Dubai to host free public summit on obesity and health

RE:SUMMIT 2026 will bring about 2,500 people to Madinat Jumeirah Arena in Dubai on Nov. 7 to examine the science of weight and obesity, challenge stigma and encourage more open conversations about health. The free event, presented by Lilly and open to the public with registration, will feature medical experts, government officials and regional public figures.

Why it matters: - Obesity remains a major public health challenge across the Gulf, where the World Health Organization says more than one in three adults are affected in several GCC countries. - RE:SUMMIT 2026 is designed to help people better understand weight as a complex health issue, not a moral failing. - The event aims to make conversations about obesity more open, more informed and less stigmatizing.

What happened: - RE:SUMMIT 2026 will take place on Saturday, Nov. 7, at Madinat Jumeirah Arena in Dubai. - The free public event expects around 2,500 attendees. - Lilly is presenting the summit. - Radio and TV personality and entrepreneur Kris Fade is hosting the event. - Speakers include Emirati entrepreneur and #ABtalks host Anas Bukhash. - The program brings together medical experts, government officials and regional public voices.

The details: - Dr. Fatima Cody Stanford, an obesity medicine physician-scientist at Massachusetts General Hospital and associate professor of medicine and pediatrics at Harvard Medical School, is among the featured speakers. - Dr. Stanford’s work focuses on obesity, weight bias and health disparities. - Dr. Stanford said obesity is a complex chronic disease and that care should consider the whole person, including nutrition, physical activity, behavioral and mental-health support, medication and, for some people, surgery. - Dr. Stanford said better understanding the full picture can help people have more informed conversations with healthcare professionals about next steps. - A separate conversation led by Anas Bukhash will feature Kris Fade, UAE-based content creator Hadeel Marei and entrepreneur and content creator Karen Wazen. - Fade and Marei have spoken openly about living with obesity and the judgment that can come with it. - Wazen will bring a perspective shaped by public scrutiny and social media pressure. - Medical experts in clinical psychology and nutrition will discuss the biological, behavioral, psychological and environmental factors that influence weight. - The event will include interactive installations on the connection between weight and health. - A digital wall will invite visitors to rethink familiar comments about weight and their impact. - Visitors can create a personal “receipt of effort” to recognize the everyday actions they take to support their wellbeing. - Tayllit Aherdan, general manager of Eli Lilly Gulf, said RE:SUMMIT is a major public health engagement platform developed in the UAE to make obesity science more accessible and help people recognize when to seek support. - Aherdan said the goal is for visitors to leave better informed, more comfortable asking questions and with a different perspective on obesity.

Between the lines: - The summit reflects a shift toward framing obesity as a medical and social issue shaped by biology, psychology, environment and stigma. - By pairing clinical experts with public figures who have spoken about body image and weight, RE:SUMMIT is trying to make a medical topic feel more relatable. - The event’s public format suggests an effort to reach beyond healthcare settings and into everyday conversations.

What's next: - Advance registration is required. - Seats are limited. - People can reserve a place at More information. - RE:SUMMIT will serve as a platform for further public discussion around obesity, health and support options in the UAE and wider Gulf region.

The bottom line: - RE:SUMMIT 2026 is positioning obesity as a science-based health issue that deserves less stigma and more practical, informed conversation.