EMIRATES DRUG ESTABLISHMENT AND ARCERA SIGN AGREEMENT TO ADVANCE PHARMACEUTICAL MANUFACTURING IN THE UAE
The partnership establishes a framework to strengthen local manufacturing, develop talent, and support long-term supply resilience.
ABU DHABI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES, MAY 5, 2026 – The Emirates Drug Establishment (“EDE”) and Arcera Life Sciences (“Arcera”) today announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen pharmaceutical manufacturing capabilities in the UAE. Signed at Make it in the Emirates, taking place May 4-7, 2026 at ADNEC Centre Abu Dhabi, the agreement establishes a framework for collaboration across local manufacturing, talent development, research and innovation, and the strategic supply of medical products.
Under the MoU, both parties will work together to advance capacity building and Emiratization within the UAE’s pharmaceutical sector. This includes training programs, technical exchanges, workshops, and industry initiatives aimed at equipping Emirati talent with the skills required for advanced manufacturing environments.
The partnership also supports efforts to expand local manufacturing capacity and attract investment into the sector. In parallel, the collaboration will contribute to strengthening the UAE’s strategic stockpile of medical products, supporting continuity of supply and national preparedness across critical healthcare needs.
As part of the agreement, Arcera will sponsor key initiatives led by the Emirates Drug Establishment and contribute to programs that strengthen the pharmaceutical manufacturing sector. This includes establishing training pathways within its manufacturing facilities to support workforce readiness and future employment.
Commenting on the partnership, Isabel Afonso, CEO of Arcera, said: “Developing pharmaceutical capability requires sustained coordination across institutions and industry. We are honoured to partner with the Emirates Drug Establishment on this collaboration. Strengthening system resilience in healthcare depends on building the right foundations, from local manufacturing capacity to a skilled workforce and reliable access to essential therapies. This partnership allows us to translate those priorities into tangible impact for patients and communities we serve.”
Now in its fifth year, Make it in the Emirates has become a key platform for advancing the UAE’s industrial agenda. The event brings together government, industry leaders, and investors to drive partnerships and investment.
Visit Arcera at Make it in the Emirates, at the L’IMAD pavilion in Hall 13
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About Arcera Life Sciences
Arcera Life Sciences is a global life sciences company headquartered in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Our purpose is to enable longer and healthier lives while creating sustainable growth. We develop, manufacture, and commercialize a broad range of innovative and proven medicines in key international markets. With a large footprint reaching patients in over 90 markets, and manufacturing and packaging facilities in eight countries, we offer more than 2,000 medicines across various therapeutic areas worldwide. Arcera was established by ADQ, an active sovereign investor with a focus on critical infrastructure and global supply chains, to realize Abu Dhabi’s ambition as a global leader in innovative and sustainable healthcare. To learn more about Arcera, visit www.arceralifesciences.com