Dear Surgery Enthusiasts,

Colleagues, but above all friends, it is a pleasure to gather once again for this remarkable annual event.

Each year this meeting is a powerful reminder of the incredible progress we have made.

Minimally invasive techniques have changed the course of gynaecological surgery faster and more
drastically than any other innovation in the field. Technologies and techniques have evolved rapidly, and
what seemed impossible or even foolish in the early 1900s is now the gold standard for treating most
gynaecological conditions.

And what better place to celebrate this progress than in the city of Dubai? A metropolis that symbolizes
modernity, technological advancement and innovation. Dubai, like minimally invasive surgery, represents
an explosion of opportunity and technology in the service of progress, the perfect metaphor for the evolution
of minimally invasive surgery.

For the past decade, this vibrant city has hosted this international congress, providing the
perfect setting for our shared pursuit of surgical excellence.

I am honoured to accept the invitation of my dear friend Arnauld Wattiez, with whom I share not only a
passion for surgery, but above all a long-standing friendship. Our generation laid the foundations of
modern laparoscopic surgery and we strongly believe that this art should be shared with the young new
surgeons entering the profession. Educating and inspiring young surgeons is vital to the future of
our field and is up to us to cultivate their curiosity and guide them.

EndoDubai is more than a congress, it is an international exhibition of science and technology, it is a
stimulus to meet old friends and make new ones, it is a modern Babel where everyone speaks the same
language and where knowledge flows and spreads without geographical boundaries.

So, I warmly welcome you to this extraordinary event and look forward to sharing knowledge and, above all,
moments of friendship. I look forward to seeing you all in Dubai.