The Dubai Economy confirmed that the Emirate of Dubai has a health care sector with international standards and an attractive infrastructure for international companies operating in the sector.
Data of the Dubai Investment Observatory issued by the Dubai Investment Development Corporation show that Dubai attracted 55 foreign direct investment projects in the healthcare, pharmaceutical and medical equipment sectors during the past five years, while the value of these projects amounted to about 3.82 billion dirhams.
It is also expected that Dubai's attractiveness in attracting foreign investments in various health sectors will be enhanced, after the Cabinet approved the start of applying the first positive list of economic activities available for foreign ownership by 100% in accordance with the law on foreign direct investment, which will be done by "Dubai Investment Development Corporation" during The coming period is near.
Pharmaceutical industries
The Dubai Economy said in a statement yesterday that the pharmaceutical and medical equipment sector is one of the main sectors in the "Dubai Industrial 2030 Strategy", which aims to make Dubai a global platform for businesses and industries based on knowledge, innovation and sustainability.
She pointed out that, in light of the spread and spread of the new Corona virus «Covid 19», the need has become more urgent than ever to improve the readiness of these sectors and enhance their capacity and potential, to face various challenges and emerging conditions, pointing to the extent of readiness and readiness of the health care sector in Dubai, and the UAE in general, After the country was ranked in the world in terms of medical examinations that were taken to contain the spread of the Corona epidemic.
Driving attention
The Dubai Economy confirmed that the medical industries sector in the UAE is receiving the attention of the leadership, especially in light of the current circumstances, as directed by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to start formulating the development strategy of the state for the post-stage « Covid-19 », and discussing the most important new changes and defining development goals at the local and federal levels, and also directed His Highness to prepare an urgent plan to raise the level of productivity and competitiveness of the medical industries sector in the country, and to form a working group headed by the Ministry of Energy and Industry for this purpose.
His Highness stressed that what is required from the new work teams is to work faster, more comprehensive, and more in response to accelerated daily changes, and that our national priorities need a review of the world after "Covid 19", and that our medical, food and economic security needs to be further established through new programs and projects that keep pace with the requirements of the next stage.
Health facilities
The Dubai Economy stated that the number of licensed health facilities in Dubai reached 3393 facilities, including 43 hospitals, 41 centers for one-day surgery, and 2056 additional clinics, including specialized clinics, comprehensive clinics, and medical centers.
As for the other facilities, such as pharmacies, drug stores, medical laboratories and photogrammetry centers, they numbered 1253, according to data from the registration and commercial licensing sector in the Dubai Economy.
The number of registered pharmaceutical factories in the Dubai Science Park has reached 19, which makes Dubai a global destination to attract companies working in the health care and medical tourism sector.
local production
According to the Dubai Economy, the pharmaceutical sector in Dubai contributes about 1% of the GDP of the manufacturing industries in the emirate, while the exports of medicines from Dubai during 2019, according to statistics of Dubai Customs, amounted to 437 million dirhams, re-exports of 2.8 billion dirhams, and the total trade in medicines in the year 2019 is about 16 billion dirhams.
The growth in drug exports has been very high in the past five years, at an average of over 50% annually.
international companies
According to Dubai’s economy, many foreign multinational companies work in the UAE’s pharmaceutical market, and most of the major research companies have a long-term presence in the country, either through contract manufacturing, or through local distribution arrangements, and one of the leading multinational companies is Pfizer. , And Novartis.
According to the Ministry of Health, the UAE is a regional headquarters for international companies working in this field (more than 90% of international companies have regional offices in the country, and more than 50% of them serve a region that extends to Africa and Eastern Europe). More than 5,000 employees work in these offices, 25% of whom serve all countries of the region, making the UAE a center for marketing its new innovative products as soon as they are approved by global health authorities.
Intellectual property
UAE legislation contributes to promoting intellectual property in the pharmaceutical field in order to protect public health and meet the country's needs in the field of research and development, making health products, medical devices and medicines available to all, and increasing appreciation to creators, innovators and scientists. The country's intellectual property system is strong by international standards.
Strategic ingredients for the pharmaceutical and medical equipment sector in the Emirates
- Demographic and economic factors that are considered conducive to drug consumption in the country.
The UAE is considered the most developed market in the Middle East for medicines.
The UAE is a strong market for the patented drug.
The domestic manufacturing activity in medicines increased significantly.
- The UAE has achieved a rate higher than the global and regional average in the risk / attractiveness index for the pharmaceutical sector.
Hosting the International Expo in 2021.
Export destinations
The Middle East includes the most important strategic markets for pharmaceutical products that are exported from Dubai, and they include: Lebanon (19%), Turkey (13%), Iraq (11%), Oman (10%), Egypt (9%), as the most important export destinations For pharmaceutical products during 2019.
The data indicate that during the same year exports of medical supplies went to various markets, the most important of which were China (9%), Egypt (9%), the United States (8%), Kuwait (7%), and India (7%).
• 3393 health facilities in Dubai, including 43 hospitals and 41 centers for one-day surgery.
• 16 billion dirhams, the total of Dubai's foreign trade in medicines during 2019.