LONGEVITY THROUGH A WELLNESS LENS: THE GLOBAL WELLNESS SUMMIT 2025 HEADS TO DUBAI FOR ITS MOST FUTURE-FOCUSED CONFERENCE YET
- Longevity Ind
- Jul 26
- 5 min read
The conference in Dubai this November will tackle the biggest movement in health and wellness—the powerful focus on longevity and healthspan—with global leaders discussing the future, the controversies, and the evidence. The 2025 co-chairs are Michael Roizen, MD, longevity pioneer and Cleveland Clinic's chief wellness officer; Jeremy Jauncey, founder, Beautiful Destinations; Ömer K. Isvan, president, Servotel; and Anna Bjurstam, wellness pioneer, Six Senses
Something seismic is shifting in the world of wellness. A new frontier is emerging—not centered on luxury spas or the next superfood, but on time itself. How long can we live well? How do we not just extend life, but improve the quality of it as we age? These questions are no longer confined to laboratories or futurist think tanks. They’re now at the core of a rapidly evolving global movement that’s redefining the wellness industry—and this November, the Global Wellness Summit (GWS) is placing that revolution center stage.
From November 18–21, 2025, Dubai will become the epicenter of the global wellness conversation as it hosts the 19th annual Global Wellness Summit under a bold new theme: "Longevity Through a Wellness Lens." More than just a catchy phrase, this theme speaks to a profound shift in the way we think about health, aging, and wellbeing. With wellness now a $6.3 trillion global economy, and longevity the most explosive force reshaping it, the stakes have never been higher—or more intriguing.
This year’s Summit will gather some of the world’s brightest minds in medicine, science, business, hospitality, tech, and policy to tackle the rapidly evolving landscape of longevity. Expect spirited debates, cutting-edge science, and a rare gathering of industry leaders who—despite their different disciplines—are all chasing the same goal: a longer, healthier, more meaningful life for people everywhere.
A Moment of Inflection in the Wellness Industry
“Longevity is not just a trend—it’s a tipping point,” says Nancy Davis, GWS Chief Creative Officer and Executive Director. “It’s disrupting industries, shifting paradigms, and asking us to reevaluate everything we thought we knew about health and aging. And that makes this Summit more critical, and more exciting, than ever.”
Indeed, the term "longevity" is no longer reserved for genetic outliers or billionaires funding biohacking experiments. It's gone mainstream. People everywhere are rethinking how they eat, move, sleep, travel, and even design their homes—all in pursuit of living not just longer, but better.
This surge in interest has ignited a wellness transformation that extends across all eleven sectors the GWS tracks—from mental wellness and beauty to wellness tourism, spas, and physical activity. But what makes the 2025 Summit so distinct is its willingness to confront the complexities and contradictions at the heart of this movement.
The agenda won’t shy away from controversy. It will, instead, embrace it—creating space for robust, evidence-based discussion between thought leaders with dramatically different viewpoints. Expect scientists to challenge entrepreneurs. Expect provocateurs. Expect nuance.
Dubai: The New Global Capital of Wellness?
Hosting the Summit in Dubai isn’t just a geographic choice—it’s a strategic one. The United Arab Emirates is now a magnet for global wellness investment and innovation. The broader Middle East-North Africa (MENA) region is seeing some of the fastest growth in the wellness economy anywhere in the world.
Wellness tourism in the Middle East has exploded, doubling its growth rate over any other region. The UAE alone commands a $34 billion wellness economy, while its wellness tourism market has been growing at a blistering 16.5% annually. Mega-developments like SHA Emirates’ AI-powered “healthy living island” and Aldar’s wellness-centered Saadiyat Grove community show just how seriously the region is taking its role in shaping the future of healthy living.
This year’s GWS venue—the soon-to-open Mandarin Oriental Downtown Dubai—will embody the convergence of luxury, innovation, and wellness. It's a fitting backdrop for a Summit that’s as much about vision as it is about evidence.
Jeremy Jauncey, UAE-based entrepreneur and one of this year’s co-chairs, sums it up: “We have so much happening here in the UAE—across wellness, technology, sustainability, and hospitality. It’s the perfect place to host a conversation about the future of wellbeing. And we’re just getting started.”
By uniting leaders who don't always agree but who are committed to exploring what’s real, what’s hype, and what’s next, GWS 2025 promises to be more than a conference. It will be a reckoning. A reimagining. And, perhaps, a launchpad for one of the most important cultural shifts of our time.
Meet the Minds Shaping the Future
Helping guide this year’s transformative agenda are four co-chairs whose backgrounds span the gamut of medicine, travel, investment, and innovation:
Dr. Michael Roizen, Cleveland Clinic’s first-ever Chief Wellness Officer, has spent decades pioneering longevity science. Known for the RealAge concept and his bestselling books, he brings deep scientific rigor and clinical insight into what really works when it comes to living longer and better.
Jeremy Jauncey, founder of Beautiful Destinations, brings a global traveler’s perspective—and a massive digital audience—to the wellness conversation. His ability to communicate complex ideas through visual storytelling has made him one of the world’s most influential wellness advocates.
Ömer K. Isvan, President of Servotel, has worked across 43 countries advising on some of the most ambitious hotel and destination projects. His deep understanding of hospitality development makes him a critical voice in wellness real estate and integrated wellness experiences.
Anna Bjurstam, a pioneering force behind Six Senses’ wellness transformation, has spent 25 years designing and scaling wellbeing programs around the world. Her entrepreneurial and investor background brings a vital balance between vision and execution.
The Future of Wellness Real Estate
One of the most exciting areas of focus at this year’s Summit is wellness real estate—a sector expected to reach a staggering $1.1 trillion by 2029. This isn’t just about adding a yoga room or spa to a high-rise. It’s about rethinking how we design spaces, communities, and cities to actively promote longer, healthier lives.
The Global Wellness Institute (GWI) will release new data and international case studies, with a spotlight on the Middle East’s impressive momentum. Between 2019 and 2024, wellness real estate in MENA surged from $710 million to $2 billion, signaling both consumer demand and strategic government investment.
From Competition to Collaboration
In an industry often marked by silos and competition, the 2025 Summit will break new ground by hosting confidential, closed-door sessions where executives from across sectors—hospitality, biotech, fitness, digital health—will come together to answer a single question: What can we do together that we can’t do alone?
This collaborative mindset is at the heart of the GWS mission. It’s not just about ideas—it’s about collective action. Whether it’s developing standards for longevity-focused communities or accelerating access to preventative care technologies, the goal is to move beyond discussion into solution.
Why This Summit Matters Now
Longevity is no longer the concern of a distant future. It is the story of the present. It’s being written in research labs and wellness resorts, in government policy and tech accelerators, in your local gym and your neighborhood grocery store. The 2025 Global Wellness Summit will give that story a stage—and a critical audience.
By uniting leaders who don't always agree but who are committed to exploring what’s real, what’s hype, and what’s next, GWS 2025 promises to be more than a conference. It will be a reckoning. A reimagining. And, perhaps, a launchpad for one of the most important cultural shifts of our time.
As Dr. Roizen puts it, “Wellness naturally evolves to longevity. Now we need to evolve the conversation.”
Registration is now open—and interest is expected to exceed capacity. Rates increase after July 31, and accredited media may apply to attend. For more information, visit globalwellnesssummit.com
The countdown to Dubai begins. The future of wellness—and of longevity—is taking shape.
Note: The information provided in this article is intended for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a healthcare provider before starting any new supplement or health regimen.
