Organised by the UAE Ministry of Defence in cooperation with ADNEC Group under the supervision of the International Committee of Military Medicine (ICMM), the 46th ICMM World Congress of Military Medicine started in Abu Dhabi on Monday with specialised workshops, ahead of its official opening ceremony on Wednesday, 11th November.
The Congress brings together military and civilian healthcare expertise from more than 120 countries under the theme “Ready When Needed. Resilient When Tested.”
The event is expected to attract more than 2,000 participants and 300 speakers representing over 40 medical and healthcare specialties.
The gathering reflects the UAE’s wider role in humanitarian assistance. In 2025, the country was ranked the world’s third-largest humanitarian donor, contributing $1.46 billion, according to data reported through the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs’ Financial Tracking Service.
The Congress opened with five workshops covering medical care in chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear incidents, mass casualty management, regional anesthesia for combat casualties, advanced trauma surgery and burn care.
Additional workshops addressed prolonged casualty care, ultrasound imaging, field blood transfusion, traumatic brain injuries, tactical casualty care and psychological resilience.
Scientific sessions began on Tuesday, 10th November, focusing on military-civilian medical cooperation, battlefield injuries, disaster response, mental health, rehabilitation, medical logistics and innovation.
Wednesday’s official opening will feature a keynote session on the role of health in strengthening national resilience, alongside discussions on medical readiness and healthcare system integration.
The programme will continue until 13th November, covering pandemic preparedness, humanitarian response, medical evacuation, digital health, artificial intelligence and telemedicine.
An accompanying exhibition featuring more than 120 stands will showcase medical technologies and innovations while providing opportunities for international partnerships.
Burjeel Holdings, a strategic partner of the congress and a leading super-specialty healthcare services provider in the GCC, has called for closer collaboration between military and private healthcare providers, extending beyond service contracts to shared training, innovation, and operational preparedness, to strengthen national preparedness and humanitarian healthcare, as the UAE hosts the ICMM World Congress of Military Medicine for the first time.
Speaking during fireside conversation at the ICC Main Plenary as part of the 46th edition of the Congress, Dr. Shamsheer Vayalil, Chairman and CEO of Burjeel Holdings (photo), said working alongside military partners had strengthened the Group’s approach to leadership, logistics, training, and decision-making under pressure. He urged healthcare providers to prepare for disruptions beyond those they had already experienced.
Dr. Shamsheer said changing warfare, the dual uses of technologies such as drones and AI, and the vulnerability of connected healthcare systems were changing the demands placed on medical services. Preparedness must include resilient supply chains, clear lines of command, and the ability to operate when communication channels are disrupted.
“We need greater readiness and enduring resilience. The UAE has demonstrated the importance of both in recent times,” he said.
He said relationships between military institutions and private providers should develop beyond a focus on securing contracts. Shared operational experience could strengthen disaster medicine, improve medical logistics, and create opportunities for research, technology development, and workforce training.
On technology, Dr. Shamsheer said AI should enhance the efficiency and decision-making capabilities of physicians and healthcare teams. He also highlighted the need to rethink medical education and described plans to build AI into the curriculum from the outset, rather than add it to an existing model.
