Over 500 speakers to join Global Health Forum 2026 in Riyadh

The Global Health Forum has announced the participation of international speakers in its 2026 conference program, bringing together leaders in healthcare systems, clinical innovation, digital health, and investment. The event will take place from October 26 to 29, 2026, at the Riyadh Exhibition and Conference Center "Mulham," featuring over 500 global speakers across four specialized conference stages. The forum aims to connect international expertise with individuals and organizations contributing to the advancement of Saudi Arabia's healthcare sector.

The Leaders Summit will gather senior executives, policymakers, and healthcare leaders to discuss empowering healthcare systems to drive economic growth, harness artificial intelligence and innovation, enhance resilience, transform care delivery, and accelerate the shift from disease treatment to prevention, long-term health, and community well-being.

Key speakers include Catherine Estrombes, President and Chief Commercial & Growth Officer of GE Healthcare Global, who leads the company's $14.5 billion global markets division and brings over 35 years of leadership experience. Also featured is Sir Jonathan Simonds, Chair of GSK and former Chair of Genomics England, who has been awarded the Order of the British Empire.

Other participants include Professor Declan O'Regan, Professor of Artificial Intelligence in Cardiovascular Medicine at Imperial College London, and Dr. Samuel Sia, Professor of Biomedical Engineering at Columbia University, whose research in portable diagnostic technologies is expanding access to rapid point-of-care testing.

The Digital Health Forum will explore the use of artificial intelligence, connected care, and data infrastructure in the healthcare sector.

Prominent speakers include Professor Shafi Ahmed, Consultant Surgeon at Barts Health NHS Trust, who performed the world's first live-streamed surgery and has used immersive technologies to train over 100,000 healthcare professionals. Also speaking is Dr. Tamara Sanbel, Chief Information Officer at Fakih Care Group, an award-winning executive and global leader in digital health. She serves as Chair of the HIMSS Middle East Community and Co-Chair of the Evidence and Evaluation Track at the Global Digital Health Partnership, contributing to the future of healthcare through AI, data, and technology.

The Capital Xchange Forum will focus on healthcare investment and capital allocation, covering topics from entering the Saudi market and foreign direct investment to capital formation, emerging technologies, and new investment opportunities.

Speakers include Anthony Kalindjian, Vice President of Investment at SoftBank Vision Fund, who supports innovations from precision therapies to AI-driven care solutions; Vishva Mehta, Head of Healthcare and Life Sciences at Blackstone; and Dr. Sami Yousuf, Head of Corporate Development at Mayo Clinic.

Rachel Sturges, Executive Vice President at Alliance, said: "Saudi Arabia is transforming its healthcare sector at an exceptional pace, driven by ambitious goals and investments that will reshape the industry for the long term. The caliber of leaders attracted to Riyadh for this dialogue reflects the scale of opportunity in the Kingdom. The Global Health Forum brings this international expertise to the heart of Saudi Arabia, providing healthcare leaders from around the world a platform to engage with the Kingdom's transformation journey, benefit from its experience, and contribute to it."

Alongside the conference program, Global Health Forum 2026 will bring together organizations from Saudi Arabia's healthcare sector and international markets. Founding partners include Dallah Health and Al Hayat National Hospital, with platinum partner Bupa Care Connect, as well as leading international companies such as Novartis, Karl Storz, Canon Medical Systems, BD, Stryker, Baxter, and Johnson & Johnson.

The 2026 forum will introduce a range of new experiences and initiatives, including the Leaders Club, an exclusive network for top healthcare decision-makers worldwide to engage in high-level discussions and build partnerships; Pulse Studio, a live podcast studio featuring leading voices in healthcare; and HealthTech Live, which will showcase live demonstrations of healthcare technologies and innovations in action.

Other new initiatives include the Power Breakfast Series, offering focused sessions for stakeholders to discuss capital deployment, policies, and key priorities; Reverse Pitching, where companies and investors present their strategic priorities directly to startups and growth-stage firms; and the Unplugged Lounge, a relaxed space for informal discussions, networking, and relationship-building away from the main program.