9th Emirates Family Medicine Society Congress (EFMS 2026)
8 Oct 2026 – 10 Oct 2026 · Conrad Abu Dhabi Etihad Towers, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates · In-Person
The 9th Emirates Family Medicine Society Congress takes place 8–10 October 2026 at the Conrad Abu Dhabi Etihad Towers — the first time the congress is hosted in Abu Dhabi after eight editions in Dubai, marking a new chapter for one of the region's largest primary-care gatherings.
Organised by the Emirates Family Medicine Society (EFMS) under the Emirates Medical Association, the congress is expected to bring together more than 2,000 physicians and healthcare professionals from the UAE, the GCC and beyond. It is chaired by Prof. Wadeia Sharief and Prof. Mohammed Farghaly.
Scientific programme
The congress delivers a broad, practice-oriented programme built around the everyday realities of family medicine:
- Keynote and plenary sessions from international and regional faculty
- Symposia and expert debates on contested areas of primary-care practice
- Chronic disease management — diabetes, hypertension, obesity and cardiometabolic risk
- Preventive medicine, screening and health promotion across the lifespan
- Women's health, paediatrics and geriatric care in the family practice setting
- Mental health in primary care
- Practical skills sessions and interactive case-based workshops
- Networking with the GCC family medicine community
Sessions are delivered by renowned international and regional faculty, reflecting EFMS's scientific collaborations with partners in the USA, Canada, Australia and the UK.
Scientific partners
The congress is supported by the Emirates Medical Association (EMA), WONCA East Mediterranean Region, the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP), the GCC health authorities and the Abu Dhabi Convention & Exhibition Bureau.
EFMS Youth Council
A distinctive feature of the 2026 edition is the EFMS Youth Council — a group of young physicians committed to empowering the next generation of family medicine professionals, with dedicated sessions aimed at residents and early-career GPs.
Who should attend
Family physicians, general practitioners, primary-care residents and trainees, internal medicine physicians, paediatricians, primary-care nurses, public health professionals and healthcare administrators working across primary healthcare in the UAE and wider Gulf region.
Venue
Conrad Abu Dhabi Etihad Towers, Corniche Road West, Abu Dhabi — a landmark waterfront property with full conference and exhibition facilities, close to Emirates Palace and the Corniche.
