The UAE is primed to become a powerhouse of medical research and innovation on the international stage and could lead the way in new developing new vaccines against deadly diseases, a leading US health expert has said.
One year on from a £1 billion ($1.38bn) UAE investment deal into Britain’s life sciences industry, the focus has shifted to the emerging ambitions of the Emirates to compete on the global stage.
In 2021, Abu Dhabi doubled its capabilities to develop scientific and clinical research.
More research projects were conducted in 2021 than in the previous five years by the Department of Health Abu Dhabi.
The UAE has shown it can provide universities, hospitals and research facilities at efficient prices in a thriving, growing region
Peter Pitts,
president of the Centre for Medicine in the Public Interest
Peter Pitts, a former FDA associate commissioner and president of the Centre for Medicine in the Public Interest, a New York-based non-profit think tank, said it showed the UAE is an emerging force in the area of biopharmaceuticals.
“I can see the Emirates becoming not just a regional hub for this kind of research, but an international centre,” he said.
“The UAE has shown it can provide universities, hospitals and research facilities at efficient prices in a thriving, growing region — so it can become a life science centre for the world, not just the Gulf.
“It is not just a concept, and major companies will go where opportunities exist.
“By conducting trials and developmental science, the UAE could become the intellectual capital of the region, so there is a real opportunity here.”
The Department of Health's Research Registry for Covid-19, established as a unified platform to support global R&D efforts to combat the virus, received more than 376 scientific papers in 2021 and 67 Abu Dhabi facilities were licensed for healthcare research.
The UAE recorded a series of firsts during the pandemic in the area of life sciences as new Covid-19 drugs were fast-tracked.
Abu Dhabi was the first city in the world to receive the GlaxoSmithKline (GSK)-made Sotrovimab, a monoclonal antibody treatment delivered through intravenous therapy.
The drug was used to keep those most at risk of developing serious illness from Covid-19 out of hospital.
It was also the first destination for AstraZeneca’s Evusheld, which generates antibodies for patients who have low immunity due to a medical condition or immunity conditions.
In addition, a strategic partnership was announced with Swiss drug maker Roche to adopt casirivimab and imdevimab for the prevention and treatment of mild to moderate Covid symptoms.
UAE to become vaccination production hub
The rapid development of messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccines that teach cells how to trigger an immune response proved one of the most successful breakthroughs during the pandemic, said Mr Pitts.
“This new mRNA technology will take us very far, very quickly in a huge variety of diseases not considered curable,” he said, on the sidelines of the Duphat pharmaceutical conference in Dubai.
“We are close to a HIV vaccine and certain types of cancers will also be eradicated through new vaccine technology.
“Once you have an mRNA vaccine facility, it is faster, safer and cheaper than other methods of vaccine production and it can be applied against a broader spectrum of diseases.
“The problem is retooling the entire vaccine industry and that is expensive and will take a long time.”
In April 2021, the UAE became the first Arab country to begin manufacturing a Covid-19 vaccine with Hayat-Vax, a joint collaboration between Sinopharm CNBG and Abu Dhabi’s G42.
Mr Pitt said the UAE is well placed to build on that to transform the country into a vaccination production hub.
That has created an opportunity for countries like the UAE that have not played a role in the vaccine industry before, which can create a vaccine facility from the ground up, he said.
“There is no reason why the UAE cannot become a global leader in vaccine technology.
“The health ecosystem here is predictable and has continuity of leadership. They can do it better and cheaper in the UAE than anywhere else.”
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League final:
Who: Real Madrid v Liverpool
Where: NSC Olimpiyskiy Stadium, Kiev, Ukraine
When: Saturday, May 26, 10.45pm (UAE)
TV: Match on BeIN Sports
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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ESSENTIALS
The flights
Emirates flies from Dubai to Phnom Penh via Yangon from Dh2,700 return including taxes. Cambodia Bayon Airlines and Cambodia Angkor Air offer return flights from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap from Dh250 return including taxes. The flight takes about 45 minutes.
The hotels
Rooms at the Raffles Le Royal in Phnom Penh cost from $225 (Dh826) per night including taxes. Rooms at the Grand Hotel d'Angkor cost from $261 (Dh960) per night including taxes.
The tours
A cyclo architecture tour of Phnom Penh costs from $20 (Dh75) per person for about three hours, with Khmer Architecture Tours. Tailor-made tours of all of Cambodia, or sites like Angkor alone, can be arranged by About Asia Travel. Emirates Holidays also offers packages.
The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
Price, base / as tested: Dh182,178
Engine: 3.7-litre V6
Power: 350hp @ 7,400rpm
Torque: 374Nm @ 5,200rpm
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
Fuel consumption, combined: 10.5L / 100km
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MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW
Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman
Director: Jesse Armstrong
Rating: 3.5/5
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
More on Quran memorisation:
GAC GS8 Specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh149,900
Manchester City 4
Otamendi (52) Sterling (59) Stones (67) Brahim Diaz (81)
Real Madrid 1
Oscar (90)
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
HUNGARIAN GRAND PRIX RESULT
1. Sebastian Vettel, Ferrari 1:39:46.713
2. Kimi Raikkonen, Ferrari 00:00.908
3. Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes-GP 00:12.462
4. Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes-GP 00:12.885
5. Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing 00:13.276
6. Fernando Alonso, McLaren 01:11.223
7. Carlos Sainz Jr, Toro Rosso 1 lap
8. Sergio Perez, Force India 1 lap
9. Esteban Ocon, Force India 1 lap
10. Stoffel Vandoorne, McLaren 1 lap
11. Daniil Kvyat, Toro Rosso 1 lap
12. Jolyon Palmer, Renault 1 lap
13. Kevin Magnussen, Haas 1 lap
14. Lance Stroll, Williams 1 lap
15. Pascal Wehrlein, Sauber 2 laps
16. Marcus Ericsson, Sauber 2 laps
17r. Nico Huelkenberg, Renault 3 laps
r. Paul Di Resta, Williams 10 laps
r. Romain Grosjean, Haas 50 laps
r. Daniel Ricciardo, Red Bull Racing 70 laps
If you go
The flights
Emirates flies from Dubai to Seattle from Dh5,555 return, including taxes.
The car
Hertz offers compact car rental from about $300 (Dh1,100) per week, including taxes. Emirates Skywards members can earn points on their car hire through Hertz.
The national park
Entry to Mount Rainier National Park costs $30 for one vehicle and passengers for up to seven days. Accommodation can be booked through mtrainierguestservices.com. Prices vary according to season. Rooms at the Holiday Inn Yakima cost from $125 per night, excluding breakfast.
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
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The specs
Engine: 3.8-litre, twin-turbo V8
Transmission: eight-speed automatic
Power: 582bhp
Torque: 730Nm
Price: Dh649,000
On sale: now
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Director: Laxman Utekar
Cast: Vicky Kaushal, Akshaye Khanna, Diana Penty, Vineet Kumar Singh, Rashmika Mandanna
Rating: 1/5
Fatherland
Kele Okereke
(BMG)
The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
