GPCA cancels Dubai meeting in February on worsening health situation

LONDON (ICIS)–The Gulf Petrochemical Association (GPCA) annual meeting planned for February has been cancelled as the coronavirus pandemic worsens globally, the industry group said on Monday.

In the past week, coronavirus cases in the UAE have risen sharply, although the country has for the most part kept the pandemic at bay.

The GPCA meeting was due to be held in Dubai, one of the UAE’s seven emirates.

The meeting to be held in February in Dubai had been postponed from December 2020.

Cases in Europe have also risen sharply, and countries like the UK and Germany are currently experiencing the worst weeks of the pandemic so far.

At the beginning of December, a GPCA spokesperson told ICIS the February event was likely to go ahead.

“With a turbulent 2020 behind us, efforts to deal with the Covid-19 pandemic continue to be of utmost importance and the health and safety of our employees, partners and friends remains our top priority,” said GPCA.

“After careful consideration, in order to safeguard the citizens and guests of the UAE, we have decided to cancel the Annual Forum scheduled from 10-11 February.”