Mohammad Zubaid is Professor of Medicine at the Faculty of Medicine, Kuwait University. He heads the division of cardiology at Mubarak Al-Kabeer Hospital. He is currently the Chair of the Faculty of Cardiology at Kuwait Institute for Medical Specialization (KIMS), in charge of the cardiology residency program in Kuwait. He was elected for a three years term as president of the Gulf Heart Association in December 2023.

Professor Zubaid obtained his MB, ChB from the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland in 1986. He went on to do internal medicine residency at Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario, Canada from 1988 to 1991 and cardiology residency at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada from 1992 to 1994. He pursued his research career with a fellowship in interventional cardiology at the University of British Colombia, Vancouver, Canada from 1994 to 1996.

He returned to his home country, Kuwait, in 1996 and joined Kuwait University as an assistant professor of Medicine. He was promoted to Professor in December 2006. He served as Vice Dean for Academic Affairs at the Faculty of Medicine from 2012 to 2013. He has contributed to several international journal publications and has served on the editorial boards of the Kuwait Medical Association Journal and the Journal of the Gulf Heart Association, Heart Views. He has published 122 peer-reviewed articles. Professor Zubaid has organized and chaired several local and regional conferences. He is Fellow of the Gulf Heart Association, the Royal College of Physicians of Canada and American College of Cardiology. His research interest focuses on the performance of disease registries. He has led several disease registries in Kuwait and the region including the Kuwait myocardial infarction registry, Kuwait Acute Coronary Syndrome (KACS) registry, Gulf Registry of Acute Coronary Events (Gulf RACE), Gulf Survey of Atrial Fibrillation Events (Gulf SAFE), Kuwait Time in Therapeutic Range study, Gulf locals with acute coronary syndrome events (Gulf COAST) Registry, use of reperfusion in ST elevation myocardial infarction in Kuwait (REPERFUSE Kuwait) Registry, and Gulf documentation of ambulatory sick patients with heart failure (Gulf DYSPNEA) registry, Kuwait Catheterization Laboratory Project (Kuwait CLAP), and Mubarak Alkabeer hospital primary PCI registry. He is the principal investigator for the Kuwait Heart Foundation Registry of Acute Coronary Events (KHF RACE). KHF RACE enroll 10,200 ACS patients from across Kuwait. It started in May 2023 and was completed in November 2024.

I was appointed as a consultant in heart failure at the Royal Hospital, Oman in 2021. I have expanded heart failure service form an OPD-based service to a full inpatient and outpatient services and introduced cardiac endomyocardial biopsy procedure to follow up heart transplant patients. I also introduced the new therapies for cardiomyopathies (namely cardiac amyloidosis and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy)

My clinical expertise is in cardiac device therapy (cardiac resynchronisation therapy, pacemakers, implantable cardioverter defibrillators), heart failure and cardiomyopathies. I am past head of heart failure service in the Royal Hospital, and I am a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh (FRCPE). I am also a faculty in Oman Medical Specialty Board and participated in forming exams for fellows. In addition, I am a member of Oman Heart Association, National Heart Centre Research Committee and British Cardiovascular Society.

Dr. Mohammad J. Al Banna is a Consultant Cardiac Surgeon with more than twenty-four years of international experience. As of January 2026, he joined Adan Hospital, Kuwait, where he serves as a member of the Heart Failure and Transplant Team. He specializes in minimally invasive and robotic cardiac surgery and was previously part of the team that performed the first cardiac transplant in Kuwait.

He served as the Founding Division Head of Cardiac Surgery at Jaber AlAhmad Hospital, where he established and built one of Kuwait’s modern cardiac surgery programs. During his tenure, he led the development of the robotic cardiac surgery service and the temporary mechanical circulatory support program, contributing significantly to the advancement of national cardiac care infrastructure.

Dr. Al Banna earned his Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MB ChB with honors) from the University of Leeds. He completed his Cardiac Surgery Residency at the University of Toronto and pursued advanced fellowship training in minimally invasive cardiac surgery at McMaster University. He is a Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons of Canada (FRCSC).

She is a consultant cardiologist with over a decade of experience working at King Fahad Specialist Hospital in Dammam. Her special interests include heart failure and cardio-oncology. King Fahad Specialist Hospital is the only tertiary and quaternary cancer center in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia under the Ministry of Health. She has played a key role in establishing cardio-oncology services to support cancer patients, facilitating their therapies while mitigating the risk of cardiotoxicities.

She also serves as the Group Vice President of Quality and Performance at the Eastern Health Cluster, dedicated to delivering top-quality healthcare in the Middle East. With a strong focus on person-centric and value-based care, she strives to improve healthcare outcomes and achieve the quadruple aim of better health, care, value, and joy at work.

She completed her undergraduate and postgraduate fellowship training under the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland and Beaumont Hospital in Dublin. She also holds a fellowship from the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons in Glasgow. Additionally, she has an MSc in Healthcare Administration from RCSI-Bahrain, along with other certifications. She is actively involved in research and has been one of the authors of most of the heart failure guidelines in Saudi Arabia over the past 7 years.

• Dr. Mousa Akbar is currently Consultant Cardiologist and Head of Cardiology unit, Al-Sabah hospital. He serves as a Consultant Interventional Cardiologist at the Chest Disease Hospital.
• Dr. Akbar graduated from the Medical School, Kuwait University – Kuwait in 1990 and has a Bachelor of Basic Medical Science and Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery.
• Between 1993 – 1997 he did his residency in internal medicine at University of Western Ontario, Canada and received the American Board of Internal Medicine ( ABIM) in 1996 as well as the Canadian Board of Internal Medicine in 1997.
• He also received a fellowship of Royal College of Physician and Surgeon of Canada ( FRCPC) in 1997 and became a Member of American College of Physician ( MACP) as well.
• He did his Cardiology residency at Ottawa Heart Institute- Ottawa, Canada from 1997 – 2000.
• In 2000, he had the Canadian Board of Cardiology and in the same year 2000 he also had the American Board of Cardiology and received a fellowship of American College of Angiology (FACA). In 2003, he was awarded a fellowship of American College of Cardiology ( FACC)
• In 2008, he was awarded a fellowship of European society of Cardiology (FESC). In 2009, he was awarded also a fellowship of American College of Physician ( FACP). He is a member of Kuwait Heart Foundation.
• Also he is a Vice president of Kuwait Cardiac Society(KCS).
• He is a Board member in Gulf Heart Association (GHA).
• In 2015, he was awarded a fellowship of the Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions(FSCAI).
• He was a chairman of Cardiology Department in Chest disease hospitals(CDH).
• He is a fellow of Gulf heart association(FGHA).
• He is currently a vice president of Kuwait cardiac society and he is General secretary of Gulf interventional society(GIS)
• During his clinical career he has contributed to several Local and International Journal Publications.
• Dr. Akbar has chaired and presented more than 100 local and regional lectures related to his field of Cardiology.

Dr. Rima Abu Shawareb is a board-certified Nuclear Medicine Specialist at Al Amiri Hospital, Kuwait, and Site Coordinator for the Nuclear Medicine Residency Programme at the Kuwait Institute for Medical Specializations (KIMS). She obtained her medical degree from Damascus University and completed the Kuwaiti Board of Nuclear Medicine. She also holds a Master’s degree in Nuclear Medicine Sciences from Kuwait University. Her clinical expertise includes PET/CT imaging, nuclear cardiology, hybrid molecular imaging, and infection and inflammation imaging, with special interest in cardiac amyloidosis. She completed advanced fellowship training in cardiac CT and hybrid imaging in Zurich, Switzerland. Dr. AbuShawareb has presented extensively at international conferences including SNMMI, EANM, ASNC, ESC, and ICNC. She received the International Best Abstract Award at the SNMMI Annual Meeting in 2025 in recognition of her contributions to cardiovascular molecular imaging. She is an active member of major international professional societies including SNMMI, EANM, ASNC, ESC, ESR, and IAEA, and is actively involved in clinical education, academic teaching, and research.

Bassam Bulbanat is Consultant of Cardiology (echocardiography specialist) at the Sabah Al Ahmad Cardiac Center, Ministry of health, Kuwait. During his academic career he has contributed to several international journal publications. He is the program director of the Adult Cardiology Fellowship Program affiliated with KIMS.

Dr. Arif Albulushi is a distinguished Consultant Cardiologist specializing in Advanced Heart Failure and Transplant Cardiology at the National Heart Center, The Royal Hospital Oman. His stellar academic journey, culminating in an MD from the prestigious University College Cork, Ireland, paved the way for an illustrious career marked by over 15 years of groundbreaking work. Dr. Albulushi’s expertise spans advanced heart failure, cardiac transplantation, and multi-modality cardiac imaging, integrating echocardiography, nuclear cardiology, cardiac CT, and MRI to provide comprehensive cardiac care.

His pioneering work in pulmonary hypertension and pericardial diseases places him at the forefront of cardiology, offering new insights into these complex conditions. Dr. Albulushi’s contributions to cardio-oncology underscore his commitment to exploring the nexus between cardiac and oncologic diseases, particularly the cardiovascular side effects of cancer treatments.

Dr. Albulushi’s unwavering commitment to clinical excellence, education, and research reflects in the countless lives he has touched, both through direct patient care and through the many medical professionals he has guided and inspired.

Dr. Al Ayyad completed internal medicine residency training at KIMS Kuwaiti board of internal medicine in 2017. During his residency, he had his certification as a member of royal college of physicians UK (MRCP) in 2016. He completed KIMS cardiology fellowship in 2021. He went to Vancouver, and did fellowship in advanced heart failure and transplantation at University of British Columbia from January 2022 till July 2023. From July 2023 till July 2024, he did second fellowship in advanced heart failure and transplant at University of Alberta. As he returned to Kuwait, he joined cardiology team at Dabbous cardiac center as head of advanced heart failure and transplant unit. At the unit, he follows patients of the whole spectrum of heart failure from mild to advanced including HFrEF and HFpEF patients, including assessment for heart transplantation or LVAD. Also, he is following patients post LVAD and post heart transplantation. Currently, Dr. Alayyad is head of Cardiology and Cardiac Surgery department at Dabbous Cardiac Center.

Dr. Hani Sabbour is an American cardiologist based in Abu Dhabi, serving as a Consultant in Advanced Heart Failure, Pulmonary Hypertension, and Cardiac Electrophysiology at Mediclinic Airport Road Hospital, Al Rawdah. He maintains an academic appointment with the Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, where he teaches cardiology and advanced cardiac care. His practice spans the full spectrum of complex cardiovascular disease, drawing on nearly three decades of high-acuity clinical work across the United States and the United Arab Emirates.

His core expertise includes advanced heart failure and pulmonary hypertension, cardiomyopathy, cardio-oncology, cardiac amyloidosis, preventative cardiology, cardiometabolic disorders, hyperlipidemia and familial hypercholesterolemia, and cardio-diabetology. He is equally recognized for the evaluation and management of complex arrhythmias, including atrial fibrillation, and for integrating device-based therapies with heart failure care, imaging, and longitudinal risk reduction strategies.

Dr. Sabbour earned dual first-class honours degrees in Basic Medical Sciences and in Medicine and Surgery from Kuwait University, receiving the Emir’s Gold Medal for academic excellence in both programs. He completed postgraduate training in Internal Medicine and Cardiovascular Disease at SUNY Stony Brook, followed by advanced Clinical and Research Fellowship training in Clinical Cardiac Electrophysiology at Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School. He subsequently held academic roles at Harvard and joined the teaching faculty at Brown University, where he advanced to Clinical Assistant Professor of Medicine (Cardiology).

• Consultant Cardiologist – Advanced Heart Failure & Cardiac Transplant, Chest Disease Hospital, Kuwait
• Head of the Advanced Heart Failure and Transplant Clinic, Chest Disease Hospital
• Lead Cardiologist for LVAD care, transplant evaluations, and post-transplant follow-up
• Coordinator of the Weekly Pulmonary Vascular Clinic (Joint with Pulmonary Team)
• Consultant Coverage – CCU, ICU, general cardiology, and cardiac surgery wards
• Founder of Kuwait’s First Weekly Right Heart Catheterization Program for transplant assessments and PAH diagnosis
• First Physician in Kuwait to Introduce Subcutaneous Treprostinil Micro-infusion Pump for PAH patients
• Trainer for Nurses and Healthcare Personnel on advanced pulmonary vascular care and SC Treprostinil therapy
• Nationwide Consultant on advanced therapies for heart failure and PAH
• Regional Speaker in Advanced Heart Failure, Cardiac Transplantation, and Pulmonary Hypertension

Dr. Adel Khalifa Hamad is a consultant cardiologist and Bahrain’s first interventional cardiac electrophysiologist. He was the head of electrophysiology department for more than 15 years. He is board certified in internal medicine and adult cardiology by the University of Toronto, Canada, where he also completed a subspecialty clinical fellowship in cardiac electrophysiology at Toronto General Hospital. During his cardiology residency and fellowship, Dr. Adel conducted research on the spatial organization of ventricular fibrillation in explanted Langendorff human hearts, which he presented at the annual Ursula Bangs Clinical and Research Day at the University of Toronto and subsequently as a research poster at the Canadian Cardiovascular Society Meeting in Montreal in 2015.

Upon his return to Bahrain, Dr. Adel established the nation’s first electrophysiology (EP) laboratory in 2010, introduced an advanced EP program utilizing 3D mapping systems in 2012, and launched a cryoablation program for atrial fibrillation in 2016. He is a founding board member of the Gulf Heart Rhythm Society (GHRS), a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians of Canada, and a Fellow of the Gulf Heart Association. Dr. Adel is an invited speaker at local, regional, and international conferences.

His honors and awards include the Hawar Medal of the First Grade, the Military Assessment Medal, First Class, and the Medal of Courage. Dr. Adel’s research interests encompass atrial fibrillation, novel oral anticoagulants, implantable cardiac devices, heart failure, sudden cardiac death, and sports cardiology.

• Consultant of Cardiology and Internal Medicine
• Founder and past director of the Advanced Heart Failure and Transplantation units in Chest Hospital and Dabbous cardiac center
• Gold member in the European Society of Cardiology (ESC)
• Practicing at Al-Salam Hospital and Al-Ahmadi Hospital - KOC University of Chicago Medicine

• Medical degree from the Faculty of Medicine, Kuwait University. Certified by the Kuwaiti Board of Hematology, Kuwait Institute for Medical Specializations (KIMS).
• Clinical tutor and site coordinator at Kuwait Board of Internal Medicine (KBIM) and Clinical Hematology fellowship programs
• Member of Kuwait Hemophilia Committee, Ministry of Health, Kuwait.
• Member of “VTE prophylaxis committee “ at Ministry of Health, Kuwait.