https://www.timeoutdubai.com/ :Why can managing weight be so complicated? What role do our brains, hormones and metabolism play? And how much do everyday pressures and the words we use affect the way we feel about our health?

These are some of the questions at the heart of RE:SUMMIT 2026, a free public event coming to Dubai this November.

Presented by Lilly, the event will bring together leading medical experts, familiar regional personalities and interactive experiences to explore what shapes our understanding of weight and health, and why there’s more to the subject than many people realise.

Taking place at Madinat Jumeirah Arena on Saturday November 7, RE:SUMMIT aims to make the science behind obesity and metabolic health easier to understand, while opening up more informed, supportive conversations around a subject that affects so many lives.

What to expect at RE:SUMMIT
Expert insights and familiar faces
The programme brings together an impressive mix of medical expertise and recognisable names. Internationally recognised obesity medicine physician-scientist Dr Fatima Cody Stanford, from Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, will join clinical dietician Tina Chagoury and clinical psychologist Carine El Khazen for an informative discussion on why weight is more complicated than we think.

Moderated by podcaster Hikmat Wehbi, the panel will explore the biological, nutritional and psychological factors that can influence weight and health.

There will also be conversations about the personal side of the subject. Super Star actor Ahmed Helmy will join TV personality Raya Abirached to revisit his 2011 film X-Large, which explored weight-related stigma and social judgement, and consider how perceptions have changed since its release.

Meanwhile, Anas Bukhash will lead The Weight of Words, a discussion with Kris Fade, Karen Wazen and Hadeel Marei about body image, social pressures and how everyday comments can affect confidence and self-worth. Kris will also host the main stage programme.

Interactive experiences and food for thought
The conversations won’t be confined to the stage. Visitors can explore interactive installations about the relationship between weight and health, vote on questions they would like experts to address and visit a digital wall designed to encourage reflection on familiar comments about weight and their potential impact.

There’s also an opportunity to create a personal “receipt of effort”, recognising the everyday actions people already take to support their wellbeing.

Food will form part of the experience, too. Developed in collaboration with clinical dietician Tina Chagoury and the Madinat Jumeirah culinary team, a specially created menu will explore how nutritious food can be enjoyable and satisfying, without focusing on restrictive dieting.

The aim is to leave visitors with a fresh perspective, a better understanding of the factors that influence weight and more confidence in having informed conversations about health.

Plan your visit
RE:SUMMIT 2026 takes place on Saturday November 7 at Madinat Jumeirah Arena, Dubai. Doors open at 3pm, with the main stage programme beginning at 4pm.

Getting there
Free parking is available at Sahat Al Qasr, with an event shuttle running the short distance to Madinat Jumeirah Arena. Valet parking at the Arena is limited, so Sahat Al Qasr is the recommended option for anyone driving. If you’re coming by taxi or Careem, you’ll be dropped off directly at the Arena entrance.

Entry is free and the event is open to everyone, but advance registration is required and places are limited.