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Game-changing health tech hits Dubai: What you missed at WHX 2025

With over 200 speakers and 300 exhibitors, the event created a space to explore how technology is transforming the future of healthcare

Nida Sohail
Nida Sohail

12 September, 2025

Game-changing health tech hits Dubai: What you missed at WHX 2025
Image credit: Supplied

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The first edition of WHX Tech 2025, a major new platform for digital health innovation, concluded this week at the Dubai World Trade Centre after three high-impact days that brought together global leaders, start-ups, investors, and policy makers. With over 200 speakers and 300 exhibitors, the event created a collaborative space to explore how technology is transforming the future of healthcare, from smart hospitals and AI diagnostics to femtech and care for displaced populations.

Read more-Dubai goes digital: WHX Tech sets stage for health innovation in AI, policy

The event culminated in the announcement of the Xcelerate start-up competition winner, with one innovative company taking home a $50,000 prize, while conversations around inclusion, equity, and innovation continued across three dynamic stages.

Image credit: Supplied

One of the standout features of WHX Tech 2025 was the presence of Dubai Health, a key partner at the event and a leader in regional digital transformation. The organisation used the platform to highlight its most advanced technologies, including AI-enabled pain management, smart hospital rooms, and intelligent electronic medical records.

“Participating in WHX Tech 2025 has been an opportunity to demonstrate how we’re using digital innovation and artificial intelligence to reimagine healthcare,” said Atif Albraiki, Chief Digital & AI Officer at Dubai Health.

“We’re translating technology into smarter, more personalised experiences for patients,” he added. “Just as important has been the opportunity to expand our collaborations with academic, technology, and government partners.”

According to Albraiki, these partnerships are essential to Dubai Health’s mission to become a fully integrated academic health system, driving innovation in care delivery while advancing research and education.

Image credit: Supplied

Digital health solutions for displaced populations

On the final day of the event, attention turned to the humanitarian applications of digital health, particularly for displaced and refugee populations. On the Xcelerate Stage, Dr Waheed Arian, a British-Afghan doctor and founder of Arian Wellbeing, gave an emotional presentation rooted in personal experience.

As a child, Arian lived in a refugee camp in Pakistan, where he suffered from tuberculosis, malaria, and malnutrition. He later studied medicine at Cambridge and Harvard before dedicating his career to helping others overcome the same adversities he faced.

“We offer culturally sensitive, language-appropriate mental health services,” Arian said. “For displaced people, trauma doesn’t just happen once, it’s an ongoing experience.”

Arian Wellbeing uses a secure digital platform to connect individuals with clinical support via video, audio, or text. The company’s mission is to deliver trauma-informed care tailored to each individual’s cultural background and lived experience.

“We use agnostic tools and ensure the system is secure, even from surveillance by adverse governments,” he said. “Technology must adapt to meet the realities of the most vulnerable.”

Image credit: Supplied

Women lead the charge in health innovation

Another major highlight came from a powerful session on femtech and women-led innovation, where industry leaders discussed how AI and digital solutions are closing the gender gap in healthcare.

Sally Ann Frank, Global Lead in Health and Life Sciences at Microsoft for Startups, spotlighted how AI is helping to improve diagnostic accuracy and access for women worldwide.

“AI is a game-changer for access,” said Frank. “From breast cancer detection tools to biometric screening on smartphones, we’re seeing real transformation.”

Joining her on stage was Dr Professor Selwa A F Al Hazzaa, CEO and founder of SDM, a Saudi-based digital health start-up focused on AI-driven retinal screening. Her work began during the COVID-19 pandemic when she convinced the Saudi Ministry of Health to support the deployment of diabetes detection cameras across rural and underserved communities.

“We told them that diabetes was killing three times as many people as COVID,” said Al Hazzaa. “We started by offering the screening service for free.”

By doing so, SDM was able to collect over 500,000 retinal images and complete 35,000 free exams, achieving nearly 97 per cent sensitivity. The data gathered is now helping to train algorithms to detect not only diabetic retinopathy but also glaucoma, atrial fibrillation, stroke risk, and early signs of Alzheimer’s.

“We’re using international talent as mentors, but our solution is localised,” she said.

“That’s how you make a country grow, you build from within.”

Xcelerate competition crowns groundbreaking AR start-up

A major focal point of WHX Tech 2025 was the Xcelerate Start-Up Competition, the region’s largest pitch contest dedicated to digital health. Throughout the week, 40 high-potential start-ups pitched their solutions in hopes of reaching the final round.

On Day 3, 12 finalists were invited to present to a live audience and an elite judging panel that included UK entrepreneur and Dragons’ Den investor Peter Jones.

The grand prize, a $50,000 Xcelerate Champion of Innovation Award, went to Strolll, an AR-based digital therapeutic solution designed to aid people with neurological conditions such as Parkinson’s disease.

“This win means so much to our team,” said Jorgen Ellis, CEO and co-founder of Strolll. “We just launched in this region a week ago, and the response we’ve had at WHX Tech has been incredible.”

“This is a huge validation of our work in neurorehabilitation,” he added. “It’s also an important step in scaling access to care through technology.”

Two additional companies received recognition:

  • Éclateral (UK) won the Xceptional Patient-Centric Innovation Award for o~pal, a portable solution for rapid health testing and disease screening.
  • You(th) Healthtech (USA) received the Xtraordinary Early Stage Start-Up Award for its smartphone-based AI tool that extracts health metrics from a simple facial video, measuring vitals like heart rate, oxygen levels, blood pressure, and stress.

WHX Tech 2025: A new global platform takes root

As the event wrapped up, organisers and attendees alike praised WHX Tech for creating a new kind of health tech platform, one focused not just on showcasing innovation but on connecting stakeholders, solving real problems, and inspiring action.

“Seeing the winner crowned of the region’s largest digital health start-up competition was the perfect ending to an amazing three days,” said Sally Thompson, Group Event Director at Informa Markets.

“We’ve had deep conversations with innovators, futurists, investors, and care providers,” she added. “It’s clear that WHX Tech offers something the industry really needs: a space to explore what’s next, and how to get there.”

Held in strategic partnership with HIMSS (Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society), WHX Tech reinforced its credibility by aligning with key industry priorities, such as interoperability, patient-centricity, and AI governance.

With successful launches, valuable partnerships, and exciting start-up breakthroughs, WHX Tech 2025 proved it is not just an exhibition—it’s a launchpad for the next era of digital healthcare.

For more information, visit the link here.

pX launches as GCC’s first AI-powered real estate decision platform

The launch coincides with the announcement of an exclusive partnership with REalyse, the UK’s leading real estate intelligence provider

Rajiv Pillai
Rajiv Pillai

12 September, 2025

pX launches as GCC’s first AI-powered real estate decision platform
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The Gulf region has officially welcomed a new player in property intelligence with the launch of pX, the first AI-powered, institutional-grade decision infrastructure designed specifically for real estate. The platform promises to move beyond static dashboards, offering actionable insights and decision-ready narratives for investors, developers, and governments.

The launch coincides with the announcement of an exclusive partnership with REalyse, the UK’s leading real estate intelligence provider. Through the agreement, pX becomes the only platform in the GCC with access to REalyse’s proprietary technology, currently used by global institutions such as CBRE, Invesco, and several UK government agencies.

Since its soft launch in August 2024, pX has worked to adapt the technology to the Gulf’s unique environment—from the UAE’s complex regulatory frameworks to Saudi Arabia’s giga-project scale.

“This isn’t just a tech partnership — it’s a response to a structural gap,” said Guelane Mansour, co-founder and CEO of pX. “Global institutional capital is flooding into the Gulf, but the infrastructure hasn’t kept up. There’s vision, there’s capital, but no system built for the pace, scale, and precision that sophisticated investors demand. That’s what we’re building at pX: the decision backbone this region has been missing.”

Guelane Mansour, co-founder and CEO of pX
Guelane Mansour, co-founder and CEO of pX

Addressing a market gap

With investment appetite surging, many GCC projects still rely on slow market reports and fragmented data. pX was created to close this gap, combining AI with market expertise to deliver clarity in underwriting, master plan assessments, zoning decisions, and investment feasibility.

“It’s about giving decision-makers a new kind of superpower — clarity,” Mansour added. “From developers and governments to banks and consultants, everyone is struggling with data overload and insight scarcity. We built pX to flip that equation.”

Gavriel Merkado, founder and CEO of REalyse, said: “We’re excited to partner with pX in bringing this advanced capability to the GCC, which will enable institutional investors, developers and governments to make faster and more accurate decisions with greater confidence in the dynamic and rapidly expanding GCC market. The pX team brings excellent technical capabilities, innovative approaches and deep local market knowledge to bear and we’re proud to partner with them.”

Localising global expertise

While REalyse has long supported major Western institutions, pX is the first to bring its capabilities to the GCC. The platform has been tailored to integrate the UAE’s fragmented regulatory and ownership structures, as well as Saudi Arabia’s national priorities and project pipelines, into a unified intelligence layer.

The result is a platform designed not just to visualise data, but to provide the infrastructure governments, developers, and investors need to execute faster, more precise, and sustainable real estate strategies.

Scaling up

With operations live and early pilots underway with both private and public sector partners, pX is preparing for its next phase of growth. Strategic collaborations with municipalities, developers, and investment firms are expected to be announced in Q4 2025.

“The region is ready for this,” Mansour said. “There’s vision, there’s capital, and now, finally, there’s infrastructure. pX is here to unlock it.”

Luxury travel: Dubai South debuts ‘VIP Terminal Boulevard’

The boulevard is expected to become a hub for elite aviation businesses, offering them an unmatched opportunity to establish in a thriving region

Gulf Business
Gulf Business

11 September, 2025

Luxury travel: Dubai South debuts ‘VIP Terminal Boulevard’
Image credit: WAM/Website

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To meet the surging demand for aviation-related services, the Mohammed Bin Rashid Aerospace Hub (MBRAH) at Dubai South has announced the launch of ‘The VIP Terminal Boulevard’, a cutting-edge development aimed at attracting leading aviation companies and luxury retailers from around the globe.

Strategically located adjacent to the VIP Terminal, which has recorded sustained growth in business aviation movements, the boulevard stretches 769 metres and features 16 premium buildings.

Read more-1 billion passengers and counting: UAE aviation marks major milestone

These will offer modern facilities and high-end retail spaces spread across a 204,000 square metre area. The project is part of MBRAH’s integrated aviation ecosystem and will be delivered in phases starting in 2026, a WAM report said.

Aviation One: A modern beacon of design and functionality

Construction is already underway on Aviation One, a six-storey flagship building within the boulevard. Designed with contemporary architecture and advanced functional layouts, the building reflects MBRAH’s commitment to innovation and operational excellence.

The boulevard is expected to become a hub for elite aviation businesses, offering them an unmatched opportunity to establish and expand in a thriving region.

Leadership vision and global aspirations

Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, chairman of the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, chairman of Dubai Airports, and chairman and chief executive of Emirates Airline and Group, underscored the significance of the initiative.

“Aviation has always been one of the fundamental pillars of Dubai’s economy. The growing demand for aviation services in the emirate is a direct reflection of the vision of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, and the advanced ecosystem in MBR Aerospace Hub which is beyond the aviation industry’s expectations,” he said.

He further added: “The VIP Terminal Boulevard is a significant addition to the world-class facilities at Mohammed Bin Rashid Aerospace Hub. It will open new opportunities for leading aviation companies and luxury brands to flourish, while further strengthening Dubai’s position as a premier destination for companies and a key player on the global aviation map.”

MBRAH’s role in Dubai’s aviation ambitions

MBRAH offers global aerospace leaders access to a robust free-zone ecosystem with high-level connectivity. It is home to world-renowned airlines, private jet companies, MROs, and educational institutions. Developed by Dubai South, MBRAH aims to solidify Dubai’s vision of becoming a top-tier global aviation hub.

Envision 2025: du puts AI at the heart of UAE’s digital future

du CEO Fahad Al Hassawi underscored Dubai’s standing among the world’s top five cities for AI adoption during his keynote address

Gulf Business
Gulf Business

11 September, 2025

Envision 2025: du puts AI at the heart of UAE’s digital future
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Dubai hosted a glimpse of tomorrow at Envision 2025, du Tech’s flagship technology forum, where artificial intelligence, cloud, robotics, and advanced computing took center stage.

Themed “AI progress begins when leaders and technology align” the third edition of the annual event brought together government leaders, global tech executives, and innovators to chart the UAE’s digital transformation journey.

Opening the conference, du CEO Fahad Al Hassawi underscored Dubai’s standing among the world’s top five cities for AI adoption, even ahead of San Francisco. “Technology without leadership is merely code, and leadership without technology is just ambition,” he said, highlighting the event’s theme. “But when they come together — that’s when magic happens.”

Al Hassawi tied du’s strategy directly to national priorities, noting that AI is projected to contribute $320bn to the UAE’s GDP by 2030. He framed the numbers as more than statistics, calling them “the future of our children” and evidence of the courage of local businesses — 42 per cent of which have already deployed AI solutions.

du showcases five tech pillars at Envision

The event showcased five technological pillars driving this future: generative AI applications, sovereign cloud infrastructure, advanced robotics for Industry 4.0, GPU-as-a-Service and Mining-as-a-Service for high-performance computing, and national hyperscaler cloud solutions.

Each was presented as a practical enabler for key sectors such as healthcare, manufacturing, education, smart cities, and utilities.

Industry voices added weight to the vision. Investor and entrepreneur Randi Zuckerberg spoke on AI’s creative potential, while executives from Oracle, IBM, Microsoft, Huawei, Dell, Fortinet, Nokia, and Equinix highlighted how partnerships are powering transformation. du’s Chief ICT Officer Jasim Al Awadi called the platform a catalyst for “building smarter, more sustainable communities aligned with the UAE’s visionary leadership.”

Al Hassawi urged participants to see themselves not as attendees but as “ambassadors for change.” He closed by reminding them that the UAE has always been a nation of builders, first turning sand into cities, and now shaping the digital future with algorithms and intelligence.

With policymakers, industry leaders, and technologists in the same room, the event reinforced du’s role not just as a telecom operator but as a digital enabler helping shape the nation’s AI-powered economy.

Read: du announces Dhs2bn hyperscale data centre deal with Microsoft

Oracle nears $1tn valuation, Ellison edges toward richest-person title

Co-founder Ellison saw his net worth rise by nearly $100bn to $392.6bn, largely due to his 41 per cent stake in Oracle

Reuters
Reuters

11 September, 2025

Oracle nears $1tn valuation, Ellison edges toward richest-person title
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Oracle‘s shares rose on Thursday, extending a record run from the previous session and boosting stocks across the tech sector, as the company moves closer to the trillion-dollar club on soaring gains from its AI cloud business.

The enterprise software maker’s remarkable rise, fuelled by a wave of multi-billion-dollar cloud deals, highlights the scramble for computing power as companies pour billions into becoming leaders in the AI race.

The stock’s gains also position Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison on track to surpass Elon Musk, currently the world’s richest man.

“Oracle lit a fire under the rekindled AI trade,” said Richard Hunter, head of markets at Interactive Investor, noting that the company’s multi-billion-dollar demand outlook has triggered a “ripple effect” for AI-related stocks.

OpenAI signs deal with Oracle

The Wall Street Journal reported on Wednesday that OpenAI has signed a $300bn deal with Oracle for computing power, one of the largest contracts in history, likely accounting for the bulk of the new revenue Oracle outlined on Tuesday.

Oracle’s shares were last up 1.5 per cent in premarket trading after climbing as much as 35.9 per cent on Wednesday, lifting the company’s market valuation to a record $933bn at the last close.

The stock has nearly doubled in value this year, making it one of the top performers in the S&P 500 and outpacing gains by the so-called Magnificent Seven stocks.

Co-founder Ellison saw his net worth rise by nearly $100bn to $392.6bn, largely due to his 41 per cent stake in Oracle, compared with Tesla CEO Elon Musk’s $439.9bn fortune, which still tops Forbes’ global wealth rankings.

Oracle’s shares are trading Oracle’s shares are trading at a premium compared to its cloud services peers, with a 12-month forward price-to-earnings multiple of 45.3, versus Amazon’s 31.3 and Microsoft’s 31.

Read: Oracle pledges $14bn investment in Saudi Arabia

Inside Fakhruddin Properties’ breakthrough 90:90 waste management initiative

The company used multiple engagement methods, from door-to-door awareness campaigns to involving children in advocacy

Rajiv Pillai
Rajiv Pillai

11 September, 2025

Inside Fakhruddin Properties’ breakthrough 90:90 waste management initiative
Yousuf Fakhruddin, CEO of Fakhruddin Properties/Image: Supplied

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Fakhruddin Properties has announced the successful completion of its pilot 90:90 Waste Management initiative, a pioneering model that can divert 90 per cent of building waste from landfills within 90 days. The programme – the first of its kind in the UAE – was rolled out at Trafalgar Central in Dubai International City and has now achieved its waste reduction goals.

The initiative introduces in-building composting and waste-sorting facilities at the residential development, aligning with the UAE’s Net Zero 2050 agenda, Dubai Municipality’s plan to close landfills by 2027, and the Circular Economy Policy 2021–2031.

Overcoming challenges

While the technology itself was not the main obstacle, Yousuf Fakhruddin, CEO of Fakhruddin Properties, explained that the greater challenge lay in driving resident participation.

“I don’t think there was much of a technical challenge. The bigger challenge for us was the behavior. There’s always resistance to change,” he said. “Some people welcomed it, some learned and got educated, some did it for the incentives, and some wouldn’t budge.”

To address this, the company used multiple engagement methods, from door-to-door awareness campaigns to involving children in advocacy. “When a child comes and tells you, please do it, there’s a different reaction than an adult – and it is for their future,” Fakhruddin added, talking exlusively to Gulf Business.

Incentives and brand value

The programme is supported by a reward system, including a “gold programme” to encourage consistent participation. However, for Fakhruddin, the true value lies beyond immediate cost considerations.

“What are you representing? If you don’t care about your community, you’ll just build a building with four walls and leave it. If you are a brand that actually cares about the community and the people and the children, you will adopt these initiatives,” he said.

He added that sustainability has become a differentiator in Dubai’s competitive real estate sector. “We are not a very big developer in Dubai. We are medium-sized, but our name, when it comes to sustainability, is synonymous. It has given us a brand reputation which no other developers have.”

Scaling the 90:90 model

Having proven effective at Trafalgar Central, Fakhruddin sees the model as highly scalable across Dubai and the wider UAE. “We have done this in a CBD building in International City. If we can achieve it there, we can achieve it in other buildings,” he said.

The company now plans to expand the initiative across its entire portfolio, with the long-term goal of embedding waste segregation and recycling as second nature for residents.

Fakhruddin also highlighted the importance of regulatory support to drive adoption across the sector. “Unless you get regulation from the top, people do the bare minimum required. Once that regulation is there, people will start activating in a way that is more responsible for the community and society,” he said.

The 90:90 Waste Management initiative not only positions Fakhruddin Properties as a leader in sustainability-driven development but also marks an important milestone in the UAE’s transition toward integrated waste management and net-zero emissions.

“Waste management should not be a cost. It should be profitable,” Fakhruddin concluded. “If we do it at scale with the right regulations and support, it is definitely going to be profitable.”

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