Emirates Drug Establishment Emphasises Strategic Readiness For UAE Pharmaceutical Sector Future

The Emirates Drug Establishment has closed its 2025 Board of Directors meetings by approving key directions for the coming years, confirming strategic priorities for innovation, sustainability and regulation across the UAE pharmaceutical and medical industries, while also reviewing progress against its 2024–2026 strategy roadmap.

During the sessions, the Board outlined a work plan for the next phase that aims to support sustainable healthcare systems, improve sector readiness, and expand research capacity, with a focus on strengthening local manufacturing and encouraging advanced technology adoption in medicine and pharmaceuticals.

Saeed bin Mubarak Al Hajeri, Minister of State and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Emirates Drug Establishment, stated that the Establishment has a central role in supporting leadership and sustainability of the national pharmaceutical sector by encouraging innovation, expanding partnerships, and reinforcing research and development activity.

Al Hajeri explained that the upcoming stage will require a more adaptable regulatory environment that can support domestic production, speed up development of new medical products, and stay aligned with the objectives of the "We the UAE 2031" vision for long-term national growth.

The Board underlined the need to adopt advanced technologies, including artificial intelligence and a wide range of digital solutions, to accelerate innovation cycles, raise efficiency in medicine regulation, and help deliver sustainable healthcare solutions in line with the UAE Strategy for Artificial Intelligence 2031.

Members also examined the main strategic development pillars designed to improve the preparedness of the pharmaceutical sector, taking into account supply resilience, regulatory responsiveness, and support for scientific research, while tracking the execution of the Emirates Drug Establishment’s 2024–2026 strategic plan.

Emirates Drug Establishment strategy and organisational progress

Dr. Fatima Al Kaabi, Director-General of the Emirates Drug Establishment, highlighted that the organisation is committed to a strategic vision that reinforces institutional leadership and increases the positive contribution of the pharmaceutical sector to public health outcomes and to the UAE national economy.

Al Kaabi pointed out that the Establishment has advanced regulatory frameworks, integrated new digital and analytical technologies, and supported sustainable manufacturing practices, ensuring alignment with the UAE national sustainability agenda and broader environmental and economic objectives across the healthcare system.

The meeting was chaired by Saeed bin Mubarak Al Hajeri and attended by Dr. Maha Taysir Barakat, Assistant Minister for Medical Affairs and Life Sciences at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Vice Chairman of the Board, along with Board members Dr. Fatima Al Kaabi, Essa Abdulfattah Kazim, Dr. Amer Ahmed Sharif, Professor Chris Evans, and Youth representative Ahmed Al Rumaithi, reflecting coordination between government, academia and youth in the Emirates Drug Establishment’s future direction.

With inputs from WAM