Abu Dhabi launches operations at its regional vaccine distribution hub
Located in KEZAD and operated by Rafed, a subsidiary of PureHealth, the hub was developed in collaboration with the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO), GSK, AD Ports Group, Etihad Cargo, and KEZAD Group. It is a cornerstone of the UAE's expanding life sciences ecosystem and is designed to improve vaccine access across the region. The hub leverages Abu Dhabi's strategic location, its advanced cold-chain logistics infrastructure, and a regulatory environment that is both agile and supportive of innovation. This hub reflects Abu Dhabi's model of cross-sector collaboration uniting government, biopharma, logistics, and innovation under one ecosystem.
The activation of the hub follows a strategic agreement signed between DoH and GSK during Abu Dhabi Global Healthcare Week in 2024 to establish regional vaccine distribution capabilities in the emirate. Now realized, the facility becomes GSK's first vaccine distribution centre in the Middle East and the fourth worldwide, further solidifying Abu Dhabi's role in supporting regional health security and global supply chain resilience.
The hub's activation also marks one of the first major operational milestones under HELM – Abu Dhabi's Life Science Cluster, which was officially launched in April 2025 during Abu Dhabi Global Health Week. As the emirate's flagship platform to drive life sciences investment, innovation, and global collaboration, HELM brings together government, industry, and academia to strengthen Abu Dhabi's position as a preferred global partner in precision health, pharmaceutical manufacturing, and biopharma logistics. The hub's integration under HELM demonstrates how Abu Dhabi is translating its life sciences vision into operational outcomes that drive regional impact.
H.E Dr. Noura Khamis Al Ghaithi, Undersecretary of the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi, said: 'The operational launch of Abu Dhabi's regional vaccine hub signals our readiness to serve the region with speed, precision, and reliability. More than a logistics milestone, this reflects our long-term vision to position Abu Dhabi as a trusted partner in global health where innovation and resilience translate into timely access and measurable public health impact. Through this hub, we are making vaccines more accessible to communities across borders and strengthening the UAE's leadership in preventive, future-ready healthcare.'
The facility will manage a portfolio of more than 20 vaccines, including those for paediatric and adult populations, supporting lifelong immunisation strategies across multiple markets. Designed for scalability, the hub can accommodate emerging vaccine technologies and increased regional demand, while maintaining the highest global quality and safety standards.
Boyd Chongphaisal, Vice President and General Manager, GSK Gulf, commented:
'The launch of our vaccine distribution hub in Abu Dhabi represents a shared commitment to health security, innovation, and access. Through our strategic partnership with DoH and local stakeholders, we are combining scientific excellence with operational strength to ensure timely, efficient delivery of vaccines across the region. The integration of this hub under HELM further demonstrates GSK's pioneering stance and alignment with Abu Dhabi's vision for driving impactful outcomes in the life sciences sector on a regional and global scale. This initiative is also a testament to Abu Dhabi's position in the global value chain, strengthening its role in global health and innovation.'
Rafed, the operator of the facility, has deployed advanced cold-chain and smart distribution technologies that preserve vaccine integrity and ensure end-to-end visibility throughout the logistics process. The hub is fully integrated with Etihad Cargo's PharmaLife network, which connects Abu Dhabi to more than 100 international destinations and offers time-sensitive, temperature-controlled freight services tailored for pharmaceutical products.
Mohammad Mustafa Saeed, Chief Executive Officer of Rafed added: 'As a PureHealth company, Rafed is committed to delivering healthcare excellence through world-class pharmaceutical logistics. The launch of this regional vaccine distribution hub is a tangible expression of our strategy to strengthen health systems, improve access, and build resilience across borders. By deploying advanced cold-chain and smart distribution technologies, we are enabling real-time, end-to-end visibility. We remain focused on supporting governments and health partners with confidence and reliability to achieve better health outcomes for communities from Abu Dhabi across the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia.'
The facility is expected to distribute millions of doses annually, shortening delivery timelines across the region and improving the integrity of vaccine supply.
Stanislas Brun, Chief Cargo Officer at Etihad Airways added: 'Etihad Cargo's participation in this initiative reflects our continued investment in healthcare logistics. Our network and specialised PharmaLife product play a critical role in transporting temperature-sensitive vaccines reliably and efficiently across the region. We are proud to support Abu Dhabi's vision of becoming a global leader in life sciences and supply chain excellence.'
The facility's activation significantly strengthens Abu Dhabi's life sciences value chain and supports the UAE's ambition to serve as a global hub for innovation-led, knowledge-based industries. Its operational readiness will help improve vaccine access, reduce delivery lead times, and address public health needs through a more proactive and resilient healthcare model.
Pharmaceutical manufacturers and partners interested in leveraging Abu Dhabi's vaccine logistics capabilities are invited to join HELM and explore opportunities through www.helm.ae. The hub is expected to expand in scale and scope as Abu Dhabi continues to invest in strengthening its global life sciences footprint.
About the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi (DoH):
The Department of Health – Abu Dhabi is the regulative body of the healthcare sector in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. Committed to ensuring excellence in healthcare, DoH monitors the health status of the population while shaping the regulatory framework for the health system. This includes inspecting against regulations, enforcing standards and encouraging the adoption of world-class best practices and performance targets by all healthcare providers in the Emirate. Abu Dhabi remains dedicated to shaping the future of healthcare by establishing an intelligent and sustainable ecosystem that prioritises health, longevity and quality of life for all community members. Leveraging state-of-the-art infrastructure and cutting-edge capabilities, DoH continues to develop and implement initiatives and programmes in line with its strategic focus areas, Healthy Population, Best-in-Class Care and Resilience and Innovation. These efforts reflect DoH's unwavering commitment to predicting, preventing and personalising healthcare for every individual.
For further information on DOH, visit https://www.doh.gov.ae/ and follow on X, Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn and YouTube.
For media inquiries, please contact:
Mariam Al Marzooqi,
msalmarzooqi@doh.gov.ae
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Arabian Business
8 hours ago
- Arabian Business
Ajman air quality index reaches 96.19% in first half of 2025
The Department of Municipality and Planning – Ajman has reported that the emirate's Air Quality Index (AQI) reached 96.19 per cent during the first half of 2025 According to the Emirates News Agency (WAM), which cited the environmental statistics released by the Department, the figure represents progress towards the Ajman Vision 2030 objectives to promote environmental sustainability. Dr Eng Khalid Moeen Al Hosani, Executive Director of the Public Health and Environment Sector at the Department, confirmed the index has increased compared to previous years. Ajman Reports air quality improvement as AQI climbs to 96.19 % The index has witnessed a significant increase compared to previous years, having recorded 94.40 per cent in the first half of 2024 and 93.48 per cent during the same period in 2023, Dr Eng Al Hosani said. He said the results confirm the effectiveness of the Department's environmental initiatives and the success of its plans to reduce air pollution and promote sustainability. Dr Eng Al Hosani noted the progress stems from continuous efforts and integrated planning, including the launch of several environmental projects and initiatives. The Environmental Compliance Programme represents the most notable initiative. The programme aims to enhance control over industrial facilities by requiring the submission of semi-annual reports assessing air pollution levels, thereby enhancing environmental compliance and enabling corrective actions where necessary. The Department has established a network of seven accredited air quality measurement stations in accordance with international standards and within the classification of the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment. Dr Eng Al Hosani indicated the Department seeks to increase the number of stations to 10 in the coming years to keep pace with urban growth in the emirate. All monitoring stations are connected to the Environmental Data Management Programme, a leading system locally and regionally, which enables the receipt of notifications, preparation of environmental reports and continuous air quality monitoring, Dr Eng Al Hosani stated. The stations are equipped with measuring devices to monitor environmental variables such as wind speed and direction, relative humidity and primary gases. Dr Eng Al Hosani emphasised that environmental efforts are ongoing, with the Department continuing to adopt local and international environmental practices. These initiatives contribute to enhancing the attractiveness of Ajman as a healthy and safe living environment, while supporting the UAE's broader objective of achieving carbon neutrality, he said.
Khaleej Times
8 hours ago
- Khaleej Times
Dubai: This summer camp offers people of determination safe space to interact since 1999
At an inclusive summer camp in Dubai for people of determination (POD), four-year old Nepalese boy Divyan Bajracharya, who has cerebral palsy, sits excitedly with other participants. Aided by his mother Ishwori, Divyan kicks the bowling ball and strikes down a few pins. Ecstatic with his first bowling experience, he conveys his joy through a lopsided grin and frantic hand gestures. Now, in its 26th year, this summer camp run by the Special Families Support Group (SFS) offers daytrips, community bonding to PODs and their family members. More than 100 participants are enrolled on the two-month camp held in July and August. Their first outing was attended by over 60 members. For Divyan and Ishwori, the day had started early. They first walked from their home in Bur Dubai to board the metro for an hour-long journey, culminating in a bus ride to reach the bowling centre. 'Divyan is very happy when he gets to go out. This summer camp experience along with the other SFS members feels like a family outing to me,' Ishwori, who is a single mother, shared with Khaleej Times. Stay up to date with the latest news. Follow KT on WhatsApp Channels. Next to Divyan, patiently awaiting his turn was Mubashir Bahadur, 24, who took a day off from work to be part of the camp's first outing. The Indian expat with autism, was accompanied by both his parents. His mom, Fauzia shared that he has been a regular at the camp for the past few years. 'Although my son does not communicate much with others, he feels a sense of security among the familiar group of people at the camp. Last year, he enjoyed visiting the Butterfly Park in Sharjah, the Chillout Ice Lounge, in Dubai, and the Museum of Future,' she added. Safe space First founded in 1999, by Dubai resident Gulshan Kavarana, SFS offers a supportive and safe space for people with special needs and their families. Kavarana recollects that their first summer camp began with just 35 members at the Jumeirah home of a patron called Jeroo Gupta. 'Many families struggle to entertain their PODs during the scorching summer months. Some prefer not to travel due to the unique needs of their loved ones. Recognising these challenges, we introduced the summer camp in 1999,' said Kavarana. Initially, the camp was held in homes and later in schools, but eventually she and her group members realised that PODs mostly enjoyed outdoor visits. Now, the camp primarily involves outings to well-known fun places in the UAE. A significant aspect of the camp hinges on the generosity of the community, who selflessly arrange free access to several venues enabling a memorable trip for not only the special needs individuals but also for their siblings and other family members. 'When we started the camp, there were no POD cards. We would request venues for free entry, and most would oblige. For many families the camp is the highlight of the summer in the UAE. Over the years, along with participants from Dubai, many others joined in from Sharjah and Ajman,' Kavarana noted. Muhammad Hamza, 30, from Pakistan with mild intellectual disability, had been counting days to attend the bowling event. He had his bag packed days before the trip so that he would not miss the bus that would take him from his home in Ajman to the bowling venue. 'The summer camp is a great opportunity for him to explore interesting places in the UAE that he would otherwise be unable to visit,' said his mother, Shameem Akhtar. Where will they go? This year, the camp participants are scheduled to visit the newly opened House of Hype, the Museum of Candy, the Museum of Illusions, Aya Universe, Arte Museum, the Dubai Dolphinarium, among several other leisure spots. Preparations for the summer camp begin in May when volunteers start sending emails to venues to arrange entry tickets. For the past four years a majority of the organisational work has been handled by SFS member, Sharan Anil. Despite battling health challenges associated with muscular dystrophy, Sharan sends emails and makes follow-up phone calls from his adjustable bed. 'As I am unable to sit for more than two to three hours at a stretch due to the pressure sores in my body, I cannot attend the summer camp. Yet helping out with its management gives me immense motivation and satisfaction,' Sharan shared. Each outing of the camp is an invaluable experience for all the PODs. Being part of a community and engaging in recreation activities is vital for their well-being. Besides improving their physical and mental health, it boosts their self-esteem and gives them a sense of belonging. At the bowling event, Pakistani expat Savita Kumar, a volunteer and mother of teenager Eshaan with autism, pointed out: 'Thanks to the camp, my son is happily engaged through the summer months and not sitting isolated at home. Most of all in this inclusive group, there is no judgement of anyone's behaviour; instead, there is incredible support for each individual's needs.'
The National
12 hours ago
- The National
Gaza's rescuers want to help the stricken but now they're 'too weak to stand'
In famished Gaza, the daily battle for survival is now shared by the very people who rush to save lives. The same rescuers who pull survivors from the rubble are fighting their own slow death from starvation, unable to find food or rest, operating on empty stomachs and pure willpower. Their patients, injured and weak, lie in makeshift hospital beds, denied even the basic nutrition their bodies need to heal. 'There is nothing in the markets. Not for civilians. Not for hospital workers. Not for ambulance officers or civil defence teams,' said Fares Afaneh, who oversees emergency and ambulance services in northern Gaza. 'Famine is hitting Gaza now with its most severe intensity,' he told The National, delivering his words with a steady urgency forged under fire and by desperation. As Gaza's health system collapses under relentless Israeli bombardment, famine has emerged as a silent killer, and its cruelty is indiscriminate. 'It's become normal now,' Mr Afaneh said. 'If no one brings us food, our medics survive their entire shifts on water. And when there is food, it's rice, if we're lucky.' Across Gaza, the connection between saviour and saved is brutally visible. It is a shared suffering, a mirror image of exhaustion, of skeletal arms and hollowed eyes, of men and women whose bodies are shutting down while duty compels them forward. More than 100 humanitarian organisations warned this week that their own colleagues in Gaza, as well as those they seek to serve, are 'wasting away' from mass hunger. News agencies AP, Reuters and AFP, as well as the BBC, said their reporters were 'increasingly unable to feed themselves and their families'. In March, Israeli troops killed 15 Palestinian emergency workers near their ambulance, in a shooting that drew international condemnation. Israel said a commander mistook them for Hamas militants due to 'poor night visibility'. Carers struggling Twenty days ago, 11-year-old Yousef Abu Shanab was playing beside his home in Gaza city when a quadcopter drone dropped a bomb near him. The explosion left shrapnel lodged in his spinal cord, paralysing the lower half of his body. Now, he lies still, not only paralysed but starving. His 20-year-old brother Wasim tries to care for him. 'He needs protein, calcium,' Wasim said. 'Anything to help his body fight, but there is nothing.' Yousef's fate is heartbreakingly common. Doctors know what he needs: surgical follow-up, rehabilitation and above all, nutrition, but Gaza offers none of these. The system designed to save him is itself on life support. Meanwhile, ambulance crews such as Mr Afaneh's risk their lives daily to reach patients like Yousef. But even these frontline stalwarts are falling. 'Three of my team members have already been hospitalised because of starvation,' Mr Afaneh said. 'They were too weak to continue. We had to give them IV fluids. How can we help others if we can't even stand?' In Al Shati Camp, 33-year-old Moamen Balha and his wife were struck by a shell while sheltering inside a tent. His injuries were serious, but survivable. What he didn't expect was how hard it would be to recover with nothing to eat. 'I need food to heal – protein, calcium, something to give me strength to walk again,' Mr Balha told The National. 'But there is nothing. This is a slow death.' The men who once would have rushed to help him – medics and emergency responders – are now in the same condition. Many are working 18-hour shifts or worse without food, without sleep, with no fuel for their ambulances and no certainty they'll make it home alive. Gaza's rescue workers are running on pure grit, and some have nothing left to give. 'It's not that they don't want to work,' Mr Afaneh said. 'It's that they physically cannot continue.' He supervises 20 officers. He says it plainly: 'I am powerless to provide what they need, even bread. We're under siege, forgotten. This is not just neglect. It's a crime.' In another part of Gaza, Osama Abdullah, 30, watches his daughter fade. She suffered a spinal fracture from an air strike and needs surgery, but the medical system cannot help her. She also needs something simpler: food. 'She cries from the pain of her injury, and from hunger,' Mr Abdullah said. 'I can't even find her bread. Her healing is impossible like this.' He dreams of getting her out of Gaza, but for now, he shares the same fate as the paramedics and the wounded across the strip: helplessness. There are no safe zones in Gaza, where hunger has not just blurred the line between rescuer and rescued, but erased it. Paramedics are collapsing before they can reach the injured. The injured are dying slowly because there is no food to power their recovery. Parents, doctors, children and civil defence workers are trapped in a cycle of suffering that deepens each day. Mr Afaneh issued a final plea, not just as a commander but as a human being: 'We hold the international community responsible. Our medics, our injured, our people, they need support, they need food, they need medicine. And they need it now.'
