The Global Health Exhibition has announced the participation of global speakers in its 2026 conference program, bringing together leaders in healthcare systems, clinical innovation, digital health, and investment.
The Global Health Exhibition will take place from October 26 to 29, 2026, at the Riyadh Exhibition and Convention Center “Malham," featuring more than 500 global speakers across four specialized conference stages. The event will connect international expertise with individuals and organizations contributing to the development of the healthcare sector in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
The Leaders' Summit brings together senior executives, policymakers, and healthcare leaders to discuss ways to enable healthcare systems to drive economic growth, leverage artificial intelligence and innovation, strengthen resilience and preparedness, and transform care delivery. It will also address accelerating the shift from treating diseases toward prevention, long-term health, and community well-being.
The speaker lineup includes Catherine Estromps, Chief Commercial and Growth Officer at GE HealthCare, who leads the company's Global Markets region and brings more than 35 years of leadership experience with the company, which is valued at $14.5 billion. It also includes Sir Jonathan Symonds, CBE, Chairman of GSK and former Chairman of Genomics England.
The forum will feature Professor Declan O'Regan, Professor of Artificial Intelligence in Cardiovascular Medicine at Imperial College London, and Dr. Samuel Sia, Professor of Biomedical Engineering at Columbia University, whose research in portable diagnostic technologies contributes to expanding access to rapid point-of-care testing.
The Digital Health Forum will discuss ways to leverage artificial intelligence, connected care, and data infrastructure in the healthcare sector.
Among the prominent speakers is Professor Shafi Ahmed, Consultant Surgeon at Barts Health, part of the UK National Health Service. He performed the world's first live-streamed surgical operation and has used immersive technologies to train more than 100,000 healthcare professionals.
The forum will also feature Dr. Tamara Sunbul, Chief Information Officer at Fakeeh Care Group, a medically trained executive and multiple award winner, and one of the prominent global leaders in digital health. She serves as Chair of the HIMSS Middle East Community and Co-Chair of the Evidence and Evaluation Track at the Global Digital Health Partnership. She contributes to shaping the future of healthcare through artificial intelligence, data, and technology.
The Capital Xchange Forum will focus on investment in the healthcare sector and mechanisms for directing capital, from entering the Saudi market and foreign direct investment to capital formation, emerging technologies, and new investment opportunities.
Speakers include Anthony Kallendjian, Vice President of Investments at SoftBank Vision Fund, who supports innovations ranging from precision therapies to AI-powered care solutions; Vishva Mehta, Head of Healthcare and Life Sciences at Blackstone; and Dr. Sami Yousef, Head of Corporate Development at Mayo Clinic.
Rachel Sturgess, Deputy CEO at The Alliance, said: “Saudi Arabia is moving at an exceptional pace in transforming its healthcare sector, driven by significant ambition and investments that will reshape the sector over the long term. The caliber of leaders Riyadh is attracting to this dialogue reflects the scale of the opportunity in the Kingdom. The Global Health Exhibition brings this international expertise to the heart of the Kingdom, providing healthcare leaders from around the world with a platform to engage with, learn from, and contribute to Saudi Arabia's transformation journey."
Alongside its conference program, Global Health Exhibition 2026 will bring together healthcare organizations from Saudi Arabia and international markets. Dallah Health and National Hospital will participate as founding partners, joined by platinum partner Bupa Care Connect, as well as a number of leading international organizations, including Novartis, KARL STORZ, Canon Medical Systems, BD, Stryker, Baxter, and Johnson & Johnson.
The 2026 exhibition will also introduce a range of new experiences and initiatives, including the Leaders' Club, an exclusive network bringing together leading healthcare decision-makers from around the world for high-level dialogue and partnership building; Pulse Studio, a live podcast studio bringing together prominent voices in healthcare for conversations that contribute to shaping the future of the sector; and HealthTech Live, which will feature live demonstrations of healthcare technologies and innovations in practical applications.
The new initiatives also include the Power Breakfast Series, which offers focused sessions bringing together various stakeholders across the healthcare ecosystem to discuss capital deployment, policies, and key priorities; Reverse Pitching, a format that enables companies and investors to present their strategic priorities directly to startups and growth-stage companies; and the Unplugged Lounge, which provides a relaxed setting for informal discussions, networking, and relationship building away from the main program.