Abu Dhabi: The Department of Health - Abu Dhabi (DoH) and Abbott, a global healthcare leader, have entered into a significant partnership during the BIO International Convention held in Boston, USA. The collaboration aims to localize the manufacturing of pharmaceuticals in Abu Dhabi and promote digital health solutions.
According to Emirates News Agency, this agreement leverages Abu Dhabi's advanced life sciences infrastructure, showcasing the emirate's commitment to reducing dependency on imports and strengthening supply chain resilience. The initiative is designed to foster a sustainable and self-sufficient healthcare ecosystem within the region.
Dr. Noura Al Ghaithi, Undersecretary of the Department of Health - Abu Dhabi, highlighted the emirate's readiness following the recent launch of the Health, Endurance, Longevity and Medicine (HELM) Cluster. She noted that the collaboration with Abbott aligns with the strategic vision to accelerate the development and deployment of innovative healthcare products, enhancing healthcare outcomes and ensuring timely access to breakthrough therapies.
The strategic collaboration focuses on four key pillars: the localization of Abbott's pharmaceutical portfolio, the development of biosimilars, digital transformation through electronic patient information leaflets, and a comprehensive education and workforce development initiative.
Mazen Bachir, Regional Director for Abbott's established pharmaceuticals business in the Gulf, Emerging Markets and Levant, expressed pride in the partnership aimed at advancing healthcare resilience and innovation in Abu Dhabi. The collaboration seeks to localize existing pharmaceutical products and explore biosimilar development, supported by regulatory alignment. It also aims to digitize life science product information in line with the UAE's digital health strategy and develop education programs to build local capabilities.
A high-level delegation led by DoH is on a strategic mission to the United States from June 15th to 21st, 2025. This mission includes over 20 strategic meetings and visits with public and private sector leaders across the US, focusing on knowledge exchange, investment opportunities, and the signing of new agreements to accelerate the adoption of advanced health solutions.
The delegation represents Abu Dhabi's innovation ecosystem and includes key stakeholders such as the Abu Dhabi Investment Office, Mubadala BIO, M42, Masdar City, KEZAD, PureHealth, Etihad Cargo, New York University Abu Dhabi (NYUAD), Khalifa University, startAD, and Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI).