The 16th Emirates Diabetes and Endocrine Congress runs from Friday, 6 February 2026 to Sunday, 8 February 2026 at Sheikh Rashid Hall, Dubai World Trade Centre. Dubai World Trade Centre sits on Sheikh Zayed Road, Trade Centre, Dubai, and the main venue lines are 800 DWTC (3982) and +971 4 389 3999. For congress coordination, the secretariat lists +971 4 311 6300, and you can also reference Office Suite 902, Level 9, Dubai World Trade Centre, Dubai for administrative matters. Expect early starts, with registration from 7:30am on Friday and Saturday, then a later 9:30am start on Sunday.
A regional congress built around clinical practice
EDEC has built a reputation in the UAE as a high-density learning meeting that keeps its focus on practical decision-making in diabetes and endocrine care. While many medical congresses lean heavily on broad themes, EDEC typically mixes plenaries with multi-track sessions, so you can tailor your day without losing the main storyline. Because the scientific committee curates the programme tightly, the sessions tend to stay clinically grounded rather than purely academic. In addition, the congress attracts a broad audience that includes endocrinologists, internists, family physicians, diabetes educators, and allied health professionals, so the hallway conversations often feel as valuable as the stage time.
How the three congress days usually flow
On Friday, 6 February 2026, you can plan for registration from 7:30am, then opening remarks and early plenaries, with the published day outline running through late afternoon, including a state-of-the-art block finishing around 5:15pm. Meanwhile, the day also builds in coffee breaks, poster viewing, and product theatre windows, so you can pace learning and networking without rushing. If you want the strongest “big picture” sessions, Friday is usually the best anchor day.
On Saturday, 7 February 2026, the schedule again starts with registration from 7:30am and rolls through morning state-of-the-art sessions, then it shifts into themed tracks that include diabetes in special populations and multiple endocrine topics. However, Saturday also keeps several extended exhibition and symposium windows, so it can be the most balanced day for both education and industry discussions. If you plan supplier meetings, Saturday often gives you the smoothest rhythm across the halls.
On Sunday, 8 February 2026, the published agenda starts at 9:30am with oral presentations, then it continues into late morning and early afternoon blocks, with the final listed sessions running to around 1:30pm in the posted programme. Because Sunday runs shorter on paper, you can treat it as a focused half-day that still delivers strong clinical takeaways. If you only attend one day and prefer a tighter schedule, Sunday can work well.
What you can realistically learn across tracks
EDEC 2026 spreads content across diabetes, thyroid, adrenal and pituitary themes, obesity and metabolic health, and specialist updates that link endocrine care to cardiometabolic risk. Additionally, the programme structure includes poster sessions, industry symposium slots, and product theatres, so you can switch gears from guidelines to tools and workflows without leaving the venue. If you arrive with two priority questions you want answered, you will find the right sessions faster and waste less time. Also, speakers and chairs span regional and international experience, which helps when you want to compare how different systems handle similar challenges.
The Thyroid Ultrasound Workshop and pre-congress value
EDEC also highlights a dedicated Thyroid Ultrasound Workshop on Thursday, 5 February 2026, positioned as a skills-focused add-on that complements the main congress days. Because hands-on workshops often cap attendance, it helps to register early if ultrasound training is your main goal. Treat the workshop as a separate learning track, and plan it as a full-day commitment rather than an extra hour. Meanwhile, if you attend the workshop and the congress, you can build continuity by following thyroid sessions on Friday and Saturday, then consolidating learning during Sunday’s shorter programme.
Registration options and realistic budget planning
EDEC uses tiered pricing by professional category, and it adds 5% VAT to the listed rates, so budgeting early can save a noticeable amount. For physicians, the posted fees are USD 550 early bird, USD 600 regular, and USD 700 onsite, which is approximately AED 2,020 to AED 2,570, plus VAT and any bank charges that may apply. For residents, nurses, medical students, and interns, the posted fees are USD 330, USD 385, and USD 485, or approximately AED 1,210 to AED 1,780, plus VAT. If you plan to register close to the dates, the onsite rate window begins on Thursday, 5 February 2026 and runs through Sunday, 8 February 2026, so costs can rise quickly.
Who it suits and how to get more from the venue
This congress works best for healthcare professionals and industry partners, so it suits solo attendees who want structured learning as well as teams who split tracks and compare notes afterward (suitable for solo, suitable for couples in the same profession). However, it does not fit as a casual public event, because the content, pacing, and access style are designed for clinical audiences rather than families. If you come with colleagues, agree on a shared “session map” early, and you will cover more without overlap. Also, because Sheikh Rashid Hall can feel busy during transitions, choosing a meeting point before sessions start helps you avoid losing time between blocks.
Getting there from nearby Emirates and moving around DWTC
Dubai World Trade Centre sits on Sheikh Zayed Road, so driving is straightforward, yet morning arrivals can slow down quickly when multiple exhibitions overlap. Therefore, if you come from Abu Dhabi, it helps to leave with buffer time and aim for an early arrival on Friday, because registration begins at 7:30am. Meanwhile, visitors from Sharjah and Ajman often find the return trip easier by leaving after the final session block rather than exactly at closing time, because exit lanes can compress at peak moments. If you want the simplest option, the Dubai Metro Red Line to World Trade Centre Station usually reduces parking stress, especially on Friday morning.
Practical arrival notes for a smoother three-day plan
Because the programme builds in exhibition and product theatre windows, you can schedule networking into the day instead of forcing it into the margins. Additionally, the registration terms indicate that fees include access to sessions, exhibition time, coffee breaks, lunch, and CME certificates, so you can plan your day on site without constantly stepping out for basics. Bring a light layer even in winter, because indoor air-conditioning can feel strong during longer plenaries. Also, keep your badge and ID accessible, since medical congress entry points can tighten checks during peak arrivals.
Travel conditions and on-the-day planning for early February
For Dubai in early February, the forecast view currently supports Friday, 6 February 2026 as mostly sunny around 22°C, while Saturday, 7 February 2026 shows a risk of showers and thunderstorms around 26°C, so you should plan extra road time and pack a compact umbrella on Saturday. Because this feed does not yet show a reliable day-specific line for Sunday, 8 February 2026, check a same-week update before you commit to outdoor transfers. If you drive, arrive early and expect tighter traffic near DWTC during the 7:00am to 9:30am window, because multiple events can overlap in the area. Registration prices are published in USD, yet you can treat the AED equivalents as approximately and remember that 5% VAT applies, so the safest purchase route remains EDEC OFFICIAL REGISTRATION handled by MCI MIDDLE EAST, with onsite help available via +971 4 311 6300. Finally, as the editor tone at www.few.ae would frame it, EDEC works best when you pick one clinical focus first, then expand once you settle into the hall rhythm.+
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