Mubadala Bio, Eli Lilly to Launch Pharmaceutical Operations in Abu Dhabi
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Abu Dhabi-based Mubadala Bio and US pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly have agreed to set up local packaging and logistics operations for two weight-management medicines in Abu Dhabi. The agreement, announced on Tuesday, will be based at a 125,000-square-meter site in Khalifa Economic Zones Abu Dhabi (KEZAD).
The partnership aims to support Mubadala Bio’s contract manufacturing and distribution activities. The operations will focus on Lilly’s GLP-1 medicines, including Mounjaro and Foundayo. The implementation will occur in phases, pending necessary approvals.
The announcement was made during the Abu Dhabi Future Health Summit 2026, which took place from October 20 to 22. The summit covered various healthcare topics, including pharmaceutical supply chains, clinical research, AI-enabled drug discovery, and preventive healthcare.
Hamad Almarzooqi, Mubadala Bio’s group deputy CEO, and Nabil Daoud, Lilly’s president and general manager for the Intercontinental Hub, formally announced the partnership at the summit.
The UAE approved Foundayo for chronic weight management in April 2026, making it the second country to register the treatment. Mounjaro entered the UAE market in August 2022.
Additionally, the Department of Health–Abu Dhabi (DoH), Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, and AstraZeneca have agreed to assess the feasibility of conducting up to 30 clinical trials in the emirate by 2030. The proposed research will focus on cardiovascular, renal, and metabolic diseases. The collaboration could generate an estimated $50 million in life sciences research investment by 2030. The first six trials are expected to begin at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi before the end of 2026.
CONTEXT: The partnership between Mubadala Bio and Eli Lilly is significant as it strengthens Abu Dhabi's position as a hub for pharmaceutical manufacturing and logistics in the Middle East. The collaboration with AstraZeneca further enhances the emirate's role in clinical research and life sciences, potentially attracting more investment and expertise to the region.
