology and equipment in the healthcare sector.
He said the Arab Health exhibition, with its massive participation, is dubbed the second-largest of its kind in the world, with the biggest being held in Germany.
The participating countries this year include the US, Germany, France, Japan and South Korea, among others.
The exhibition, spread over all the 11 halls of the Dubai International Exhibition Centre, has been bustling with visitors since the opening yesterday. The event is being organized by IIS Middle East. A series of conferences focusing on latest developments in the health sector are also being held on the sidelines of the exhibition.
By Mohammed Iqbal
© The Peninsula 2007
