Welcome Message

Join Us at the 4th Emirates
International Colorectal Congress



Dear Colleagues, Esteemed Members, and Honored Guests,

On behalf of the Emirates Society of Colon & Rectal Surgery and the Organizing Committee, we are pleased to invite you to participate in the 4th Emirates International Colorectal Congress, taking place on November 20–22, 2026 at Conrad Abu Dhabi Etihad Towers.

Building on the remarkable success of the 3rd edition and guided by the valuable feedback received from our attendees and industry partners, this year’s scientific program has been carefully structured in direct response to their requests. This responsiveness defines our identity and reflects the standard of excellence that continues to shape the growth and reputation of our congress.

The 2026 program will focus on emergency and benign colorectal disease, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), proctology and pelvic floor disorders, colorectal cancer, and the latest advancements in robotic surgery and its evolving applications.

These topics will be presented by pioneers and international leaders in colorectal surgery, ensuring high-level scientific exchange and practical clinical value.

In addition, we are proud to dedicate a full session in collaboration with the Kuwaiti Society of Colorectal Surgeons, fostering regional collaboration and exchange of expertise.

Dr. Sara Albastaki

Congress President & ESCRS President

The 3-day CME-accredited congress will bring together leading colorectal surgeons, general surgeons, gastroenterologists, trainees, nurses, and allied healthcare professionals from the UAE, the region, and internationally.

This meeting is designed not only to advance scientific knowledge but also to create meaningful interaction between industry partners and key decision-makers in colorectal care.

The program will include expert panels, case-based discussions, hands-on workshops, and industry-supported activities.

Expert Who Will Be Conducting the workshop

Director & Faculties

Congress President

Dr. Sara Albastaki

Organizing Committee Chairperson

Dr. Zakir K. Mohamed

Scientific Committee Chairperson

Dr. Roger Gerjy

Organizing Committee Members


Dr. Zakir K. Mohamed

Dr. Noura Al Ali

Dr. Labib Al Ozaibi

Dr. Manish Madnani

Dr. Mohammad Adileh

Scientific Committee Members


Dr. Roger Gerjy

Dr. Mahdi Taher

Dr. Ali Al Jaberi

Dr. Fadel Shabeeb

Prof. Faek El Jamali

Program at a Glance:

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  • ✅ Emergency and Benign Colorectal Disease
  • ✅ Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)
  • ✅ Proctology and Pelvic Floor Disorders
  • ✅ Colorectal Cancer
  • ✅ The Latest Era of Robotic Surgery and Its Evolving Utilization

Program Details

Time Event Speaker
08:30 - 09:00 Registration
09:00 - 10:40 SESSION 1: Advanced Trauma Surgery – Evidence & Decision Making
09:00 – 09:20 Damage Control for Colorectal Trauma – When, Why, and How? Dr. Jody Robert Miller
09:20 – 09:40 Pelvic & Rectal Trauma: Operative Strategies and Pitfalls Prof. Dr. Ruben Peralta
09:40 – 10:00 Reconstruction After Damage Control: When Is the Right Time? Dr. Carlos Yánez Benítez
10:00 – 10:20 Hostile Abdomen Management: When There Are No Good Options Dr. Yousif Habib Al Abboudi
10:20 – 10:40 Expert Panel: Complex Trauma Scenarios (Case Presentations & Panel Discussion) Dr. Carlos Yánez Benítez
10:40 – 11:00 Opening Remarks (Congress Chair + Keynote Speaker) Master of Ceremonies: Ms. Mona Al Abdouli and Faculty
11:00 – 11:20 Coffee Break
11:20 - 13:10 SESSION 2: Obstructed Colon Cancer – Modern Approach (Kuwait Society of Colorectal Surgeons)
11:20 – 11:40 Obstructed CRC (Right vs Left) – Updated Evidence and Outcomes Dr. Jasim Alabbad
11:40 – 12:00 Emergency Oncologic Colectomy: Maintaining Quality Under Pressure Dr. Abrar Al-Hashemi
12:00 – 12:20 Post-Obstruction Pathway: Staging, MDT, Chemotherapy Timing & ERAS Dr. Khaled AlZamel
12:20 – 12:40 Left-Sided Obstruction: On-Table Colonic Lavage – Techniques and Results Dr. Ahmad Alkhamis
12:40 – 13:10 Bridge-to-Surgery: SEMS vs Diverting Stoma – Selection and Controversies (Debate) Dr. Abdulaziz Alghurair Dr. Fawaz Alnaqi
13:10 – 14:30 Lunch + Friday Prayer
14:30 - 16:10 SESSION 3: Diverticular Disease – Getting Out of Trouble
14:30 – 14:50 Uncomplicated Diverticulitis: What’s New in 2026? Prof. Ronan Cahill
14:50 – 15:10 Laparoscopic Lavage: Current Role in Practice Dr. Maziar Nikberg
15:10 – 15:30 Complicated Diverticulitis: Hartmann vs Primary Anastomosis – Latest Evidence Prof. Ronan Cahill
15:30 – 15:50 Robotics in Diverticulitis, NOSE and Other Innovative Approaches Dr. Daniel Popowich
15:50 – 16:10 Complex Case: Bail-out Decisions You Regret (and What You Learned) Dr. Maziar Nikberg
16:10 – 16:30 Coffee Break
16:30 – 16:50 INNOVATION SESSION
16:30 – 16:45 When Is Green Good Enough? Signal Quantification for Fluorescence Perfusion Angiography Dr. Mahdi Taher
16:45 - 17:00 Magnetic Anastomoses in Colorectal Surgery – The New Kid on the Block Dr. Antonio Caycedo-Marulanda
17:00 - 17:15 The Rise of Intelligent Surgery: AI in Colorectal Surgery Dr. Faisal Ikram
17:15 - 17:35 SESSION 4: Challenging Cases – Emergency Video Session
17:15 - 17:25 Emergency Colorectal Surgery Video Pearls – Planes, Perfusion & Safety Prof. Dr. Ruben Peralta
17:25 - 17:35 Emergency Rectal Perforation: How I Manage It? Dr. Daniel Popowich
17:35 - 17:45 Discussion
Time Event Speaker
09:00 - 10:40 SESSION 1: IBD Surgery – Optimization and Modern Strategy
09:00 – 09:20 Surgical Decision-Making in IBD – When Medicine Fails Prof. Nasser Al Sanea
09:20 – 09:40 The Role of the Mesentery in IBD Prof. John Calvin Coffey
09:40 – 10:00 Acute Severe UC: Staged Resection, Approach Selection and Complications Dr. Ali Al Jaberi
10:00 – 10:20 Role of Appendectomy in UC Prof. Faek El Jamali
10:20 – 10:40 Crohn’s Strictures: Resection vs Stricturoplasty – Advanced Considerations Prof. Alessandro Fichera
10:40 – 11:00 Coffee Break
11:00 - 12:50 SESSION 2: Advanced IBD – Reconstruction, Re-do & Salvage Surgery
11:00 – 11:20 Complex Perianal Crohn’s: Advanced MDT Management Dr. David Zimmerman
11:20 – 11:40 Functional Outcomes After IBD Surgery: Prevention and Treatment Prof. Emile John Tan Kwong Wei
11:40 – 12:00 Re-do Surgery in Crohn’s/UC: Risks, Mapping, and Technical Planning Prof. Alessandro Fichera
12:00 – 12:20 IPAA Complications: Leaks, Pelvic Sepsis & Pouch Salvage Prof. Emile John Tan Kwong Wei
12:20 – 12:50 Debate: Early Surgery vs Biological Treatments (Two Expert Viewpoints) Prof. John Calvin Coffey Dr. Ahmed Sultan
12:50 – 15:15 Lunch
14:00 - 15:00 SESSION 3: Pelvic Floor for Advanced CRS
14:00 – 14:15 Pelvic Floor Physiology: What Every Colorectal Surgeon Must Know Dr. Lameese Tabaja
14:15 – 14:30 Recurrent Pelvic Organ Prolapse: Why Repairs Fail and How to Fix Them Dr. Ahmed Allawi
14:30 – 14:45 Tailoring Treatment for Fecal Incontinence: Neuro Modulation Dr. Shafik Sidani
14:45 – 15:00 Tailoring Treatment for Faecal Incontinence: Sphincter Augmentation? Dr. Alex Leo
15:00 – 15:15 Obstructed Defecation Syndrome: Conservative vs Surgical Strategies Prof. Anders Mellgren
15:15 – 15:35 Coffee Break
15:35 – 16:05 Dr. Sara Al Bastaki Lecture
15:35 – 16:05 Rectal Cancer: The Past, the Present and the Future Prof. Per-Olof Nyström
16:05 - 17:40 SESSION 4: Advanced Proctology – Beyond Basics
16:05 – 16:20 Complex Cryptoglandular Fistula: LIFT, Flaps, VAAFT, Laser – Selecting the Right Option Dr. David Zimmerman
16:20 – 16:35 Anal Sepsis in High-Risk Patients: Crohn’s, Immunosuppression and Recurrence Prof. Anders Mellgren
16:35 – 16:50 Hemorrhoids in Complex Patients: Choosing the Right Operation Dr. Labib Al Ozaibi
16:50 - 17:05 AIN and Early Anal Cancer for CRS: Screening, Mapping, and Treatment Prof. Nasser Al Sanea
17:05 - 17:20 Advances in Anorectal Manometry, What Tool the Surgeon Needs Prof. Carlo Ratto
17:20 - 17:40 Complex Case Panel: When the Pelvis Fights Back (Panel Discussion) Dr. Labib Al Ozaibi
17:40 - 18:10 ESCRS RISING STARS AWARD SESSION: Oral Presentations: Best 3 Selected Rising Stars Presenters
Time Event Speaker
09:00 - 10:40 SESSION 1: Robotics – Setup to Mastery
09:00 - 09:20 Robotic Right Colectomy (CME): Critical Steps and Standardization Dr. Mark Soliman
09:20 - 09:40 Single-Port Robotic TME: Is There an Advantage? Dr. Simon Ng
09:40 - 10:00 Bail-out Robotics: Bleeding, Difficult Pelvis, and Conversion Strategies Dr. Paolo Pietro Bianchi
10:00 - 10:20 Autonomic Neural Mapping in Left Colectomy Dr. Antonio Caycedo-Marulanda
10:20 - 10:40 Beyond Reoperation: Transanal Robotics for Anastomotic Salvage Dr. Mark Soliman
10:40 - 10:50 Coffee Break
10:50 – 12:30 SESSION 2: Rectal Surgery
10:50 - 11:10 Video: Robotic LAR – Key Steps and Common Errors Dr. Jim Khan
11:10 - 11:30 Anastomosis Strategy in Rectal Surgery Prof. Jurriaan Tuynman
11:30 - 11:50 Managing Complications: Leaks, Ureteric Injury & Pelvic Sepsis Dr. Simon Ng
11:50 - 12:10 Video: Robotic APR Beyond TME Borders – Tips and Indications Dr. Jim Khan
12:10 - 12:30 My Worst Case and What I Learned Dr. Chunhui Cui
12:30 - 13:50 Lunch
13:50 - 15:10 SESSION 3: Colorectal Cancer – Advanced Updates
13:50 - 14:10 Rectal Cancer Pathway (TNT, Response Assessment, MDT Sequencing) Dr. Rodrigo Perez
14:10 - 14:30 Lateral Lymph Nodes: When and How to Address Them Dr. Chunhui Cui
14:30 - 14:50 Local Excision for Rectal Cancer After Neoadjuvant Treatment: When & Why? Dr. Rodrigo Perez
14:50 - 15:10 Debate: Early Colon Cancer – Endoscopic Cure vs Oncologic Resection Dr. Ammar Kheir Dr. Mark Soliman
15:10 - 15:20 Coffee Break
15:20 - 17:20 SESSION 4: Innovation & Outcomes
15:20 - 15:40 Pushing the Boundaries for Organ Preservation in ERC: Local Excision First Strategy Prof. Jurriaan Tuynman
15:40 - 16:00 Metastatic CRC: Role of Surgery in Stage IV Disease Dr. Ayman Harakeh
16:00 - 16:20 Locally Advanced CRC: Multivisceral Resections and Pelvic Exenteration Planning Prof. Christos Kontovounisios
16:20 - 16:40 Parastomal Hernia: What Does Evidence Tell Us in 2026? Dr. Ahmed Allawi
16:40 - 17:00 Functional Outcomes After Cancer Surgery: LARS Prevention and Management Prof. Jurriaan Tuynman
17:00 - 17:20 Should Robotics Be the Standard Approach for Rectal Cancer Surgery? Dr. Paolo Pietro Bianchi
17:20 - 17:40 Closing Ceremony
Don’t Miss the 4th Emirates International Colorectal Congress

Registration Fees

Registration Closes on November 19, 2026
for Physicians

$625

for Physiotherapists & Nurses

$420

for ESCRS Members

$365

for Medical Students

Free

Limited slots only.*

Hotel Request

If you would like to book accommodation, you may choose
from the following options:

Conrad Abu Dhabi Etihad Towers

STARTING FROM
$355 PER NIGHT

Sheraton Al Khalidiya Hotel

STARTING FROM
$165 PER NIGHT

Radisson Blu Abu Dhabi Corniche Hotel

$210 PER NIGHT

Length of stay: 3 nights | Check-in: November 19, 2026 | Check-out: November 22, 2026