Participants from 176 countries took part in the recent congress, which was held for the first time in the Middle-East region.

United Arab Emirates, Dubai, January 12, 2012: The International Diabetes Federation's World Diabetes Congress which was held in Dubai in December 2011, received 15,100 participants, making it the largest congress on IDF's records.

The congress, took place for the first time in the Middle-East region and of the 15,100 participants recorded, 13,100 were delegates and 2000 were exhibitors.

The number of participants in Dubai is a 20 per cent jump from the number of participants received at previous World Diabetes Congresses. The last two conferences which were held in 2006 in Cape Town, South Africa and in 2009 in Montreal, Canada which attracted 12,000 participants each.

His Excellency Qadhi Saeed Al Murooshid, Director-General of the Dubai Health Authority said, "This achievement reflects the success of the Emirate in hosting prestigious international conferences and exhibitions and we are proud of this success." Al Murooshid said that the Emirate was able to achieve this success possible because of the vision of its leaders. He dedicated this achievement to
His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, His Highness Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of the Dubai Executive Council and His Highness Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai, UAE Minister of Finance and President of the Dubai Health Authority for their vision and keenness to support and host such global forums in the Emirate.

Participants from 176 countries joined the congress, the top ten countries were India, UAE, China, Italy, UK, Germany, USA, Spain, France and Pakistan.

In terms of participants per region, the highest participants (32 per cent) were from the European region, followed by 19 per cent of the participants from the MENA region.

-Ends-

About the Dubai Health Authority:
Initially, the Department of Health and Medical Services (DOHMS), which was created in 1973, was the functioning authority that almost exclusively focused on health service delivery.

Therefore, the DHA was created, in June 2007, by Law 13 issued by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE, Ruler of Dubai, with an expanded vision to include strategic oversight for the complete health sector in Dubai and enhance private sector engagement.

His Highness Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai, Minister of Finance and Industry is the President of the Dubai Health Authority. His Excellency Qadhi Saeed Al Murooshid is the Director General of the DHA

The DHA mandate has two distinct functions: Sectoral Oversight - For the entire health sector in Dubai- public, private and free zone and Service Delivery at DHA facilities.

For further information, please contact
Heba Al Shaar
Director of Institutional Marketing and Communications
Dubai Health Authority
009714 2197455
communication@dha.gov.ae

© Press Release 2012