Abu Dhabi has made a significant advancement in specialized healthcare with the launch of a new platform aimed at enhancing diagnosis, treatment, research, and patient support for rare conditions. This initiative is centered around establishing the Rare Disease Excellence Center in Abu Dhabi, which unites public and private expertise to improve access to timely care and advance medical knowledge in one of the most challenging areas of healthcare.
Abu Dhabi’s health authority, AstraZeneca, and PureHealth have launched a rare disease center focused on diagnosis, treatment, research, and improving patients’ quality of life.
In a move aimed at reshaping rare-disease care in the UAE and beyond, the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi, AstraZeneca, and PureHealth signed a memorandum of understanding during the 2026 World Biotechnology Innovation Organization conference in San Diego to establish the Rare Disease Excellence Center in Abu Dhabi. The new center is intended to serve as a hub for diagnosis, treatment, follow-up care, scientific research, education, and patient support, with a particular focus on rare metabolic disorders, kidney diseases, and blood disorders.
Officials stated that the partnership is designed to close gaps in care for patients whose conditions are often difficult to identify and manage. By combining clinical expertise, advanced data capabilities, and research capacity, the partners aim to create a more connected model that supports earlier diagnosis and more personalized treatment pathways. The Rare Disease Excellence Center in Abu Dhabi is expected to help build stronger referral networks and improve access to specialized services across the emirate.
Shared Commitment to Faster Diagnosis and Better Outcomes
Dr. Asma Ibrahim Al Mannaei, Executive Director of the Health Life Sciences Sector at the department, stated that the initiative will help elevate rare-disease care while improving patients’ quality of life and supporting Abu Dhabi’s growing smart life sciences ecosystem. She added that the project reinforces the emirate’s position as a global center for life sciences innovation. “This initiative will contribute to elevating rare disease care and improving patients’ quality of life, thereby enhancing Abu Dhabi’s smart life sciences ecosystem and establishing the emirate as a leading global center for life sciences innovation.”
Samah El Fangary, President of AstraZeneca for the Gulf region, emphasized that the common goal is to ensure that patients can access care regardless of where they are in their journey. “Our shared goal is to ensure that all patients receive care, and that each patient gets the correct diagnosis as soon as possible and appropriate care for as long as they need it.”
Building a Stronger Model for Specialized Care
Shaysta Asif, Group Chief Executive Officer of PureHealth, remarked that the partnership reflects a broader effort to build advanced capabilities and a more integrated model of care for people living with rare diseases. She noted that the collaboration will help create the infrastructure necessary to support more effective specialized healthcare and contribute to the future of the sector. “We are moving towards establishing quality capabilities, a strong partnership, and an integrated model of care necessary to enhance the lives of patients living with rare diseases, thereby strengthening our footprint in the future of specialized healthcare.”
With this announcement, Abu Dhabi positions itself more firmly at the intersection of healthcare innovation, research, and patient-centered services. The launch of the Rare Disease Excellence Center in Abu Dhabi reflects a growing regional focus on precision medicine and collaborative care, while offering new hope to patients and families navigating complex and often overlooked conditions.