New Drive with discounts and free consultations

Dubai: Residents and visitors looking to get dental work done – whether it’s a simple cavity filling, root canal treatment or that perfect Hollywood smile – will have access to more affordable options across Dubai through a new initiative announced on Wednesday.

Launched as a strategic initiative by AEEDC Dubai (UAE International Dental Conference and Arab Dental Exhibition), Dubai Dental Week will be held annually, with its inaugural edition scheduled from January 16 to 22, 2027, across multiple locations in Dubai, organizers said.

The emirate-wide initiative will see dental clinics and hospitals across the city offer discounts, free consultations and promotional packages, it has been revealed.

The week-long event, supported by Dubai Economy and Tourism (DET) and Dubai Health Authority (DHA), was announced following the conclusion of AEEDC Dubai 2026, which marked its 30th edition.

The launch of Dubai Dental Week was announced in the presence of Professor Abdulsalam Al Madani, Chairman of AEEDC Dubai and Roving Ambassador of the Mediterranean Parliamentary Assembly for the GCC Region, Professor Dr Nikolai Sharkov, President of FDI (World Dental Federation), Ahmed Al Jumairi Al Mheiri, Director of DubaistaFestiment Retail, Part E. DET, and Mohamed Al Mheiri, Director of Health Tourism Department and Deputy Director of the Public Private Sector Investment Partnerships Department at DHA.

“In shopping malls, in schools, in government departments, in corporate offices – awareness activations will happen everywhere,” Mohammed Al Mehairi told Gulf News in an exclusive interview after the press conference.

Al Mheiri explained that the dental clinics will create activation programs across the city and specifically target children and young residents to raise awareness of how oral health affects overall health.

According to him, Dubai currently has 1,353 dental clinics, polyclinics and hospitals offering dental specialties. While not everyone may be participating, Al Mheiri confirmed that many are “willing to participate as part of this initiative” and some purely from a CSR point of view, with no commercial reasons.

Professor Abdulsalam Al Madani, who is also the president of the Global Scientific Dental Alliance (GSDA), emphasized that the initiative goes beyond clinical excellence. “We need to promote schooling. We need to get the community involved. Our generation, our children – it’s important to be involved,” he said.

Al Madani confirmed that participating clinics will offer discounts on treatments and free consultations in malls and other public places during the week.

For residents without dental insurance coverage, a common gap in many health policies, Dubai Dental Week offers an opportunity to access needed treatments at a reduced cost. “You will get certain discounts through various health care facilities for a complete treatment plan,” Al Mheiri noted.

He pointed out that people can even access cosmetic procedures such as getting a “Hollywood smile” more affordably.

The timing of the initiative reflects Dubai’s growing reputation as a dental tourism destination. In 2023, the emirate welcomed 691,000 medical tourists, with dental services being the top specialty. Specifically, 29 percent of these visitors sought dental services, particularly advanced cosmetic procedures such as teeth whitening, veneers and smile makeovers.

According to Al Mheiri, these visitors come from all over the world – GCC countries, the West and beyond – primarily seeking dental treatments, followed by dermatology and gynecology services.

The initiative builds on the success of AEEDC Dubai 2026, which attracted more than 80,000 visitors from 192 countries and generated Dh22 billion in direct and indirect deals. The three-day conference and exhibition (19-21 January 2027) will be the centerpiece of Dubai Dental Week.

A dedicated portal, DubaiDentalWeek.ae, will provide details of participating clinics, available treatments, workshops and training programs.

Ahmed Al Khaja, CEO of DFRE, said the week-long event reflects “the emirate’s ability to organize purposeful and effective events that enhance knowledge sharing, professional development and strengthen relationships across sectors.”

Built on four strategic dimensions, the initiative strengthens Dubai’s global leadership in dentistry by enhancing economic connectivity and investment, promoting public awareness of oral health and preventive care, promoting scientific excellence through cutting-edge training and innovation for professionals, and developing future talent through academic and industrial programs that support sustainable development and innovation around the world.