AEEDC Dubai: Where education and innovation meet

What key milestones stand out in AEEDC Dubai’s development?
When we launched the first edition in 1997, AEEDC Dubai began as a modest yet ambitious event. We welcomed 35 exhibitors across 350 m², and the exhibition received around 1,200 visitors and 300 participants. Even then, several countries contacted us immediately to join the next edition, confirming that the direction we had set for the event resonated with the global dental community.

As AEEDC Dubai grew, the introduction of international pavilions became one of its defining milestones, bringing new scientific perspectives, advanced technologies and a wider exchange of expertise. This development marked the event’s transition from a regional gathering to an international destination for dental science and innovation.

To deepen its scientific foundation, we introduced the Dubai World Dental Meeting as a dedicated pre-conference continuing education programme. This early initiative strengthened the academic dimension of AEEDC Dubai and prepared participants for more advanced engagement during the main conference.

“AEEDC Dubai began as a modest yet ambitious event.”

As attendance and scientific content increased, we transitioned across several venues before establishing our long-term home at Dubai World Trade Centre. This move provided the scale and infrastructure required to accommodate a growing programme and a steadily expanding international audience. Building on this stronger base, we launched specialised scientific conferences, including the AEEDC Dubai World Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Conference and the AEEDC Dubai World Orthodontic Conference, both of which now attract leading experts and are integral to our scientific ecosystem. A defining moment came with the official announcement in New York recognising AEEDC Dubai as the world’s largest annual scientific dental conference and exhibition, underscoring the global status that the event had earned over many years.

A central pillar of AEEDC Dubai’s evolution has been the GSDA. Bringing together representatives from hundreds of international organisations, the GSDA has shaped collaborative research, policy dialogue and global standards in oral health. Its structured annual meetings continue to reinforce the event’s role as a platform for scientific leadership and international cooperation.

Over three decades, AEEDC Dubai has brought together dental professionals and industry leaders from across the globe. How has this international collaboration influenced the advancement of dentistry?
International collaboration has shaped the scientific character of AEEDC Dubai from its earliest years. What has made the event truly influential is the way that it brings together different schools of thought in dentistry and supports knowledge exchange. Researchers present new findings, clinicians share practical experience and manufacturers introduce innovations that reshape daily practice. This exchange creates a steady flow of ideas that advances techniques, materials and clinical standards, ensuring that progress in dentistry remains shared and accessible.

The collaborative spirit has also deepened over the years through strong relationships with countries, institutions and scientific bodies, which have played an important role in broadening AEEDC Dubai’s global reach. Recognising key partners during successive editions has further strengthened these ties and reinforced the event’s position as a trusted platform for international cooperation.

The exhibition floor continues to play a significant scientific role. It allows industry leaders and emerging innovators to engage directly with practitioners, enabling new technologies to be evaluated, refined and eventually integrated into clinical practice. Many recent advancements, particularly in digital workflows and minimally invasive techniques, have gained wider recognition through the interactions and demonstrations that take place at AEEDC Dubai.

Having also served in healthcare planning and development in Dubai, how do you evaluate the current healthcare and dental landscape in the Middle East, and how does AEEDC Dubai contribute to this progress?
The healthcare and dental landscape across the Middle East has evolved rapidly in recent years, driven by stronger clinical infrastructure, expanding training pathways and the steady introduction of advanced technologies. Dentistry, in particular, has witnessed significant progress, supported by growing research activity, rising professional qualifications and increased regional demand for specialised care.

Within this environment, AEEDC Dubai plays a central role in advancing scientific knowledge and professional capabilities across the region. Its accredited continuing medical education and continuing professional development programmes offer ongoing access to new research findings, clinical updates and international best practices. These platforms help practitioners stay informed and maintain high levels of clinical competence. AEEDC Dubai further brings global expertise closer to regional practitioners through specialised scientific forums and conferences, encouraging knowledge exchange and helping professionals remain aligned with emerging global trends.

The exhibition also serves as a gateway for innovation and technology transfer. Through dedicated platforms such as AEEDC 4.0 (Digital Dentistry Hall), Start-Up by AEEDC, the Education Corner and Dental Business Hub, visitors from across the Middle East and around the world can explore advanced products, evaluate new solutions and engage in structured business-to-business meetings with international manufacturers. These interactions support facilities in adopting new technologies, enhancing their services and strengthening their clinical capabilities.

Which technological or scientific advances presented at AEEDC Dubai do you consider defining moments in its history?
AEEDC Dubai has long been a stage on which major scientific and technological advancements in dentistry are introduced to the region and, in many cases, to the world. One of the earliest defining moments was the rise of digital dentistry. The adoption of CAD/CAM workflows completely transformed how practitioners approached diagnosis and treatment planning with precision. Soon after, the introduction of 3D printing expanded these capabilities even further by enabling faster, more accurate and more customised clinical solutions.

In more recent years, advancements such as regenerative dentistry, new-generation implant systems, and artificial intelligence in diagnostics and treatment planning have stood out. These developments are now reshaping clinical decision-making and contributing to markedly improved patient outcomes.

What makes these innovations particularly impactful is the setting in which they are introduced. AEEDC Dubai brings together rigorous, accredited education and an exhibition platform where the latest technologies are demonstrated side by side, allowing practitioners to understand, evaluate and apply them effectively. When education and innovation meet in this way, they strengthen one another and ultimately shape the direction of dental practice.

“International collaboration has shaped the scientific character of AEEDC Dubai from its earliest years.”

As AEEDC Dubai enters its fourth decade, what role do you see it playing in shaping the next chapter of dentistry, both regionally and worldwide?
As AEEDC Dubai enters its fourth decade, the responsibility it carries becomes even greater. Over the years, we have built a strong scientific base supported by accredited education, structured forums and close collaboration with leading international institutions. This foundation continues to guide our work and shape the event’s long-term direction.

One of the most important elements influencing AEEDC Dubai’s future is the GSDA, which brings together representatives from universities, dental associations and scientific bodies worldwide to discuss research priorities, educational trends and the evolving needs of the profession. This dialogue helps align AEEDC Dubai with global developments and ensure the event’s continued meaningful contribution to the scientific direction of dentistry.

Another priority is strengthening the role of young professionals. AEEDC Dubai already hosts university sessions, young researcher presentations and several academic forums that allow early-career dentists and students to learn from experts and to present their own work. Expanding these platforms will help prepare the next generation of clinicians and researchers.

Innovation will remain central to the event’s impact. As I mentioned earlier, educational forums and dedicated exhibition areas such as the digital dentistry and startup areas have become important spaces for companies to introduce their newest technologies and for practitioners to evaluate solutions that shape the future of clinical practice. This integration of scientific education and industry innovation enables attendees to understand advancements and apply them effectively in their daily work.