Abu Dhabi, UAE – In a strategic move to enhance the Emirate’s capabilities in clinical research and pharmaceutical innovation, the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi (DoH) and the Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Unilabs Pharma Solutions, a subsidiary of global diagnostics leader Unilabs. The collaboration was announced during Abu Dhabi Global Healthcare Week 2025 (ADGHW), reinforcing Abu Dhabi’s position as a global life sciences hub.
The agreement paves the way for the development of a state-of-the-art analytical laboratory, set to become a cornerstone of the Emirate’s Health, Endurance, Longevity, and Medicine (HELM) cluster — a newly launched ecosystem dedicated to advancing biotechnology, MedTech, and digital health solutions.
The MoU was formalized in the presence of H.E. Dr. Noura Khamis Al Ghaithi, Undersecretary of DoH, and Carsten Hojlund, Group CFO at Unilabs. It was signed by Dr. Asma Ibrahim Al Mannaei, Executive Director of the Health Life Sciences Sector at DoH; Mohammed Daoud, Cluster General Manager of Unilabs Middle East; and Dr. Fatma Al Mulla, Head of the HELM Cluster at ADIO.
This tri-party initiative aims to accelerate drug development, clinical trials, and screening capabilities in line with Abu Dhabi’s ambition to drive responsible innovation in healthcare, both regionally and globally.
“Abu Dhabi is strategically investing in life sciences, transformative technologies, and innovative diagnostics to elevate healthcare outcomes and drive sustainable growth,” said Dr. Asma Ibrahim Al Mannaei. “This analytical lab exemplifies our proactive vision to build a resilient, adaptable healthcare ecosystem that meets the needs of tomorrow’s communities.”
The new lab will be equipped with advanced pharmaceutical analysis technologies and is expected to be developed as a greenfield project. It is designed to generate high-value intellectual property, create skilled jobs, and promote supply chain localisation. The initiative is also anticipated to attract greater investment into Abu Dhabi’s health infrastructure.
“This partnership demonstrates how we are embedding advanced capabilities across the life sciences value chain,” said Dr. Fatma Al Mulla of ADIO. “By investing in early-stage analytical infrastructure, Abu Dhabi is laying the foundation for impactful IP, talent development, and long-term economic returns.”
Unilabs, entering the Middle East pharmaceutical space for the first time, sees this collaboration as a springboard for further growth in the region.
“We are proud to contribute to this transformative project,” said Mohammed Daoud, Cluster GM of Unilabs Middle East. “With our accredited lab testing, pharma tech expertise, and commitment to talent development, we aim to help Abu Dhabi become a regional hub for drug development and clinical research.”
