After a one-year break caused by Covid, we participated - after 2 years - in the international medical fair ARAB HEALTH, which took place as usual in Dubai on 24-27. 1. 2022.
Due to the global pandemic, the fair was exceptionally postponed to June in 2021, but due to travel restrictions and too hot weather in Dubai at that time, it did not prove to be a step in the right direction. According to statements of the participants, the participation was very weak this year. It was quite similar in 2021 with the Medica trade fair in Düsseldorf, Germany, which took place at the expected time, but in the soon-to-come winter period, and thus a growing pandemic and increased restrictive measures. The success of the January Arab Health Fair thus hung a big question mark, supported by the fact that at the end of the year a new variant of the virus (Omikron) appeared, the properties and impact of which on the further development of the pandemic were not yet known.
Many companies have decided to cancel their participation in Arab Health 2022 at the last minute. In the end, for example Getinge and Steris, belonging to our most important competitors, did not appear at Arab Health. Our MMM Group also seriously considered participating. In order to keep the possibility of cancelling the participation until the last minute, we decided not to exhibit any devices this time, but we relied on the presentation using photo panels and videos presented on large screens, supplemented by traditional brochures and promotional materials. In the end, this decision proved to be effective, the stand looked modern, airy and was positively evaluated by our visitors.
Participation in the fair turned out to be very beneficial. Attendance at our stand was comparable to participation in 2020, perhaps even higher. This was probably due to the fact that personal contact between business partners has been severely limited in the last 2 years due to travel restrictions, and this fair has provided an ideal opportunity to meet many partners in person within a few days. The meetings were undoubtedly supported by the failed health fairs in 2021. And because news regarding the dangers of Omikron and travel restrictions in the Middle East were positive, nothing stood in the way of the success of Arab Health 2022.
As usual, our booth was dominated by visits from Saudi Arabia. Although the number of visitors could not be compared to the situation a few years ago, when our business partner Attieh Medico actively invited more than one hundred of his customers to visit Dubai, the partners from Saudi Arabia almost always occupied at least one meeting table. The GESCA company from Egypt continued its successful sale in 2021 by visits of independent delegations from the Egyptian Ministry of Health at our stand. The negotiations mainly concerned further cooperation and expected orders.
From our traditional partners, companies from India, Tunisia, Uzbekistan, Pakistan and Lithuania appeared at the fair. Surprising was the meeting with a partner from Syria, whom we had not seen for about 8 years due to the war in Syria. Further negotiations were led by our colleagues from MMM GmbH, who had their hands full with visits from the United Arab Emirates and neighbouring countries - from Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Sudan, Jordan, Lebanon, Palestine and Algeria, but also from more distant territories in Africa and Asia. The meeting with MMM's partner from Serbia was very surprising.
Several new potential partnerships were also established at the fair. Cooperation with a company from Australia currently seems to be the most valuable, and negotiations with a company from Egypt in the field of pharmacy were also interesting. The success of the fair thus confirmed that, from the point of view of the MMM Group, this is the most important exhibition of medical devices in the world with a global reach. We should therefore take part in the exhibition again next year.
15. 02. 2022
