The UAE Ministry of Defence has completed preparations for the 46th World Congress of Military Medicine, which begins in Abu Dhabi on Monday, bringing together military and civilian healthcare specialists for five days of scientific discussions and practical training.The congress, running from 9 to 13 November at ADNEC Centre Abu Dhabi, is expected to draw more than 2,000 participants and over 300 speakers across more than 40 medical and healthcare specialities. It is being organised by the ministry in cooperation with ADNEC Group under the supervision of the International Committee of Military Medicine (ICMM).
Specialised workshops will open the programme on Monday, followed by scientific sessions from Tuesday. The formal opening ceremony is scheduled for Wednesday, 11 November, when discussions will examine the contribution of healthcare systems to national resilience and the coordination of military and civilian medical services.
Five initial workshops will address medical responses to chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear incidents, management of mass casualties, regional anaesthesia for combat injuries, advanced trauma surgery and burn treatment. The sessions are designed to develop practical skills relevant to emergencies and operational medical care.
Further training will cover prolonged casualty care, point-of-care ultrasound, blood transfusions in field conditions, traumatic brain injuries, tactical combat casualty care and psychological resilience. Organisers have said the workshops will combine practical instruction, simulations and specialist training, with places subject to advance registration.
The scientific programme beginning on 10 November will examine cooperation between military and civilian medical organisations, treatment of battlefield injuries, disaster response, mental health, rehabilitation and the management of medical supplies and services. Discussions will also consider how healthcare providers can maintain services during large-scale emergencies.
Sessions later in the week will address preparedness for pandemics, humanitarian medical operations, aeromedical evacuation, digital healthcare, artificial intelligence and telemedicine. The agenda includes the use of new technologies in diagnostics, laboratory medicine and clinical decision-making, alongside questions surrounding their application in demanding operational environments.
The agenda also provides for discussions on health diplomacy and strategic partnerships, including the relationship between medical readiness and wider emergency planning. Organisers have identified lessons from earlier pandemics as a subject for the programme, together with the integration of military and civilian healthcare systems. These sessions are intended to bring operational medical personnel into dialogue with public health specialists and researchers whose work addresses threats extending beyond military settings.
The programme includes focus group discussions and skills-transfer activities. Its professional audience spans emergency physicians, surgeons, anaesthetists, nurses, paramedics, pharmacists and specialists in rehabilitation and medical imaging.
The event is the first edition of the ICMM congress to be hosted by the UAE. Organisers expect participation from more than 120 countries, with delegates drawn from armed forces medical services, hospitals, research institutions, universities and healthcare businesses. Its stated theme is “Ready When Needed. Resilient When Tested”.
An accompanying exhibition is expected to feature more than 120 stands displaying medical equipment, technologies and services. The exhibition will run alongside the scientific congress, providing a separate setting for manufacturers, healthcare organisations and delegates to discuss equipment, research and possible professional partnerships.
The organising committee had previously announced a programme spanning force health protection, individual medical readiness, surgery, nursing, pharmacy, physiotherapy, dentistry and veterinary medicine. Other subjects include medical logistics, aerospace and space medicine, emergency care and the delivery of medical assistance during humanitarian crises.
International speakers named by organisers include Shamsheer Vayalil, founder and chairman of Burjeel Holdings; Colonel Julian Williams, director of clinical services at the Australian Army's 2nd Health Brigade; and Colonel Erik DeSoucy, a trauma surgeon serving in the United States Air Force.
Other participants identified in the programme include Colonel Bernd Klaubert, a senior pharmacy officer in Germany's armed forces, and Rajeev Sadanandan, a member of the technical advisory panel of the World Bank's Pandemic Fund. Their participation reflects the programme's coverage of military clinical practice, pharmaceutical services and public health preparedness.
The congress is supported by Tawazun Council for Defence Enablement as national defence enablement partner, with healthcare and technology organisations also involved. Named strategic partners include EDGE Group, M42, Burjeel Holdings, Mubadala Bio, PureHealth and Gulf Drug.
The congress website distinguishes Monday's separately registered practical workshops from the scientific congress and exhibition scheduled for 10 to 13 November. Delegates attending the workshops must register for those courses separately, while exhibition registration is offered without charge.
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