The Turkish Signature in Health Technologies: Turkey as the 4th Largest Participant
WHX Dubai 2026, the most prestigious gathering for the medical device, pharmaceutical, dental, and OTC segments, was held in the United Arab Emirates between February 9 and 12, 2026. This event witnessed an intense participation of Turkish companies. Among 4,300 companies from 180 countries and more than 235,000 professional visitors, Turkey ranked as the 4th largest participating country following China, Germany, and the UAE.
Under the national participation organization led by the Istanbul Chemicals and Chemical Products Exporters' Association (IKMİB), 40 companies took part in a massive 576-square-meter stand area. Including 163 individual participants, a total of 203 Turkish brands showcased their innovative products on the global stage.
High-Level Diplomatic Support and Sectoral Evaluation
The Turkish pavilion received significant attention from both sectoral and diplomatic representatives throughout the exhibition. Turkey’s Ambassador to Abu Dhabi, Lütfullah Göktaş, and trade attachés visited the companies alongside IKMİB board members to evaluate export potential on-site. The delegation examined the high technology levels and value-added products of the Turkish medical device and pharmaceutical industries while discussing new trade opportunities.
Adil Pelister: "Our Pharmaceutical Exports are Racing Toward 1.77 Billion Dollars"
Adil Pelister, Chairman of the Board of IKMİB, emphasized the strategic importance of the healthcare sector and highlighted the success with specific figures. Regarding the momentum of the industry, Pelister stated the following:
"The medical device and pharmaceutical sectors hold critical importance for our exports due to their high value-added production structures. Our pharmaceutical products sector's exports in 2025 rose to 1.77 billion dollars with an increase of 14.57 percent. As IKMİB, we are carrying out numerous projects to ensure the sustainability of this growth. Prestigious international organizations like WHX Dubai strengthen our companies' access to global markets while bringing Turkey’s production capacity and innovation capabilities in the health sector to the world stage."
Chairman Pelister underlined that they would continue to support their members in opening up to new markets and positioning the Turkish healthcare sector to compete with global giants.
