The Congress, which is held every two years, brings together people from all around the world to debate pressing issues and encourage improvements around the world.

The historic 25th edition of the conference took place from December 5–9 with the focus on "Child and Adolescent Mental Health: Shaping the Future."

The 25th World Congress of the International Association for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Allied Professions (“IACAPAP 2022”) was held in Al Jalila Children's Specialty Hospital, the UAE's first and only specialised children's hospital, at the Dubai World Trade Centre.

IACAPAP 2022 was in line with the UAE National Strategy for Wellbeing 2031, which aims to elevate the country to the top of the globe in terms of quality of life through a number of tactical goals and programmes.

The event was the first IACAPAP World Congress to be held in the area in its 86-year history, which gave scientists and clinicians from around the world a forum to discuss the most recent findings, examine the problems that children and adolescents face today, and highlight cutting-edge innovations to help mental health.

The conference included CPD-accredited sessions led by some of the top experts in the field, including Professor Bruno Falissard, Head of Public Health and Mental Health Research Lab at Paris-Sud University, Professor Bennet L. Leventhal, Professor of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, and Professor Antonio Hardan, Chief Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Stanford University.

Pre-congress seminars took place on the first day of the event, with the ceremonial opening ceremony slated for December 6.

The congress featured 12 workshops, 15 keynote addresses, and more than 250 hours of symposium and lectures over a span of 5 days.

More than 300 experts from around the world participated in the Congress, which covered a variety of subjects, such as anxiety disorders, autism spectrum disorders, policy and advocacy, new technology to increase access to child and adolescent mental health treatments, as well as preventing mental disorders and boosting well-being.

The training also addressed current issues such as parental worries about parent-child interactions and the effects of Covid-19 on mental health. The meetings were attended by thousands of representatives from more than 85 nations.

The event's hosting by Dubai was another significant step in the emirate's efforts to promote mental health awareness in the area and further its aspirations to establish itself as a major centre for health tourism.