The Government’s efforts to forge closer links with the Middle East have continued with the Minister of Health attending a conference in the United Arab Emirates last week.

Kim Wilson was in Dubai for four days to represent Bermuda at the World Government Summit in Dubai.

The annual event brings together government leaders, officials and “visionaries” to discuss governmental processes and policies with a focus on technology innovation.

During the conference, Ms Wilson met her counterpart in the UAE, Abdul Rahman Al Owais.

Discussions centred around the role of health and healthcare, including whether recent technological innovations contribute to resilience, or create new vulnerabilities.

Ms Wilson, who was accompanied on the visit by the ministry’s permanent secretary, Aideen Ratteray-Pryse, said: “Bermuda and the UAE face common challenges in our healthcare systems, including rising levels of non-communicable diseases like diabetes and cancer, as well as the growing strains on our healthcare systems from ageing populations.

“Bermuda's strategy to combat these includes broadening healthcare accessibility, improving preventive care, and prioritising data analytics, a path the UAE has pioneered with its advanced digital health services.

“With the UAE and Bermuda striving to deliver efficient, accessible, and patient-centred care for our populations, this cross-continental dialogue will hopefully spark collaborations that enhance health outcomes and sustainability.

“As Bermuda and the UAE chart our respective healthcare futures, our shared challenges and opportunities pave the way for a collaborative journey towards better health for all.”

Ms Wilson also met the Minister of Health for the Seychelles, Peggy Vidot, and joined a round-table with eight Nobel laureates discussing scientific discovery and applications.

Ms Wilson said: “What resonated with me during our discussions at the summit was the central idea that urges the global community to foster collaboration across various sectors and embrace innovative approaches in tackling health challenges.

“The ultimate call is to redirect our attention from healthcare to health, recognising that the responsibility for health is unquestionably a collective effort transcending borders and sectors.”

Ms Wilson is the third government minister to visit the UAE in the past three months.

David Burt, the Premier and Minister of Finance, has travelled to the UAE twice in the past three months to attend three meetings. In December he attended the Abu Dhabi Finance Week conference, which was immediately followed by the COP28 summit in Dubai.

He was back in Dubai again earlier this month representing Bermuda at the Satoshi Roundtable conference.

Walter Roban, the Minister of Home Affairs and Deputy Premier, also attended COP28 in December.

Mr Burt has repeatedly expressed the need for Bermuda to forge closer ties with Gulf region “which has a proven track record of development success”.

Last April, the Government appointed Alexia Hefti, a lawyer, as a consultant to represent Bermuda in the Middle East.

In August, after Ms Hefti’s appointment was confirmed by Government House, Mr Burt said: “To realise the full scope of opportunities presented by this exciting region, Bermuda must advance in a strategic and targeted way, building relationships with a region that values the very business environment that has made us a successful and trusted jurisdiction for investment and trade globally.”

A government spokeswoman said that Ms Wilson was invited to the summit by the UAE Government as a result of the closer ties forged by the Premier during his earlier visits. The UAE Government also covered the cost of the Bermuda delegation’s trip.