Under the warm Abu Dhabi sun, the hum of conversation at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC) signals more than just another conference — it marks the beginning of a new era in global health promotion.
For the first time in history, the International Union for Health Promotion and Education (IUHPE) has chosen the Middle East as the stage for its world conference, and Abu Dhabi has risen to the occasion with characteristic vision and ambition.
Over 2,000 health professionals, academics, policymakers, and innovators from more than 100 countries have gathered for IUHPE 2025, united by a single theme: “Settings for Planetary Health and Well-being.”
Reimagining Health in an Age of Uncertainty
The world faces a triad of converging challenges — climate change, chronic disease, and deepening health inequities. Yet amid this uncertainty, the conversations in Abu Dhabi are filled not with despair, but with determination.
Over four days, 300+ sessions, workshops, and panels explore the future of global well-being — from climate-resilient healthcare systems and digital health innovation to mental health, sustainability, and equity.
At the heart of it all lies a powerful idea: health is not confined to hospitals — it begins in the environments where we live, work, and learn.
Abu Dhabi’s Vision: Predict, Prevent, Act
The Abu Dhabi Public Health Centre (ADPHC) is taking the spotlight this year with its three-pillar strategy — Predict, Prevent, Act — a forward-thinking model that could reshape how nations approach population health.
🧬 Predict — Anticipating Illness Before It Strikes
Using AI, genomics, and data-driven insight, Abu Dhabi is identifying risk factors before they become disease.
Through its Personalized Precision Medicine program, family members of cancer patients with inherited mutations are proactively screened — leading to early detection and personalized care for 207 individuals so far.
Meanwhile, the Unified Medical Operations Command Centre (UMOC) uses artificial intelligence to detect outbreaks in real time and coordinate emergency responses across both public and private sectors. It’s not just preparedness — it’s prevention powered by prediction.
🩺 Prevent — Protecting Health Through Proactive Screening
Abu Dhabi’s IFHAS national screening program has enrolled more than 195,000 citizens, identifying risks early and guiding healthier lives.
In schools, over 322,000 students received annual screenings, and more than 30,000 underwent comprehensive health assessments in 2024 alone — an investment not just in data, but in the next generation’s well-being.
💉 Act — Rapid Response, Community Impact
Public health isn’t only about systems — it’s about people.
In 2024 alone, 300,000 residents were vaccinated against the flu, and nearly 90,000 received measles immunizations.
To combat vector-borne diseases, the emirate deployed over 130,000 mosquito traps and inspected 11,000+ sites, ensuring that health protection extends into every community.
Leadership With a Global Vision
Opening the conference, H.E. Dr. Rashed Al Suwaidi, Director General of ADPHC, delivered a powerful message:
“At a time when the world faces converging crises — from climate to inequality — Abu Dhabi is moving boldly from treatment to prevention, from reaction to prediction, and from fragmented systems to holistic, community-driven well-being.”
WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Ghebreyesus, in his address, echoed that sentiment, emphasizing the need for collective responsibility and intergenerational accountability in global health.
As Sione Tu’itahi, President of IUHPE, put it:
“Health promotion is more than policy — it’s a promise we make to future generations.”
Beyond the Conference: Building the Future Together
Beyond the academic sessions, IUHPE 2025 has become a living lab of collaboration.
A Youth Health Track empowers emerging public health leaders, while working groups on digital transformation, equity, and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) bring together experts across sectors.
An accompanying exhibition showcases leading players such as Novartis, AstraZeneca, PureHealth, GSK, MSD, M42, and Roche, alongside Johnson & Johnson and Gilead as knowledge partners — highlighting how public and private sectors can work hand in hand toward planetary well-being.
A New Model for Planetary Health
Abu Dhabi’s Predict–Prevent–Act framework represents more than a regional milestone — it’s a global call to action.
It challenges health systems everywhere to move beyond crisis management and toward anticipatory, community-based care.
As the conference unfolds, one message resonates clearly:
The future of global health will not be built in isolation. It will be built together — through shared knowledge, inclusive innovation, and a collective commitment to the well-being of our planet.