The MENA Congress for Rare Diseases 2025 in partnership with Burjeel Medical City will take place from 17 to 20 April 2025 at Beach Rotana Hotel, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

The previous MENA Congress for Rare Diseases 2024 held on 16-19 May 2024 in Abu Dhabi, turned out to be the largest event for rare diseases and a key milestone in showcasing the regions dedication to improving the lives of individuals afflicted with these disorders. It was attended by 1105 delegates with 17% coming from 47 countries outside the UAE. The meeting was held over 4 full days and consisted of 39 sessions including 139 presentations given by 141 speakers, including 51 international experts coming from 27 different countries. The presentations received very high evaluations as the vast majority of the attendees (96.7%) scored the presentations as above average. The congress also received 78 high-quality scientific abstracts related to different aspects of rare diseases. The abstracts were featured as oral presentations and posters and published in the PubMed Central-indexed scientific journal Therapeutic Advances in Rare Disease. The top 7 abstracts were awarded and assigned oral presentations. The congress was held under the patronage of H.E. Sheikh Nahayan Mabarak Al Nahyan who attended the opening ceremony and gave the opening speech. The congress received the support of 34 scientific partners including UAE University, Abu Dhabi University, Ajman University, Rare Disease International, and Undiagnosed Disease International. The congress also received marketing support from 23 media partners including Balsam, Medarabia, and Rare Evolution Magazine; and was covered by key media and news outlets during and after the meeting including WAM (https://wam.ae/en/article/b36k5bz), Aletihad, and Albayan.

Our upcoming meeting, MENA Congress for Rare Diseases 2025 in partnership with Burjeel Medical City, Beach Rotana Abu Dhabi, 17-20 April 2025, will continue to be the largest event for rare diseases in the region. It will last for 4 full days with more than 150 speakers including more than 70 international speakers with expertise on various topics related to rare diseases including advances in understanding rare diseases, artificial intelligence, best-practices for management, novel therapies, updates on diagnostics, research and innovation, gene and cell therapy, preventive medicine, genetic counseling, rare blood disorders, rare neurologic diseases, rare ophthalmologic disorders, rare surgical cases, autism and neurodivergence, dental care, rehabilitation, nutritional support, inclusion and diversity, patient advocacy, psychosocial challenges, access to orphan drugs, media awareness, insurance coverage, Angelman syndrome, and Huntington disease.

More than 1500 attendees are expected to participate with more than 25% coming from outside the country. The meeting will be attended by healthcare providers including medical doctors from variable specialties, dentists, nurses, dietitians, physical, speech, and occupational therapists, pharmacists, laboratory personnel, and genetic counselors, medical and medical sciences students, researchers, scientists, and educators, and individuals with rare diseases and their families. Laboratories, pharmaceutical companies, clinics and hospitals, academic institutions, community services, and support and advocacy groups will also participate.

Again, the upcoming congress will accept scientific abstracts that will be presented as posters and will be published in a scientific PubMed Central-indexed journal. The top abstracts will be awarded and presented as oral presentations. Furthermore, the Award for Outstanding Achievement in Rare Diseases will be launched during the meeting and honored to pioneers in the field of rare diseases including researchers, healthcare providers, advocates, patients and their caretakers, and institutions. This award will be distributed during the opening ceremony of the congress.

Burjeel Medical City (BMC) remains the meeting partner and the major supporter for this congress. BMC is a 400-bed multispecialty hospital and quaternary care center located in Abu Dhabi, UAE. It is the region’s complex care hub with over 60 adult and pediatric specialties, aided by state-of-the-art medical technology and an international team of experts. The 1.2 million-square-foot hospital is a flagship facility under the Burjeel Holdings umbrella. It is renowned for key specialties including oncology, hematology, bone marrow transplantation, neurosurgery, multi-organ transplantation, advanced orthopedic surgery, pediatric subspecialties, fetal medicine, nuclear medicine, and advanced gynecology. BMC harbors the Center for Research on Rare Blood Disorders (CR-RBD), one of the region’s leading research hubs with a global portfolio of high impact publications, international guidelines, and various observational studies and clinical trials of novel therapeutics designed to improve the outcomes of patients with rare blood disorders (https://burjeel.com/burjeelmedicalcity)

This conference is a unique platform that brings all stakeholders involved in rare diseases to one place to obtain the most updated knowledge, exchange experience, advance research, establish networks, and explore new horizons and collaborative opportunities aiming ultimately to provide better care for individuals with rare diseases.

We look forward to seeing you among us at the MENA Congress for Rare Diseases 2025 in partnership with Burjeel Medical City.