What we learned from Arab Health 2020

Arab Health 2020 took place as Brexit was happening – delegates arrived on Sunday and returned home after their packed week to see the news of the UK’s formal exit from the EU on the Friday evening. That Brexit context was everywhere in evidence; in interviews with regional media, I was asked about what it would mean for UK trade with the Middle East, and it featured heavily in conversations with delegates.

It is clear the UK Government wants to find new sources of exports and investment around the world as the UK steps out from the EU’s regulatory orbit. The Middle East, with its historic ties to the UK, and strong recognition of the quality of UK healthcare, is an obvious potential growth market. Last year saw a 40% increase in exports to the Middle East. Post-Brexit, the UK will want to showcase even more its worldclass healthcare provision and healthcare technology sector as a driver for exports. 

Boris Johnson’s Government puts huge faith in the ability of technology – particularly in areas such as AI, digital health and robotics – to both transform domestic healthcare delivery and drive exports. But the UK’s distancing itself from its regional European market puts doubts in the minds of potential investors, and extra pressure on UK healthcare firms to expand their global markets outside Europe. It therefore puts a premium on businesses understanding what factors will shape future healthcare growth in the Middle East.