The Emirates Drug Establishment welcomed the announcement by global pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk, which specializes in developing treatments for diabetes, obesity and rare diseases, selecting the United Arab Emirates to establish a regional distribution center. The center will be one of three main hubs through which the company manages the distribution of its products worldwide.

This choice reflects the advanced position the UAE has achieved in the pharmaceutical industries sector, as well as its ability to support modern supply chains. It also highlights the stable business environment and advanced logistics infrastructure the country provides, helping international companies ensure the continuity of their operations efficiently.

Novo Nordisk confirmed that its decision was based on the UAE’s investment, regulatory and logistics capabilities, in addition to confidence in its economic and operational environment, making it a suitable destination for managing medicine distribution operations on a regional and international scale.

The company also said it plans to establish a scientific office in the country and launch a program aimed at developing Emirati talent. This supports efforts to build national capabilities in the pharmaceutical sector and further strengthens the UAE’s role as a global platform for manufacturing and investment in this field.

According to the company, the UAE was chosen after comparative studies showed the country’s excellence in managing the medicine ecosystem, and its ability to bring together regulation, manufacturing, logistics services and data within an advanced operating model based on readiness and proactivity.

H.E. Saeed bin Mubarak Al Hajri, Minister of State and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Emirates Drug Establishment, said the move represents a significant shift in the UAE’s position within the global value chains of the pharmaceutical sector. He noted that the country’s role now goes beyond attracting investment to managing medicine flows and coordinating their routes at the regional and international levels.

He said pharmaceutical security is no longer linked to the health sector alone, but has become an important part of the national economic security system, especially amid the challenges facing supply chains around the world. He added that the UAE is working to develop an integrated model that connects investment, regulation and manufacturing, strengthening sustainability and reducing the impact of external disruptions.

Al Hajri also noted that attracting qualitative investments of this scale reflects the confidence of global companies in the UAE’s investment environment, which is marked by stability, efficiency and the ability to provide a data-driven operating model. This contributes to ensuring the continuity of supplies and reinforces the UAE’s position as a global hub for the pharmaceutical sector.

Novo Nordisk’s regional distribution center in the UAE is expected to play an important role in managing pharmaceutical flows. Through successive operational phases, it will serve a wide geographical scope covering up to 70 countries across the Arabian Gulf, Africa and Central Asia.

The center will also support access to treatments for more than 2.6 million patients within a population base exceeding one billion people, making it a major operational hub that links production sites in Europe, Asia and the Americas with regional markets.

The new project is not separate from the long-standing relationship between the company and the UAE. Novo Nordisk’s partnership with the country extends for more than four decades, giving this step an additional dimension built on trust and continued cooperation.

For her part, H.E. Dr. Fatima Al Kaabi, Director-General of the Emirates Drug Establishment, said the development witnessed by the pharmaceutical sector in the UAE reflects the maturity of the national ecosystem and its ability to absorb global investments and turn them into real added value for the national economy by connecting them to a stable operating environment that ensures efficiency and continuity.

She affirmed that attracting strategic projects of this kind strengthens the UAE’s position as a key hub for managing pharmaceutical flows regionally and globally. It also supports the sustainable availability of medicines and improves the quality of healthcare services provided to the community.

This step comes amid growing activity in the UAE’s pharmaceutical sector, with global investment institutions entering the market, multinational companies expanding their presence, and qualitative partnerships being activated. This indicates that the UAE has become a preferred destination for investments capable of managing operational complexity, not merely accessing markets.