Experts Discuss Ways to Strengthen Abu Dhabi's
Position as a Global Destination for Green and Medical Tourism and Generate New
Investment Opportunities
31 May 2023
On the second day of the first Abu Dhabi International Forum on "Legal Frameworks for a Sustainable Future in Green, Health, Therapeutic and wellness Tourism and Climate Change", the participating experts discussed ways to strengthen the position of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi as a global tourism destination and to create new and diversified investment opportunities for green, therapeutic and environmental tourism, and the role of local and international legislation in consolidating the concepts of climate justice and supporting sustainable development, with the aim of helping to chart better prospects and pathways for the future.
The Forum is
part of the strategic undertakings conducted by the UAE in connection with the
Year of Sustainability 2023, and the ongoing preparations to host the 28th
Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate
Change (COP28), in implementation of the directives of His Highness Sheikh
Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice-President, Deputy Prime Minister,
Minister of the Presidential Court, Chairman of Abu Dhabi Judicial Department, to
pursue the efforts that contribute to the promotion of sustainable development.
Moderated by
Mr. Hasan Mohamed Alhammadi, Director of the Prosecution Affairs
Division in Abu Dhabi and member of the Scientific
Board of the ADJA, the
two-day Forum shed light on the most important experiences, efforts, initiatives
and legal systems through the platform of the ADJA with the participation of a
distinguished panel of national and international speakers, consultants and
experts in the field.
Mrs. Salama
Alhameli, Acting Head of Medical Tourism Section at the Department of
Health (DoH) - Abu Dhabi, reviewed DoH's experience in creating new and diverse
investment opportunities through the programme that was launched in 2018, and
which focused on 5 main areas: promotion through the use of best technological
means, establishing advanced standards and methodology, developing a marketing
and expansion plan, measuring technological capabilities, strengthening
strategic cooperation and partnerships with local and international agencies
and institutions. Mrs. Alhameli suggested the establishment of a legal
framework that regulates this process with the aim of supporting the
prestigious position that the Emirate of Abu Dhabi holds globally in the field
of medical tourism.
Mr. Amr
Taha Badawi, Head of the Department of Legal Studies at Zayed University,
presented a paper entitled "Towards a Legal System for Sustainable and
Environmentally Friendly Health Care ... and Telemedicine, Abu Dhabi as a Model",
shedding light on national and international legislation in this field and on
the environmental impact of the health care system. He also discussed the
relationship between environmental sustainability and the effects of a polluted
environment on health, the causes of the huge carbon footprint and climate
change, the negative effects in the health sector, as well as the advantages
and benefits of telemedicine and international legislation for this procedure, reviewing
the local situation in the United Arab Emirates as a comparative study.
For her
part, Mrs. Noha Al-Khatib, professor of public administration and expert
in environmental systems, focused on the topic of "Green Tourism to
Reduce Climate Change and Sustain Development... Pioneering International
Experiences", in which she reviewed the causes of climate change
exacerbation and the UAE's efforts in combating the problem of climate change.
She also addressed the subject of green tourism in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi and
pioneering international experiences, highlighting the need for a strong
commitment to sustainable development.
Dr. Omar
Abdullah Al-Mansoori, Senior Legal Researcher, spoke about the Conference
of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
(COP28) to be held in the UAE, and the efforts of the UAE and the role of the
Environment Agency in the issue of climate change, and the efforts of the
negotiators in holding international conferences, wishing that the efforts of the
country to host this conference are crowned with success.
Dr. Sami Al Toukhy, Acting Director of the Abu Dhabi Judicial Academy, went over the basic concepts of sustainability in healthcare, the relationship of medical tourism to the environment, the importance of green medical tourism and the reasons for its success, as well as the legal terms of medical tourism, proposing the enactment of legislation for green medical tourism, with the aim of promoting investment in this field and increasing the country's competitiveness.