DUBAI, U.A.E., December 2011: The recent World Diabetes Congress held in Dubai has recorded its highest attendance in history. Organized by the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) together with Congress Solutions International (CSI) as their local PCO, the Congress which ran from 4 – 8 December at Dubai World Trade Centre, was the largest congress held in Dubai to date, attracting over 15,000 delegates and 300 journalists from over 100 countries around the world, an increase of 25 per cent from the last congress in Montreal.
The mega-congress which was opened by Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and President of the Dubai Healthy Authority, also witnessed record exhibition and sponsorship sales and a leading scientific programme.
The International Diabetes Federation (IDF) organized the event and mandated Congress Solutions International (CSI) as their local PCO, who managed important local logistics items such as housing, social programmes and local MENA exhibition and sponsorship sales as well as production of marketing materials.
“The overwhelming success of the World Diabetes Congress in an ample showcase to the world that Dubai and CSI is ready to take on congresses of any size and irrespective of industry sector, and as a result Dubai has been recognized as one of the world’s leading association meeting destinations. With this stellar example and working with Dubai World Trade Centre and Dubai Convention Bureau, we will continue to submit bids to leading global associations that have not yet ventured into the region”, commented Alexandre Lolliot, Manager of Congress Solutions International.
The UAE has the second highest prevalence of diabetes globally, with one in five people now living with the disease. Holding the World Diabetes Congress in Dubai provided the perfect opportunity to add a strong political dimension and increase representation of government and civil society from the region, while in a city that has the state of the art infrastructure and facilities to support an event of this scale.
“We have been impressed with the way that Dubai as a destination has responded to our needs and exceeded our expectations in terms of infrastructure and services,” said Luc Hendrickx, Director of Congresses and Governance for IDF. “The World Diabetes Congress in Dubai has been a huge success. The scientific and medical interests of the congress and media exposure have reinforced awareness and understanding of the burden of diabetes in the region. There is every indication that diabetes prevention and care are very much at the centre of the government agenda. The International Diabetes Federation is confident that the congress will leave a lasting legacy and the UAE will join the rest of the world in implementing and monitoring of evidence-based policy and planning emerging from the United Nations Summit on Non-Communicable Diseases..”
