Under the patronage of HH Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al-Maktoum Crown Prince Of Dubai and Chairman of Dubai executive council, Emirates Down Syndrome Association is hosting the World Down Syndrome Congress (WDSC) 2020, which will be held in the Dubai World Trade Center in November 2020. This is the first event of its kind to be held in the Middle East and North Africa. In a global phenomenon, the WDSC will bring together an anticipated 1,200 delegates including people with Down syndrome, their families and advocates, experts, specialists experts, specialists and researchers in the field of Down syndrome.

The congress will discuss significant developments and quality research in recent years in key areas of global relevance to people with Down syndrome. Topics of interest will include health, education, employment, sports, recreation and leisure. Focus will be on human rights based issues (in line with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of People with Disability (UNCRPD)) such as ensuring adequate standard of living, social protection, legal recognition, social and cultural inclusion and the right to live an independent life.