The 3rd Annual Conference of the Gulf Society for Cardiac Surgery (GSCS 2026) takes place on 10–12 December 2026 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, held in collaboration with the World Society for Pediatric and Congenital Heart Surgery (WSPCHS). The meeting opens with a dedicated pre-conference workshop day on 10 December at King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Centre, followed by two congress days at the Jeddah Hilton on 11–12 December.
Main scientific theme
"The Fate of the Atrioventricular Valves: From the Fetus to the Adult." The theme follows AV-valve disease across the whole lifecycle — from prenatal diagnosis and early intervention through to adult congenital heart disease — bringing surgical, interventional and imaging perspectives into one conversation.
Who should attend
Cardiac and cardiothoracic surgeons, paediatric and adult cardiologists, intensivists, cardiac anaesthesiologists, perfusionists, nurses and allied professionals working in congenital and adult heart disease, as well as residents and fellows in training.
Programme format
Modelled on major international cardiac surgery congresses, the programme is organised into clearly defined tracks covering congenital, paediatric and adult cardiac surgery, including:
- Pre-congress hands-on and skills-based workshops
- Plenary and parallel scientific sessions
- Featured lectures and surgical video sessions
- Oral abstract presentations and a dedicated poster area
- Expert panels, debates and case discussions
The adult cardiac surgery track focuses on practice across the Gulf region — complex valve disease, aortic pathology and surgical outcomes — while fostering collaboration with congenital specialists.
Leadership and faculty
The executive board is led by Dr Abdulwahid Al Mulla (President; Chairman of Cardiac Surgery, Heart Hospital, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha), Dr Habib Altaraif (Vice President; Mohammed Bin Khalifa Alkhalifa Cardiac Centre, Bahrain), Dr Uthman Aluthman (General Secretary and Head of Scientific Committee; robotic, minimally invasive and transcatheter valve surgeon, KFSH&RC Jeddah) and Dr Obaid Aljassim (Treasurer; Head of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Dubai Health). The organising committee is headed by Dr Zuhair Al Halees and includes international congenital-surgery leaders such as Carl L. Backer, Christo I. Tchervenkov, James D. St. Louis, Kirsten Finucane and Frank Edwin, alongside Gulf faculty including Adel Tash, Ahmed Jamjoom, Feras Khaliel, Jamal Alfadhli and Ala Al-Lawati.
Registration fees
- Standard (until 30 Oct 2026): USD 300 physicians · USD 170 allied professionals, residents, fellows and students
- Onsite (from 30 Oct 2026): USD 350 physicians · USD 200 allied/trainees
- Workshops: separate fee of USD 150
Registration includes the conference kit, access to all scientific sessions, certificate of attendance, welcome reception, coffee breaks and lunches. CME accreditation details have not yet been published.
