The Emirati Conference on Medical Education (ECME), organized by the National Institute for Health Specialties (NIHS), has emerged as a distinguished event in health professions education over the past three years. Building on its success, the next edition will be held on February 07–08, 2026, in Abu Dhabi. The conference will serve as a strategic forum for thought leadership, scholarly exchange, and the dissemination of best practices across the continuum of health professions education.

NIHS continues to lead the advancement of standards in specialty education and professional development across the UAE. By supporting innovation, collaboration, and capacity building, NIHS strives to enhance the national health workforce, improve the healthcare system, and elevate the health of the UAE population.

Conference Goals and Objectives

The 2026 ECME aims to explore transformative themes and practical strategies to elevate health professions education in the UAE and the region. The following themes will be covered in the

1. Utilizing Generative AI and Large Language Models in Medical Education
   Explore ethical, pedagogical, and technical frameworks for integrating generative AI in curriculum design, adaptive learning, assessment, and feedback systems.
2. NIHS Leadership in Advancing Standards, Regulation, and Innovation
   Highlight NIHS’s contributions to licensing, accreditation, postgraduate reforms, and health workforce strategies in the UAE and the region.
3. Building Future-Ready Clinical Educators and Leaders
   Focus on faculty development, digital literacy, coaching skills, and academic leadership tailored for 21st-century health systems.
4. Sustainable and Resilient Healthcare Workforce Planning
   Tackle future workforce needs through predictive modeling, training pathways, retention strategies, and interprofessional education.
5. Enhancing Assessment Systems with Validity, Fairness, and Technology
   Dive into AI-enhanced workplace-based assessment, progress testing, and national examination frameworks with a focus on quality assurance.
6. From CPD to Lifelong Learning Ecosystems
   Redefine continuing professional development (CPD) with micro-credentialing, digital portfolios, and personalized learning analytics.
7. Digital Health and Simulation: Training in the Era of Virtual Care
   Examine curriculum integration of telemedicine, AR/VR, and simulation to prepare learners for hybrid care delivery models.
8. Global and Regional Synergies in Medical Education Policy and Accreditation
   Promote knowledge exchange and alignment across GCC, international councils, and academic consortia for mutual recognition and benchmarking.

The Scope and Themes of the Conference

The Emirati Conference on Medical Education (ECME) 2026, convened by the National Institute for Health Specialties (NIHS), will serve as a national and regional platform to explore transformative approaches in health professions education. It aims to bridge the continuum from undergraduate to postgraduate medical training while advancing educational excellence, regulatory standards, and workforce preparedness.

Key thematic areas will include:

• Utilizing Generative AI and Large Language Models in postgraduate medical education, assessment, and program management.
• NIHS Leadership in Advancing Standards, Regulation, and Innovation
• Building Future-Ready Clinical Educators and Leaders
• Sustainable and Resilient Healthcare Workforce Planning
• Enhancing Assessment Systems with Validity, Fairness, and Technology
• From CPD to Lifelong Learning Ecosystems
• Digital Health and Simulation: Training in the Era of Virtual Care
• Global and Regional Synergies in Medical Education Policy and Accreditation

Key Benefits of attending the conference:

Participants of the Emirati Conference on Medical Education (ECME) 2026 will have the opportunity to:

• Stay at the forefront of innovation by exploring the latest trends in Artificial Intelligence, digital health, and their transformative impact on health professions education.
• Engage and network with national, regional, and international leaders, educators, and professionals in medical and health sciences education.
• Showcase scholarly work through oral and poster presentations, highlighting research projects, innovative practices, and educational achievements.
• Participate in interactive workshops focused on critical areas such as accreditation, assessment, program management, and faculty development.
• Learn from NIHS’s leadership experience in advancing standards, regulation, postgraduate education, and professional development across the UAE.
• Gain valuable insights into emerging challenges, contemporary issues, and global trends in residency and medical education.
• Earn Continuing Medical Education (CME) credits to support ongoing licensing and professional growth requirements.
• Contribute to shaping the future of health professions education through dialogue, collaboration, and shared best practices.

The Structure of the Conference

The two-day conference will include a rich mix of keynote addresses, plenary sessions, parallel discussions, and workshops designed to encourage dialogue, collaboration, and practical learning.The workshops shall be planned around the themes which need capacity building such as:

• The role of clinicians in training, supervision, and assessment
• Practical applications of AI in curriculum delivery and assessment
• Development and implementation of Competency Frameworks and Entrustable Professional Activities (EPAs)
• Best practices in assessment and examination design for residency education
• Accreditation surveyor training, including self-study reviews and site visit standards
• Program leadership skills, including management, strategic planning, and faculty engagement

Target audience

The conference targets a wide range of audience including:

• NIHS specialty committees, surveyors, and affiliated members
• Training center stakeholders: DIOs, Program Directors, and faculty
• Residents and fellows
• Health authority personnel involved in education and workforce development
• Academic leaders and educators from medical and health sciences schools
• Researchers and professionals in health professions education
• Regional and international participants in medical education

The conference shall also involve special session for presentation of the research projects of residents from various specialties.

Conference governance

The oversight and overall responsibility for the conference is the mandate of the Conference Organizing Committee to be chaired by the NIHS Secretary General. Members are expected to come from partner organizations and healthcare authorities. The Secretary General shall constitute a Scientific Committee with reviewers who serve as scientific experts for the themes, the contents, the call for abstracts and papers, appraisal of submissions and sessions organizations. The conference may seek the expertise of a relevant venue and company to handle the advertisement, communications, and logistics.  

Dates and venue

• February 07–08, 2026
  Fairmont Bab Al Bahr Hotel, Abu Dhabi