The First Arab Conference for Public Health kicked off in Dubai. The conference is organized by the Health Authority in Dubai in collaboration with World Federation of Public Health Associations, and with participation of about 600 doctors and specialists, and support of GCC Health Ministers\' Council entitled “Towards Excellence in Public Health .. Opportunities and Challenges in the Arab world.”The conference aims at unifying the efforts of the staff working in the public health sector on the Arab world’s level, in the light of the ever-increasing rates of communicable and non-communicable diseases such as heart, diabetes, obesity and cancer.The Director-General of the Executive Bureau of the GCC Health Ministers’ Council Dr. Tawfeeq Bin Ahmed Khooja stressed in his speech on the importance of strengthening the structures of public health and finding appropriate solutions to the challenges facing public health in the Arab world, as well as establishing effective partnerships with international institutions and organizations.For her part, the Chairperson of the Conference’s Scientific Committee Lubna Al-Sha’ali said that the scientific programme of the conference, which included the participation of 38 scientists and specialists in the area of public health will discuss the health priorities in the Arab World.Lubna Al-Sha’ali also said that these priorities included creating a regional forum to exchange expertise, and successful experiences in the health area, shedding light on the importance of public health, using new methods to reinforce the society’s health, and contributing in strengthening public health on the national and regional levels.The conference will also discuss promoting solutions to the main challenges facing public health in the Arab World, and the announcement of Dubai’s Bill for public health.On the sidelines of the conference, an exhibition will be held with the participation of 12 companies presenting the latest global developments in the field of public health.