The Department of Health – Abu Dhabi (DoH) has collaborated with global pharmaceutical company MSD (Merck & Co., Inc.) to explore the feasibility of establishing a regional logistics hub within Abu Dhabi’s Health, Endurance, Longevity, and Medicine (HELM) Cluster.
The initiative comes as healthcare systems globally continue to focus on strengthening supply chain efficiency, improving access to medicines, and enhancing the delivery of healthcare products across regional markets.
Subject to the completion of implementation activities and required approvals, the proposed MSD hub is expected to support the distribution of a broad portfolio of pharmaceutical products across a number of countries in the region.
The proposed logistics hub strengthens regional supply chain capabilities while supporting access to innovative therapies. The facility would also provide infrastructure to support the commercialization and distribution of healthcare products and future medical innovations across regional markets.
The collaboration reflects the alignment between Abu Dhabi’s healthcare and regulatory ecosystem and the operational requirements of global pharmaceutical companies seeking to strengthen supply chain networks and improve product distribution capabilities.
Dr. Noura Khamis Al Ghaithi, Undersecretary of the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi, said that, ” 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 is also expected to support the development of more efficient supply chain operations by providing MSD with access to Abu Dhabi’s established logistics and distribution infrastructure.
DoH stated that the collaboration demonstrates the convergence between Abu Dhabi’s supportive regulatory environment and the strategic requirements of international partners seeking to strengthen supply chain resilience and improve operational efficiency.
The proposed facility would contribute to the development of a connected distribution network capable of serving multiple markets across the region.
Ashraf Mallak, Managing Director of MSD Gulf Countries, Libya, and Egypt, remarked that, “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.”
The announcement was made during Abu Dhabi’s participation at the BIO International Convention 2026, where the emirate is showcasing developments across its life sciences ecosystem.
