AICEP leads portuguese healthcare business mission to WHX Dubai - AICEP is organising a healthcare business mission to the UAE from 9 to 12 February 2026.

AICEP – Portuguese Trade & Investment Agency is organising a healthcare business mission to the United Arab Emirates from 9 to 12 February 2026, alongside WHX Dubai (World Health Expo Dubai), to showcase Portuguese healthcare solutions in this strategic market.

This mission, featuring 19 Portuguese healthcare companies led by AICEP, supports the internationalisation of the Portuguese economy by raising the nation’s profile in high-potential growth markets such as the Middle East.

The healthcare cluster in Portugal offers a diverse and innovative range of solutions. It encompasses medical technologies, biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, digital health, training, and medical tourism. The sector combines advanced technological and research capabilities with strong collaboration between academia, industry, and healthcare institutions, providing integrated solutions and sophisticated partnership models that make Portugal a strategic partner of choice in international markets.

Portuguese health sector exports have more than doubled over the past decade, reaching €4.036 billion in 2024 and expanding to over 183 markets, consolidating Portugal’s reputation as a competitive investment hub and a European leader in digital health innovation.

A growing market open to strategic partnerships
The United Arab Emirates is a key and dynamic market in the Middle East and serves as the primary destination for Portuguese exports to the Gulf region. The UAE acts as a regional hub for trade, investment, and innovation, leveraging a favourable economic environment, world-class infrastructure, and a strong focus on economic diversification—particularly in healthcare, medical technologies, and life sciences.

UAE healthcare is expanding steadily, driven by population growth, demographic changes, rising medical tourism, and significant public and private investment in hospital modernisation, digital health, and advanced medical solutions. The pharmaceutical and healthcare sectors increasingly demand structured international partnerships—such as joint ventures, technology transfer, R&D collaborations, and royalties—that go beyond traditional exports.

WHX Dubai, formerly known as Arab Health, is now the largest healthcare event in the Middle East and one of the most influential worldwide. The new name reflects a broader global strategy to build an integrated network of healthcare exhibitions and strengthen connections across international markets and industry ecosystems.

In 2026, the event is expected to host over 3,500 exhibitors showcasing advanced medical equipment, cutting-edge technologies, and comprehensive healthcare solutions. Beyond the exhibition, WHX Dubai offers a robust programme of conferences, workshops, and networking sessions, providing insights into emerging industry trends, international best practices, and business opportunities.

For Portuguese companies, WHX Dubai represents a strategic opportunity to access new markets, increase international visibility, develop partnerships with distributors, importers, and key decision-makers, and stay up to date with trends in emerging technology and global healthcare.

The mission will also reinforce Portugal’s image as a supplier of innovative, high value-added healthcare solutions, highlighting the diversity, technological maturity, and innovation capacity of the Portuguese health cluster. This will strengthen Portugal’s institutional reputation among government authorities, hospital groups, sovereign wealth funds, and other relevant stakeholders.

AICEP will support participants in preparing for the mission, including on-site assistance. AICEP’s Abu Dhabi office will organise meetings and visits with key local players, ensuring structured and results-focused participation by Portuguese companies during the event.

Discover here the participating companies.