WHX Tech 2025/Image: Supplied
The first edition of WHX Tech successfully wrapped up on 10 September 2025 at the Dubai World Trade Centre, closing three days of collaboration, innovation, and dialogue that brought together over 4,200 healthcare professionals, 200+ speakers, 300+ brands, 48 startups and 66 investors from across the globe.
Organised by Informa and in partnership with HIMSS, the event established itself as a new flagship for digital health, providing a platform where healthcare leaders, technology giants, policymakers, and entrepreneurs converged to shape the future of connected, AI-enabled healthcare. Participants represented a wide spectrum of sectors, with the top three industries in attendance being technology, clinics and medical practice, and the government and public sector—a reflection of the multidisciplinary collaboration driving healthcare transformation today.
“WHX Tech was vital in bringing together experts across engineering, medicine, investment, and government,” said Scott Parazynski, founder and CEO of Onward Air and former NASA Astronaut. “The event created a unique platform to share insights, address challenges, and collaborate, driving innovation and progress in digital health.”
A programme shaped by global leaders
A defining feature of WHX Tech is its advisory board, a group of world-renowned experts ensuring that the programme remains cutting-edge and globally relevant. Members include Dr. David Rhew, global chief medical officer and VP of Healthcare at Microsoft; Dr. Sam Shah, director of Healthcare Data Management at NEOM; Reenita Das, partner and senior VP of Healthcare and Life Sciences at Frost & Sullivan; Dr. Myriam Fernandez, head of Health Innovation at AWS; and Dr. James Mault, CEO of BioIntelliSense. Their collective insights ensured the sessions were grounded in evidence, scalability, and real-world impact, setting the tone for the three-day agenda.
Global brands and expert speakers
Over 300 brands participated, including leading players from healthcare, technology, and life sciences. Attendees were able to engage with innovations and solutions from global leaders and next-generation startups, covering areas such as smart hospitals, biotech, AI-driven diagnostics, and consumer health technologies.
Programming across the three days was structured around three dynamic stages, each with a distinct focus. The World X stage explored global health priorities, policy developments, and the accelerating shift toward digital transformation in healthcare. Meanwhile, Xcelerate served as the platform for startups, entrepreneurs, and investors, hosting the flagship startup competition and offering a platform for emerging businesses to connect with capital and mentorship. Finally, Future X turned the spotlight on cutting-edge science and consumer technologies, with sessions dedicated to digital longevity, advanced AI applications, and innovations poised to shape the future of health and wellbeing.
The speaker line-up featured some of the most influential voices in digital health, including:
- Dr. Meong Hi Son, chief medical information officer, Samsung Medical Center
- Dr. Devi Prasad Shetty, founder, chairman and senior consultant cardiac surgeon, Narayana Health
- Dr. Rashmi Rao, chief product officer, Philips
- Dr. Harvey Castro, advisor AI & Healthcare, Singapore Government
These experts, alongside many others, shared insights on the challenges and opportunities shaping the healthcare sector today.
Celebrating innovation: Xcelerate winners
The Xcelerate Champion of Innovation Award, with a $50,000 prize, was awarded to Strolll, an all-in-one digital therapeutic software solution for augmented reality (AR) glasses that supports neurorehabilitation.
Speaking after the win, Jorgen Ellis, CEO and co-founder of Strolll, said the win “means so much to our team”.
“We just expanded into the region one week ago, and this win, along with the industry connections we have made at the event, is a great start to a new market for us.”
Other winners included:
- éclateral (UK) – Xceptional Patient-Centric Innovation Award for its o~pal portable solution for rapid health testing, disease detection, and preventative screening.
- You(th) Healthtech (US) – Xtraordinary Early Stage Startup Award for its AI algorithm smartphone technology capable of extracting vital signs such as heart rate and blood pressure from facial video data.
Looking ahead to WHX Tech 2026
With its debut event attracting thousands of stakeholders and fostering meaningful dialogue, WHX Tech has already cemented itself as a must-attend meeting for digital health professionals worldwide.
The next edition will return to the Dubai World Trade Centre from 14–16 September 2026, promising even more networking opportunities, groundbreaking content, and solutions to accelerate the future of digital healthcare.
Pre-register here to be the first to learn about tickets going live, early-bird discounts, and all WHX Tech updates.
