Represented by Sharjah, the UAE will be participating in the International Healthy Cities Conference 2018 in Belfast, Northern Ireland.

The Emirate of Sharjah has been nominated by the World Health Organisation, WHO, to take part in the Belfast conference following its successful implementation of the WHO’s Healthy City initiative.

The UAE is the only Arab country to take part in the global forum.

The announcement came in the fourth meeting of the Executive Committee for Expansion of Healthy Cities in the Emirate of Sharjah, held on Monday at the Muwailah Suburb Council in Sharjah under the leadership of Dr Abdul Aziz Al Muhairi, Chairman of the Committee.

"Sharjah’s participation in International Healthy Cities Conference Belfast 2018, for the first time at the Arab level, reflects the emirate's global reputation as an Arab leader in joining the WHO Healthy Cities programme and making many achievements under the directives of H.H. Dr. Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah," said Dr Al Muhairi.

The International Health Cities Conference in Belfast, Ireland, will host a number of leading cities from around the world which will explore and discuss the successful experiences of various cities and countries across the globe featuring more than 300 papers by experts. Four cities including Sharjah, Bursa, Washington, and Copenhagen have been selected to showcase their success stories as WHO’s Healthy Cities.

The Belfast Conference focuses on the six themes of the new political vision of the European Healthy Cities Network of the WHO. These themes include people, space, participation, prosperity, planet and peace.

During the four-day conference, Sharjah will present the Sharjah Healthy City programme and its successful experience as the first healthy city in the region.