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'As usual there was a varied and plentiful range of scientific sessions to sample.'

The first AWDC to be held in the Middle East since the Congress in Tel Aviv in 1966, the location was obviously a great draw to a city-state whose reputation as a dynamically growing hub of business and leisure is now world renowned.

Dubai is a remarkable place full of contrasts, with the desert in its backyard, beaches bordering the Arabian Gulf and a plethora of high rise modern buildings that make the London, Manhattan or Hong Kong skylines look pale by comparison. Indeed, depending on your source, it is estimated that between one quarter and one third of the world's construction cranes are currently in Dubai. It is also now home to the world's tallest building, the Burj Dubai tower, which although still under construction at the 148th floor will eventually measure 2,684 feet, surpassing the current tallest, the Toronto CN Tower.

The Congress was officially opened by the Deputy Ruler of Dubai, part of the federal United Arab Emirates (UAE), His Highness H. H. Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum at a ceremony which also saw the symbolic inauguration of the new FDI President Dr Burton Conrod of Canada.

Scientific programme

As usual at an FDI Congress there was a varied and plentiful range of scientific sessions to sample. The full choice of posters, free communications, lectures, hands-on courses, seminars and symposia ran to a Final Programme booklet of 176 pages, making choices both necessary and difficult. A very strong contingent of speakers from the UK helped to populate the distinguished programme and these included: Raman Bedi, Susan Cunningham, Roger Ellwood, Martin Fulford, Nigel Hunt, Kevin Lewis, Cynthia Pine, Nigel Pitts, Popat Sandip, Philip Preshaw, Alison Qualtrough, Crispian Scully, John Tiernan, Angus Walls, Nicola West and David Whittaker.

As a Member Association of the FDI, the BDA also had a delegation at the General Assembly (the FDI's Parliament) consisting of Susie Sanderson, Sue Greening, Barry McGonigle, Stuart Johnston and Linda Wallace (for Peter Ward). In addition, the BDJ was represented in the exhibition and drew many visitors to the stand to comment appreciatively on the regularity, content and quality of the publication.

Statements and policies

The General Assembly passed a whole series of statements and guidelines on subjects including safety of amalgam, musculoskeletal disorders and dental practice, dental erosion, guidelines for dentists concerning torture and proposals for a new World Oral Health Day to be held on 12 September every year. Full details of all of these can be seen on the FDI website at http://www.fdiworldental.org.

'Former BDJ Editor Dame Margaret Seward CBE was admitted to the FDI's Roll of Honour, one of the Federation's highest accolades...'

An overview of The Dubai International Convention Centre

Also passed was a resolution to admit former BDJ Editor Dame Margaret Seward CBE to the FDI's Roll of Honour, one of the Federation's highest accolades, for her work with the FDI in general but in particular as editor for many years of its International Dental Journal.

In addition, a new publication was launched entitled Dental Ethics Manual, a far reaching and comprehensive book on many aspects of dentistry in relation to patients, colleagues, society and research. The UK's Peter Swiss, Chairman of the FDI's Ethics and Dental Legislation Working Group introduced the manual at its launch and outlined the detailed process in its development and compilation.

Modern Dubai, impressive and constantly growing

CPD was a major feature too, with a new set of guidelines produced from a working group of the Education Committee overseen by Margaret Comfort and Martin Hobdell. Adopting the UK's designation of Continuing Professional Development rather than Continuing Education, the document draws heavily on the UK experience in this field and aims to set standards for countries yet to establish such programmes.

Election results

Always a hot favourite at Congresses, the elections were no exception this year as the race for the position of President-Elect reached its climax with the Brazilian Roberto Vianna voted to the office. Hong Kong's T. C. Wong, a UK graduate, was elected to the position of Treasurer, a post vacated by Brent Stanley who had completed his term of office with a very successful legacy of sound financial management for the Federation.

Overall the Congress ran incredibly smoothly given the vastness of the Dubai International Convention Centre and the large numbers attending. Great credit is due to the Executive Director Dr J. T. Barnard, the Congress team and the FDI staff for making the event such a success and for running the Federation so effectively throughout the year, building it into the strong international voice of dentistry that it now represents.

Next year's Congress is in Stockholm, Sweden (24–27 September 2008) and the following year the venue is Singapore (2–5 September 2009).