The press conference was presided by HE Khalifa Hassan Aldrai, Executive Director, Dubai Corporation Ambulance Services​​​, Dr. Abdul Salam Al Madani, Chairman of INDEX Holding, Dr. Omar Al Sakaf, Director of Medical & Technical Affairs, Dubai Corporation for Ambulance Services, and Dr.Victor Butros, Consultant & Head Of ED, Rashid Hospital, Trauma Centre, during which they elaborated on the importance of this event that will focus on issues faced during emergencies through new practices, methodologies, and case studies discussed by experts from the field.

HE Khalifa Hassan Aldrai, Executive Director, Dubai Corporation for Ambulance Services, started his speech saying: “Dubai is by far the trendsetter for leadership and excellence. Dubai is always working to strengthen its role in the advancement of the society, and to secure it against the various forms of hazards and danger. In Dubai, much of our focus is given to the unsung heroes of paramedics and emergency care assistants as they provide emergency medical care to patients before reaching the hospital.”

HE Khalifa Hassan Aldrai went on saying: “Through the 1st Edition of Dubai International Ambulance Conference, we aim to bring to the UAE some of the national and international premier thought leaders and change-makers in the field of emergency medical services. Those experts will help in developing the capabilities of paramedics during emergencies, all while emphasizing on coping with the conditions that paramedics face in the field.”

HE Khalifa Hassan Aldrai added: “We expect an impressive line-up of notable speakers, experts, specialists, doctors, and paramedics from around the world to participate in the conference. We also look for the support of the Pan-Asian Resuscitation Outcome Study (PAROS) in the form of lecturers from the founding countries; Singapore, Thailand, Japan, Turkey, Korea, and Malaysia, joined by the Pan-Asian Trauma Outcomes Study (PATOS) members. The conference will host at least 300 lecturers representing international EMS institutions and associations. The GCC experience in the field of EMS will be presented also in the conference by creative experts coming from Saudi Arabia, UAE, Oman, Qatar, Kuwait, and Bahrain. The conference will be the ideal platform bringing together prominent personalities from the EMS field, as well as international agencies, governmental and non-governmental institutions, charities, media, academia and specialized companies.”

From his side, Dr. Abdul Salam Al Madani, the Executive Chairman of the IECM conference and exhibition said during the press conference: “The Dubai International Ambulance Conference will be held in conjunction with the 11th edition of International Emergency and Catastrophe Managment Conference and Exhibition (IECM) which will be held under the patronage of HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre. We believe that hosting the two events at the same time will serve the benefit of the emergency, catastrophe and ambulance services not only in the region, as it will host a good number of specialists from all over the world.”

He continued on saying: “As a national Emirati company, INDEX Conferences and Exhibitions strives to support the health sector in Dubai and the UAE. Therefore, this collaboration between INDEX and the Dubai Corporation for Ambulance Services will shed the light on many pressing topics that will serve the ambulance and emergency fields such as; Prehospital Emergency Care Concept in the GCC, Ambulance Services Scope, Practice Models, Licensing and Accreditation, Research, development and Innovation in EMS and many more.”

Dr. Al Madani also illustrated that: “Throughout the 10 editions of the IECM conference and exhibitions, we strived to develop better communication channels between local and regional organisations and associations serving the emergency, catastrophe and humanitarian aid fields. Moreover, we have also encouraged them to develop better practices and adopt positive solutions throughout positive interactions between them. The IECM conference and exhibition has also encouraged partnerships between associations working in the development, relief and humanitarian fields to obtain quick response during emergencies and catastrophes.”

From his side, Dr. Omar Al Sakaf, Director of Medical & Technical Affairs, Dubai Corporation for Ambulance Services, said: “The quality-level of services provided by Dubai ambulance has reached advanced stages. Its response-time is among the best in the world, which led to many countries showing their interest in learning from the professional experience of Dubai ambulance. We plan not to stop at sharing our expertise, as through the Dubai International Ambulance Conference slated for coming March, we will also learn from the experiences of others.”

Dr. Omar Al Sakaf continued on saying: “The purpose of the Dubai International Ambulance Conference is to enable the sharing of best practices in the field, and to discuss the latest advancements in EMS, ambulance care and pre-hospital emergency care, with the participation of local and international hundreds of experts, specialists, doctors, and paramedics from around the globe.”

The Dubai International Ambulance Conference boasts a rich scientific program with a broad range of topics of current interest, presented by prominent experts and accomplished in a spirit of collegiality that encourages transcultural dissemination of knowledge. The conference will cover topics like ambulance practice models, research and innovation in EMS, EMS System in GCC, mass casualty incident and interagency collaboration, research concept in EMS, and many more.

The event is organized by INDEX Conferences & Exhibitions, member of INDEX Holding, and it is supported by Government of Dubai, Dubai Police, Dubai Health Authority, Dubai Corporation for Ambulance Services, and the Emirates Society of Emergency Medicine.