UAE launches major initiative to boost pharmaceutical manufacturing

Saeed bin Mubarak Al Hajeri, minister of state and chairman of the board of directors of the Emirates Drug Establishment, officially launched on Monday the Emirates Drug Establishment at the World Health Expo 2026, according to the state-run WAM news agency.

The launch took place during the World Health Expo 2026, also known as WHX 2026, in Dubai, a major global trade and conference hub in the United Arab Emirates.

The event was attended by Ahmed Ali Al Sayegh, minister of health and prevention; Fatima Al Kaabi, director general of the Emirates Drug Establishment; and senior leaders from the health sector, WAM reported.

According to WAM, the launch marks a new phase in regulating and developing the pharmaceutical and medical sector, with a focus on institutional coordination to advance the establishment’s strategic objectives.

During a tour of the establishment’s platform under the “Emirates Health” pavilion, Al Hajeri reviewed national projects presented by the establishment, WAM said.

The projects are aimed at strengthening pharmaceutical security, supporting innovation, advancing the national pharmaceutical model and ensuring the sustainability of medical products, according to the agency.

WAM said the initiatives also seek to enhance the UAE’s pharmaceutical industrial capacity and competitiveness and encourage specialized research and development of medical products inside the country.

Among the projects showcased was the Holistic National Manufacturing Project, described as a strategic initiative to develop the national pharmaceutical ecosystem, strengthen manufacturing capabilities and ensure long-term sustainability of medical product supply chains across the UAE.

According to WAM, the project provides a national framework to localize production of advanced medicines and human medical products, as well as veterinary and agricultural products, agricultural inputs and fertilizers, within a unified system.

The system integrates regulation, manufacturing, oversight and quality and supports the “One Health” approach linking human, animal and environmental health, WAM said.

The project prioritizes a fully integrated industrial infrastructure across the pharmaceutical value chain, from active ingredients and raw materials to manufacturing, packaging, labeling, storage and distribution, in line with internationally recognized regulatory standards, according to the agency.

Dr Ruqaya Al Bastaki, from the Medical Products Regulation Sector, said the integrated manufacturing project aligns regulatory and industrial efforts while promoting domestic production to international standards.

“It ensures continuity in supply chains and boosts the overall efficiency of the national pharmaceutical ecosystem,” Al Bastaki was quoted as saying.

She said the project would strengthen manufacturing capacity, increase supply chain resilience and ensure sustainable availability of medical products, reinforcing the UAE’s position as a regional and global hub for advanced pharmaceutical manufacturing.

The Emirates Drug Establishment said the project is part of a broader package of national initiatives to bolster pharmaceutical security, support localization of vital industries and build a sustainable national pharmaceutical system.

According to the establishment, 37 facilities have so far been licensed to produce human pharmaceutical and medical products.