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Trade fair guide · Dubai
WHX Dubai 2027: a guide for Pakistani healthcare companies
WHX Dubai, the event long known as Arab Health, is the Middle East’s largest healthcare exhibition. For Pakistani pharmaceutical, surgical-instrument and medical-device firms, it is the main January meeting point with Gulf hospital groups and distributors.
Key facts
WHX Dubai at a glance
| Item | What to know |
|---|---|
| Dates | 25–28 January 2027 |
| Venues | Dubai Exhibition Centre (DEC) at Expo City Dubai and Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) |
| Related show | WHX Labs Dubai, formerly Medlab Middle East, 26–29 January 2027 at DWTC |
| Visa | A UAE visit visa issued before travel. There is no visa on arrival for ordinary Pakistani passports. Some organisers support visas for registered exhibitors. |
| Airport | Dubai International (DXB); Al Maktoum (DWC) is closer to Expo City |
| Working week | Monday to Friday, with a shorter Friday |
| Health | Carry a polio vaccination certificate when travelling from Pakistan. |
Check before travel: visa rules, fees, processing times and event dates change without notice. This page was checked on 11 November 2026 against the WHX Dubai organisers, Dubai World Trade Centre and the UAE government portal (u.ae). Confirm on the official source, or ask us to check for your trip, before you book anything non-refundable.
Who goes
Who from Pakistan attends WHX Dubai
Surgical and device makers
Sialkot instrument and disposables exporters meeting hospital buyers.
Distributors and agents
Pakistani firms that represent foreign brands in Pakistan.
Two venues
Planning around DEC and DWTC
The event now uses two venues that are far apart. Expo City Dubai, home of the Dubai Exhibition Centre, is near Al Maktoum airport in the south of the city, while DWTC is on Sheikh Zayed Road near Downtown. The drive between them can take 40 minutes or more in traffic, so plan one venue per person per day where you can.
Stand teams should stay close to their own hall. Expo City has its own metro station on the Red Line, and hotels in Dubai South, Jebel Ali and Dubai Marina give shorter journeys than central hotels.
- Check which venue your stand or target halls are in
- Split the team if you need both venues on the same day
- Allow for morning traffic on Sheikh Zayed Road
Registration and compliance
What buyers ask at the stand
Gulf hospital groups and distributors ask about registration status early. Bring product registration details for the markets you already supply, quality certifications, and technical files. If you are looking for a UAE distributor, know which products need registration with the UAE health authorities before a distributor can sell them.
Many Pakistani exhibitors join a national pavilion. Ask the organiser or the pavilion coordinator about visa letters for stand staff; they usually need passport copies weeks ahead.
January in Dubai
Weather, prices and Ramadan
Late January is cool and pleasant in Dubai, which is also peak tourist season, so hotel rates are high across the city. In 2027, Ramadan is expected to begin around 8 February, about two weeks after the show, so follow-up meetings in early February should be fixed quickly.
Distributors
Finding a Gulf distributor
Many Pakistani exporters go to WHX to appoint distributors for the UAE, Saudi Arabia and the wider Gulf. Ask candidates about their registration capability, hospital relationships and warehousing, and agree exclusivity terms carefully.
- Registration capability
- Hospital relationships
- Exclusivity terms
With Go Global
How we plan WHX Dubai trips
Go Global has handled 100,000+ trips, including exhibition teams and buyer delegations. For WHX Dubai we confirm the dates with the organiser, plan the visa route first, then book flights, rooms and transfers in Dubai, and our team works 24/7 for travellers on the road.
Timeline
A planning timeline for WHX Dubai
12 weeks before
Confirm stand or visitor plan; collect passport copies for visas.
8 weeks
Book hotels near your venue; apply for UAE visas.
4 weeks
Book flights once visas are issued; ship samples.
1 week
Meeting schedule, product files and polio certificates checked.
Show week
Arrive a day early; plan transfers between venues.
FAQ
WHX Dubai questions
Is WHX Dubai the same as Arab Health?
Yes. Arab Health was renamed WHX Dubai (World Health Expo). The 2027 edition runs 25–28 January.
Which venue is WHX Dubai in?
Both the Dubai Exhibition Centre at Expo City Dubai and Dubai World Trade Centre. Check which halls you need.
Do Pakistani visitors need a UAE visa?
Yes. Ordinary Pakistani passport holders need a UAE visa issued before travel.
When should we book hotels?
As soon as the team is confirmed. Late January is peak season in Dubai.
Keep reading
More guides: industries and visa how-tos
Plan with Go Global
Planning a WHX Dubai delegation?
Tell us who is travelling, when and why. We reply with a plan, the visa route and a quote. Go Global has handled 100,000+ trips, and our team works 24/7 for travellers on the road. Email insights@goglobal.pk or WhatsApp 0320-4111222.