About SDDF 2026
The Saudi Digestive Disease Forum (SDDF) is the flagship scientific meeting of the Saudi Gastroenterology Association (SGA). Its 16th edition runs 16–19 December 2026 at the Hilton Jeddah Hotel, convening more than 1,200 gastroenterologists, hepatologists, endoscopists, GI surgeons, dietitians, nurses and trainees from the Kingdom, the Gulf region and beyond.
The 2026 theme is translating evidence into bedside practice: every session is built to move high-quality international evidence into routine Saudi clinical workflows, from advanced therapeutic endoscopy to hepatocellular carcinoma surveillance pathways and AI-augmented diagnostics.
Scientific themes
- Advanced therapeutic endoscopy — ESD, third-space endoscopy, EUS-guided interventions
- Inflammatory bowel disease in the GCC era
- Hepatocellular carcinoma — surveillance, BCLC staging, locoregional therapy
- Eosinophilic gastrointestinal disorders
- Artificial intelligence and machine learning in GI endoscopy
- Functional GI disorders and the gut–brain axis
- Paediatric gastroenterology, hepatology and nutrition
- Quality, safety and value in endoscopy
Pre-conference workshops (optional add-ons)
| Workshop | Focus |
|---|
| Endoscopic Procedure Hands-on Workshop | ESD, EMR, hemostasis, defect closure, stenting, third-space endoscopy in small-group stations |
| Endoscopy Nurse Workshop | Pre-procedural preparation, sedation monitoring, scope reprocessing, patient safety, complication recognition |
| GI Motility Workshop | High-resolution manometry (Chicago Classification 4.0), pH-impedance, anorectal manometry, gastric emptying |
| GI Nutrition Workshop | Enteral and parenteral nutrition, refeeding syndrome, intestinal failure, IBD nutrition, obesity medicine |
| GI Board Review Course | Board-oriented review in association with the American College of Gastroenterology (ACG) |
Workshop fees are announced separately and booked through the SGA secretariat.
Call for abstracts
Abstract submission is open, with a deadline of 1 November 2026. Submissions are reviewed blindly by the SGA Scientific Committee across ten tracks: Endoscopy, Hepatology, IBD, Motility & FGID, Nutrition, Paediatric GI, Oncology & Screening, GI Surgery Liaison, Quality/Safety & AI, and Trainee Research. Fellows and residents submitting to the trainee track also receive structured mentorship feedback on their work.
Programme highlights
Early confirmed content includes sessions chaired by Dr. Ahmad Najdat Bazarbashi (KFSH Riyadh), Dr. Nawaf Almutairi (King Fahad Specialist Hospital, Buraidah) and Dr. AbdulRahman Qatomah (KFSH Jeddah), covering modern endoscopic treatment of fistulae, leaks and collections; EUS for subepithelial lesions; and a live debate on EMR versus ESD for polyp resection. Track chairs continue to curate faculty, with the full four-day programme announced ahead of the meeting.
SDDF is SCFHS-accredited for 24 CME hours, and Jeddah in December offers pleasant 27–30 °C days for delegates travelling in from across the region.
