A trade fair with more than 20,000 visitors brought new partnerships and growing interest in advanced laboratory technologies. Key themes of this year’s event included automation, accessibility of NGS sequencing, POCT, and the use of artificial intelligence in diagnostics. The next edition will take place under a new name, WHX Labs Dubai, from February 9–12, 2026.
From sequencing to artificial intelligence: Trends shaping the future of laboratory diagnostics.
Back in Dubai
Dubai, a city synonymous with luxury, towering skyscrapers, entertainment, and vast beaches. However, for business professionals and specialists from BioVendor Group, the annual journey to Dubai is for a different reason. Every February, one of the largest trade fairs in laboratory medicine, Medlab Middle East, brings together experts, specialists, and manufacturers from around the world.
BioVendor at the center of action
Once again, the Dubai World Trade Centre welcomed more than 20,000 visitors and 800 exhibitors from over 40 countries, filling six interconnected exhibition halls. A strategically located booth in the busiest hall was once again occupied by BioVendor Group. Representatives from BioVendor LM, BioVendor R&D, BioVendor MDx, TestLine, DiaSource, and ViennaLab showcased their products in immunodiagnostics and molecular diagnostics. Interest was high across all key projects of the group, including our solutions on the CLIA platform, Microblot-Array multiplex technology, and comprehensive next-generation sequencing (NGS) products.
Clear trends: NGS is in demand
Anna Kolouchová, Business Development Manager at BioVendor MDx, presented this technology in Dubai:
“This year, we focused on presenting our NGS solutions in oncology. The professional community’s interest in genetic testing of somatic mutations and their data analysis continues to grow, which was evident in the number of meetings with potential distributors and the valuable feedback from our booth visitors.” Compared to last year, it was clear that the trade fair is continuously evolving and expanding.
Sequencing is becoming more accessible
“Medlab Dubai once again proved to be a key event for the diagnostics field. We see firsthand how ViennaLab’s technologies continue to stand strong in an increasingly competitive market,” says Fabio Echeverry, International Marketing and Distribution Manager at ViennaLab. “One of the most exciting trends we observed is the growing accessibility of next-generation sequencing technologies. As they become more affordable, the diagnostics field is rapidly embracing them and the ViennaLab NGS cancer products — Hereditary Cancer and Somatic Mutations NGS Assays—are perfectly aligned with this shift. In the Middle East, we are witnessing a rising interest at the intersection of diagnostics and well-being. Our latest innovation, the 16S Microbiome + ITS NGS Assay for comprehensive evaluation of the intestinal microbiome, is at the heart of this movement, drawing significant attention from diverse groups of customers.”
POCT, automation, and AI: The future of diagnostics?
Valérie Preud’homme, Product Manager at DiaSource, also gave a positive assessment of this year’s fair:
“We introduced our new Rapid Test Reader with a wide range of POCT tests, which received significant interest from both visitors and our existing customers. This is important given the global trend toward the automation of IVD diagnostics, as well as the increasing use of artificial intelligence.”
Medlab also provided greater opportunities to connect with new customers from Central Asia and Africa, who do not generally come to European trade fairs.
“Compared to last year, we observed more companies dealing with raw materials, which is very beneficial for DiaSource as a trusted supplier of IVD manufacturers, particularly in the field of antibodies and antigens.”
Eva Dulavová, Product Manager for Molecular Biology at BioVendor LM, shared her quick insights from the fair: “Apart from NGS, the key trends are POCT, syndromic testing, and automation. There were also a few booths focused on chip technology, looking for partners for further development.”
Her observations were confirmed by Erik Nomilner, Business Development Specialist at BioVendor R&D: “Most booths were dominated by automation and POCT instruments and reagents. It is evident that the demand for rapid in vitro diagnostics at the point of care is increasing. It’s great that we are keeping up — besides our classic ELISA portfolio, we introduced the unique MxA parameter as a lateral flow POCT test. We also received numerous inquiries about ELISA kits for both research and diagnostics, mainly from the Middle East.”
This year’s event marked by new partnerships
“There was significant interest in our entire portfolio, not just in new products, which is fantastic. Of course, CLIA and MBA were the biggest draws,” says Michal Šteffl, Head of International Trade at TestLine. “In just a few years, discussions have shifted from basic company introductions to highly strategic and business-oriented topics. The growing visitor interest in the trade fair, our ever-expanding international presence, and the continuous product development, have resulted in a fantastic event with plenty of high-quality meetings and new friendships. We are truly thankful to all our existing and new partners who visited us. Hope to see you soon again!”
Medlab is more than just a trade fair
This year’s event also featured a comprehensive accompanying scientific program focusing on the latest trends and innovations in laboratory medicine. With 12 conference sections and over 200 speakers, the program attracted more than 4,000 delegates. Topics included the use of artificial intelligence in diagnostics, and a new addition was the Women’s Health Leadership Forum, which focused on advances in laboratory diagnostics for women’s health. On the second day, another forum was held, covering the latest innovations in genetics, personalized healthcare, and new targeted therapies.
Medlab is changing – welcome WHX Labs Dubai!
The biggest change for the upcoming 2026 edition is the transformation of the trade fair into WHX Labs Dubai. This evolution brings greater global collaboration, innovation, and a broader impact on laboratory diagnostics. By joining forces with the World Health Expo (WHX), the event will create a platform that connects top experts, manufacturers, and innovators from around the world.
So, we’ll meet again from February 9–12, 2026, at WHX Labs Dubai!
