25th IUHPE World Conference on Health Promotion draws global experts to Abu Dhabi to shape future of public health

Abu Dhabi, 28 May 2025: As the 25th IUHPE World Conference on Health Promotion concluded in Abu Dhabi, the emirate not only made history as the first Middle Eastern host but also set a powerful new agenda for the future of global public health. Over four transformative days, more than 2,000 experts, leaders, and changemakers from over 100 countries convened to co-create solutions for planetary health and wellbeing.

Co-hosted by the Abu Dhabi Public Health Centre (ADPHC) and the International Union for Health Promotion and Education (IUHPE), and supported by the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi, the conference delivered a suite of tangible global outcomes: 15 policy recommendations, 10 long-term strategic partnerships, and 385 expert-led sessions – all converging around the unifying theme of Settings for Planetary Health and Well-being. Discussions emphasised a paradigm shift from healthcare to holistic health creation, grounded in equity, climate resilience, and systems transformation.

Among the most consequential outputs of IUHPE 2025 were policy recommendations that address some of the most pressing public health imperatives of the 21st century:

HE Dr. Rashed Al Suwaidi, Director General of Abu Dhabi Public Health Centre, said: “IUHPE 2025 has shown us that real progress in public health is only possible when we act together—across sectors, systems, and borders.

“This conference reinforced a collective commitment to turn ideas into action and to embed health promotion as a shared responsibility across all settings and communities.”

Echoing this sentiment, HE Dr. Omniyat Al Hajeri, Executive Director of the Community Health Sector at ADPHC, emphasised the importance of shared responsibility and cross-sector synergy.

She said: “Health must be a fundamental right embedded into the environments we inhabit and the systems we design. We are no longer reacting—we are redesigning health itself.”

Reflecting the UAE’s commitment to collaborative action, eight strategic MoUs were signed between ADPHC and global health leaders including Boehringer Ingelheim, Organon, Emirates Cancer Society, Gilead Sciences, AstraZeneca, Novartis, IHLAD,   Ma’an , MSD and Roche. These partnerships span key areas such as non-communicable disease prevention, women’s health, early screenings, and community wellness—laying the foundation for sustained localised impact and regional leadership in proactive care.

Mr. Sione Tu’itahi, President of IUHPE, said: “Abu Dhabi has redefined what global collaboration in health promotion looks like. The vision and collective resolve witnessed here will reverberate far beyond this conference.”

The conference emphasised that health promotion must extend beyond hospitals to every setting where people live, learn, work, and play.

As the curtains fall, Abu Dhabi stands not only as a host city, but as a global lighthouse for health innovation, equity, and resilience – setting a new gold standard for how the world comes together to shape healthier, more sustainable societies.

ENDS