A free afternoon to hear what science says about weight, from people worth listening to.
Saturday 7 November 2026, 3:00 PM, Madinat Jumeirah Arena, Dubai.
ON STAGE.
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Super Star Actor
Special guest, joining Raya Abirached for the opening conversation.
Ahmed Helmy stands as one of the most celebrated and commercially successful superstars in modern Middle Eastern cinema. Transitioning from a popular television host to a powerhouse film actor, he redefined contemporary comedy by seamlessly blending sharp wit, deep emotional resonance, and social commentary in box-office hits like Keda Reda, Asal Aswad, and X-Large. Beyond his extensive cinematic footprint, he has significantly shaped regional arts and culture through his work as a producer, author, and UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador.
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Entrepreneur and Interviewer, Host of #ABtalks
Moderator of The Weight of Words, bringing together Karen Wazen, Kris Fade and Hadeel Marei for a personal conversation about weight, language and stigma.
Anas Bukhash is an Emirati entrepreneur, interviewer and speaker, best known as the creator and host of #ABtalks, one of the region's most recognized interview series. Known for his honest, in-depth conversations, Anas creates a space where public figures share personal experiences, challenges and perspectives that often go beyond what audiences see on social media.
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Clinical Psychologist
Speaker. The psychology voice on the expert panel.
Carine El Khazen is a clinical psychologist with more than 22 years of experience supporting people with eating and weight concerns, and speaks widely on weight stigma in healthcare. She founded the region's first specialized multidisciplinary eating and weight disorders program at ACPN in Dubai, where she is Clinical Lead for Psychology Services. A Fellow of the Academy for Eating Disorders and published researcher, she trains healthcare professionals across the Arab world.
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Associate Professor of Medicine and Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School
Obesity medicine expert and speaker on the panel Why Weight Is More Complicated Than We Think.
Dr Fatima Cody Stanford is an obesity medicine physician-scientist at Massachusetts General Hospital and Associate Professor of Medicine and Pediatrics at Harvard Medical School. With more than 200 peer-reviewed publications, her work focuses on the biological factors influencing weight, obesity as a chronic disease, and addressing weight bias and health disparities.
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Content Creator
Guest speaker in The Weight of Words, alongside Anas Bukhash, Kris Fade and Karen Wazen.
Hadeel Marei is an Egyptian content creator and comedian known for her relatable humor and candid commentary on everyday life. With a large following across the Arab world, she uses humor and personal storytelling to explore social expectations, body image and the pressures women face, encouraging more open conversations around weight, confidence and self-acceptance.
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Podcaster
Moderator of the expert panel, Why Weight Is More Complicated Than We Think.
Hikmat Wehbi is a Dubai-based podcaster and host of the Hikmat Wehbi Podcast, known for his candid conversations with prominent personalities from across the Arab world. Through his interviews, he explores personal experiences, challenges and perspectives, bringing a thoughtful and relatable approach to storytelling.
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Founder & Content Creator
Guest speaker in The Weight of Words, alongside Anas Bukhash, Kris Fade and Hadeel Marei.
Karen Wazen is a Lebanese entrepreneur and content creator based in Dubai, and the founder of Karen Wazen Eyewear. With a significant following across the region, she has built an internationally recognized brand while sharing aspects of her personal and professional life with her audience. She has also spoken openly about body image, confidence and the pressures of living in the public eye.
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Radio Host, TV Personality and Entrepreneur
Host of the afternoon's program and participant in The Weight of Words conversation.
Kris Fade is a Dubai-based radio host, TV personality and entrepreneur, best known as the host of The Kris Fade Show on Virgin Radio Dubai. He is also the founder of Fade Fit, a family wellness brand. Having spoken openly about his own experiences with weight and health, Kris brings a personal perspective to conversations around body image, wellbeing and the pressures people face.
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TV Personality
Special guest, leading the opening conversation with Ahmed Helmy.
Raya Abirached is one of the Arab world's most recognised television personalities, best known as the creator and host of Scoop with Raya and co-host of Arabs Got Talent. With over two decades of experience, she has interviewed some of the biggest names in international film and entertainment, covering major global events and bringing their stories to audiences across the region.
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Licensed Clinical Dietitian, Functional Hormone Specialist
Speaker. The nutrition voice on the expert panel. Also co-creating the menu with the venue.
Tina Chagoury is a DHA-licensed Clinical Dietitian and Functional Hormone Specialist with 20+ years of experience in women's health nutrition. Based in Dubai, she focuses on hormonal and metabolic health, functional nutrition and evidence-based preventive care.
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Mayyas is a world-renowned Lebanese dance troupe celebrated for its mesmerizing choreography and striking visual storytelling. Winners of both Arabs Got Talent and America's Got Talent, the group has performed alongside Beyoncé and continues to captivate audiences around the world, bringing Lebanese creativity and artistry to the global stage.
ONE AFTERNOON TO HEAR WHAT SCIENCE SAYS ABOUT WEIGHT.
A free public event from Lilly, bringing together leading doctors, an international expert on weight and the faces you follow. It moves the conversation past appearance, discipline and willpower, to the biology, behaviour, mind and surroundings that shape weight for all of us.
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WHATIT IS
A free afternoon of talks and an experience to explore at Madinat Jumeirah Arena.
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WHOIT'S FOR
Anyone who has ever thought about their weight. Come alone, bring a friend, bring the family.
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WHENIT IS
Saturday 7 November 2026. Doors open at 3 PM, and the stage starts at 4 PM. The experience stays open until 7:30 PM.
THREE CONVERSATIONS. ONE AFTERNOON.
Three conversations on stage, and an experience to walk through at your own pace.
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3:00 PM
Doors open
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Welcome
A short opening video and words from the Ministry of Economy and Tourism and Lilly, then the afternoon begins.
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Kris FadeRadio Host, TV Personality and Entrepreneur
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Opening conversation
Ahmed Helmy on playing a man the world judged by his weight, and whether anything has changed since.
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Raya AbirachedTV Personality
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Ahmed HelmySuper Star Actor
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Why weight is more complicated than we think
An obesity doctor, a nutritionist and a psychologist on what science now knows about weight, and why it was never just willpower. A conversation, not a lecture.
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Carine El KhazenClinical Psychologist
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Tina ChagouryLicensed Clinical Dietitian, Functional Hormone Specialist
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Dr Fatima
Cody StanfordAssociate Professor of Medicine and Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School -
Hikmat WehbiPodcaster
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The weight of words
The words we use about weight, and what they do to the people who hear them. Four people you follow, telling their own stories.
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Anas BukhashEntrepreneur and Interviewer, Host of #ABtalks
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Karen WazenFounder & Content Creator
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Kris FadeRadio Host, TV Personality and Entrepreneur
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Hadeel MareiContent Creator
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Closing
A reflection on the day before the experience carries on.
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Kris FadeRadio Host, TV Personality and Entrepreneur
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Live performance
The Mayyas close the afternoon live on stage.
The MayyasWinners of Arabs Got Talent and America's Got Talent
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The experience
Stops to walk through before and after the talks, at your own pace.
Before and after the talks, the arena is yours to explore: things to try, people to meet, food to share, until 7:30 PM. Come as you are. Take part in as much or as little as you like.
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THINGS TO TRY
Quick, playful, and built for two or more.
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THINGS TO SAY
A place for the question you've never asked out loud.
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SOMEWHERE
TO PAUSEBites, drinks and a quiet corner,
for grown-ups and little ones.
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SOMETHING TO KEEP
You leave with more than you came with.
PARK, HOP ON, ARRIVE. WE'VE MADE IT EASY.
With a few thousand people arriving at once, the smoothest way in is to park at Sahat Al Qasr and let the shuttle do the rest. Details come with your confirmation email.
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Park for free at Sahat Al Qasr. Need an accessible space? Email special-requests@resummit.ae with your ticket number.
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Hop on the event shuttle at Sahat Al Qasr: a short ride to the Arena, running all afternoon.
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Coming by taxi or Careem? You'll be dropped right at Madinat Jumeirah Arena.
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Address
Madinat Jumeirah Arena, Al Sufouh Road, Umm Suqeim 3, Dubai. Bring your entry code on your phone.
GOOD TO KNOW.
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Yes. Entry is free, but registration is required. Seats are limited, so reserve early.
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Anyone curious about weight and health, and the people who care about them.
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Yes. Reserve a seat for each person coming with you. Every seat gets its own entry code.
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No. It's an afternoon of talks and an experience to explore. You take part in as much or as little as you like.
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Yes. Food is part of the experience, before and after the talks.
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English.
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Just your entry code. Show it on your phone at the door: one code per seat.
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This event is for general health awareness. It does not replace advice from your doctor, so please speak to them about your own situation.
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Please note that photos and videos may be taken in the event hall. These are general images of the venue, branding and audience, and do not focus on any individual. All images will be used exclusively for internal purposes by Eli Lilly and Company.
If you have any objection, please let the organizers know at the registration desk.
Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.