Department of Health – Abu Dhabi Announces Partnership with MSD to Advance Operational Excellence and Expand Access across the Region

25 Jun, 2026:

As healthcare systems worldwide seek more resilient and efficient pathways to deliver innovative medicines, the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi (DoH) has announced a collaboration with global pharmaceutical leader MSD (Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, New Jersey, USA) to explore the feasibility of establishing a logistics hub in Abu Dhabi’s Health, Endurance, Longevity, and Medicine (HELM) Cluster. This important hub is intended to strengthen regional medical supply chain security and resilience, while aiming to accelerate access to innovative health solutions, further highlighting Abu Dhabi as a resilient, future-ready life sciences hub.

Subject to the completion of implementation activities and applicable approvals, the MSD regional hub is expected to support the distribution of a broad portfolio of products across a number of regional markets. Beyond strengthening regional supply chain resilience, the hub is designed to improve access to innovative therapies and create the infrastructure required to support the commercialization and scaling of next-generation health innovations across the region.

The agreement reflects Abu Dhabi's position as a strategic gateway for life sciences innovation and contributes to the emirate's intelligent life sciences ecosystem, where discovery, development, manufacturing and healthcare implementation come together within a single environment to accelerate impact at scale.

H.E. Dr. Noura Khamis Al Ghaithi, Undersecretary of the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi, said: “Scientific breakthroughs are emerging faster than ever, yet their ability to improve lives ultimately depends on how quickly and safely they reach the patients who need them. In Abu Dhabi, we have built a fully integrated model for intelligent life sciences, connecting advanced research, population genomics, resilient infrastructure and world-class distribution pathways within a single connected ecosystem. MSD’s intention to establish its regional hub in Abu Dhabi reflects the strength of this environment and the emirate’s role as a trusted partner for global healthcare leaders. For patients across the region, this milestone brings life-saving therapies closer. For the world, it reinforces Abu Dhabi’s readiness to scale health innovation and impact globally.”

The collaboration demonstrates the convergence between Abu Dhabi’s supportive regulatory environment and the strategic requirements of global partners seeking to eliminate supply chain vulnerabilities. Through this alliance, MSD gains direct access to a highly connected, advanced distribution ecosystem, cementing the emirate’s role as a secure, regional launch market for next-generation medical solutions.

Ashraf Mallak, Managing Director MSD Gulf Countries, Libya and Egypt, said: “This planned collaboration reflects our shared ambition to strengthen healthcare systems across the region. By combining MSD’s global expertise with Abu Dhabi’s advanced ecosystem, we aim to enhance resilience and improve how innovation reaches patients. Together, we are working to accelerate access to life changing therapies and support better health outcomes for the communities we serve.”

The announcement forms part of Abu Dhabi's participation at BIO International Convention 2026, where the emirate is showcasing its intelligent life sciences ecosystem and partnerships across genomics, gene editing, AI-enabled health innovation, advanced therapeutics and rare disease.

Representing the breadth of Abu Dhabi's health, investment and innovation ecosystem, DoH's high-level delegation to the United States includes stakeholders from Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO), M42, Hub71, New York University Abu Dhabi, Masdar City, Khalifa University, KEZAD, Hub71, PureHealth, Mubadala Bio, Arcera and Institute for Healthier Living Abu Dhabi.

A key enabler of the emirates intelligent life sciences ecosystem is Abu Dhabi Investment Office’s (ADIO) Health, Endurance, Longevity and Medicine (HELM) Cluster, which connects research, investment, commercialisation and healthcare implementation within a single ecosystem. By bringing together innovators, investors, industry and healthcare stakeholders, HELM helps translate scientific discovery into real-world impact more efficiently and at greater scale.