Dubai has established the Dubai Longevity Authority (DLA), a new regulatory body tasked with positioning the emirate as the world's foremost hub for longevity, wellness and advanced healthcare, following a law issued by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.
Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of The Executive Council, will serve as President of the DLA. Helal Saeed Almarri, Director General of the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism, has been appointed as its Chairman.
The authority is mandated to build a science-driven, risk-proportionate regulatory framework covering the full value chain of longevity-related therapies, from research and development and clinical trials through to manufacturing, delivery and patient care. It will license and supervise activities across each of these stages.
DLA has been launched in coordination with the Dubai Health Authority, Dubai Health, Dubai Municipality and Dubai Future Foundation, with all activities aligned to international standards.
The establishment of DLA directly supports the Dubai Economic Agenda D33 and the Dubai Social Agenda 33, which aim to place Dubai among the top three cities globally for quality of life and advance the emirate's standing in healthy life expectancy.
Almarri described the longevity and advanced health sector as one of the fastest-growing economic frontiers in the world, adding that the authority would deliver regulatory certainty to attract investment, industrial capability and specialised talent while enabling real technology and business model transfers into the economy.
Key focus areas for DLA include building frameworks for safe experimentation, attracting high-potential companies, drawing on global expertise and driving international collaboration through flagship events.
News Source: Emirates News Agency
