The UAE is laying the groundwork for the Middle East's next phase of biopharma growth, with national investment in genomics, artificial intelligence (AI) and advanced manufacturing reshaping how medicines are discovered, developed and produced.
This is according to "From Discovery to Delivery: The Technologies Reshaping Global Biopharma", the first in a new series of reports by World Health Expo (WHX) and Frost & Sullivan. The report forecasts growth of more than 10 percent for precision medicine in the region over the next five to seven years.
The Emirati Genome Program aims to collect one million genetic samples, while the UAE Reference Genome study is analysing more than 50,000. Abu Dhabi's Health, Endurance, Longevity and Medicine cluster is projected to attract more than AED42 billion in investment and create about 30,000 jobs by 2045.
Localisation of drug manufacturing is also gaining priority, with the 2025 launch of Mubadala Bio. In the same year, Insilico Medicine's Abu Dhabi centre nominated the UAE's first fully AI-discovered preclinical candidates for oncology and non-opioid pain.
Aarti Chitale of Frost & Sullivan said growing local genomic datasets could help countries move beyond adopting foreign technologies to building homegrown therapies and disease models that reflect regional populations. Frost & Sullivan valued the Middle East and Africa pharmaceutical market at US$58.66 billion in 2025, or 3.6 percent of the global total.
The report arrives as WHX widens its focus. WHX 2027 will introduce a Pharma Zone alongside new Biotech and Longevity and Wellness zones. The event runs from January 25 to 28, 2027, across Dubai Exhibition Centre at Expo City Dubai and Dubai World Trade Centre, with more than 90,000 attendees expected.
News Source: Emirates News Agency
