At Make it in the Emirates 2026, Abu Dhabi’s new agreement with Japanese partners on advanced therapies highlighted how quickly the emirate is moving to strengthen the foundations needed for next-generation healthcare.

That conversation inevitably leads to the newly launched Abu Dhabi Biobank, developed through a strategic partnership between Department of Health – Abu Dhabi and M42. While biobanks have traditionally been viewed as research support systems, Abu Dhabi is positioning this one as something far more strategic, linking biospecimens, genomic sequencing, clinical records and real-world health data to power precision medicine, advanced therapies and preventative healthcare.

The broader ambition is to shorten the path between scientific discovery and real-world treatment while building the foundations of a stronger life sciences ecosystem in Abu Dhabi.

Speaking to Gulf Business on the sidelines of the event, Paul Downey, GM Abu Dhabi Biobank, explains why biobanking is increasingly being treated as national healthcare infrastructure, how the Japan partnership could support local manufacturing of advanced therapies, and why Abu Dhabi believes its diverse population data can give it a meaningful edge in global healthcare innovation.

Abu Dhabi is positioning the Abu Dhabi Biobank as more than a research tool. Why is biobanking now being treated as long-term national infrastructure for healthcare?

Modern biobanking is no longer a support function behind research. It is foundational infrastructure for healthcare systems seeking to advance precision medicine, preventive care, and next-generation therapeutics. To understand disease at a population level, countries need biobanks that operate at scale, with strong governance and deep integration across healthcare systems.

Developed through a strategic partnership between the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi (DoH) and M42, the Abu Dhabi Biobank is more than a repository of samples. We are creating a nationally governed platform that connects biological materials with genomic, clinical, and real-world data. This enables researchers, clinicians, and industry partners to move more efficiently from discovery to application. In this model, a biobank becomes a strategic national asset that strengthens healthcare delivery, supports scientific advancement, and drives growth across the life sciences ecosystem.

Countries that lead the next era of healthcare will be those investing early in this kind of capability. Abu Dhabi recognizes that long-term leadership depends on building the infrastructure that enables better science and ultimately better patient outcomes.

The biobank links biological samples with genomic, clinical and lifestyle data. What diseases or health challenges do you expect it to impact first — cancer, rare diseases, diabetes, organ transplants, or preventative healthcare?

The earliest and most immediate impact will likely be in chronic, non-communicable diseases, where the regional burden is high and precision-based approaches have the potential to meaningfully improve outcomes. However, the value of Abu Dhabi Biobank extends far beyond any single disease area. Its infrastructure is designed to support a wide range of health challenges through a more intelligent and data-driven approach.

In oncology, rare diseases, transplant research, and prevention healthcare, integrating biospecimens with genomic and clinical data enables more precise diagnosis and better insight into local disease patterns and the development of more targeted interventions.

While some areas are likely to advance more quickly than others, the larger shift is far more significant. Abu Dhabi is building the capability to move beyond healthcare models based on generalized assumptions drawn from other populations and instead develop strategies and prevention approaches informed by the realities of its own diverse population. That is where meaningful long-term impact begins, and where true healthcare transformation becomes possible.

Abu Dhabi recently signed an agreement with Japanese partners at Make it in the Emirates 2026 focused on advanced therapies. How does that partnership help shorten the path between scientific discovery and real-world patient treatment?

The significance of this partnership is that it connects the pieces that are too often fragmented in healthcare innovation. It shortens the path because it brings discovery, data, translational infrastructure and clinical development into one connected model. Too often, healthcare innovation breaks down because the chain is fragmented – you have promising science in one place, manufacturing somewhere else, data elsewhere, and no efficient pathway into patient care. This partnership is important because it helps close these gaps.

Abu Dhabi Biobank contributes the biological materials, the integrated data environment, the governance, the clinical trial facilitation, and the translational infrastructure. Human Life CORD brings proprietary UC-MSC technology and serious clinical development expertise. When these capabilities are combined, we create a direct route toward validated, clinically relevant therapies that can be developed around actual patient need in this region.

The real value is not more research, but faster translation from discovery to treatment. In advanced therapies, innovation only matters when it reaches patients.

Could the Japan tie-up help Abu Dhabi move beyond research into local manufacturing of advanced therapies such as cell and gene treatments, and reduce reliance on overseas supply chains?

Yes, and that is one of the most important outcomes of this agreement. The partnership establishes one of the UAE’s first localised GMP manufacturing and clinical translation pathways for umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cell therapies, strengthening Abu Dhabi’s advanced therapy capabilities.

For years, many countries have relied on imported innovation. Abu Dhabi is taking a different approach by building local capabilities across development, translation, and manufacturing. This is important because advanced therapies are highly dependent on speed, quality control, logistics, and cost. Reducing reliance on overseas supply chains strengthens resilience and improves access.

With residents from more than 200 nationalities, Abu Dhabi has access to highly diverse health data. How significant is that in addressing global gaps in genomic and clinical research?

One of the biggest challenges in global genomic and clinical research is that many datasets still do not reflect the full diversity of the world’s populations. As a result, precision medicine is often less accurate or less effective for underrepresented groups. Abu Dhabi has an opportunity to help address that imbalance.

What makes the emirate distinctive is its ability to combine population diversity with high-quality biospecimens and integrated genomic, clinical, and real-world data within a well-governed framework. That creates a much stronger basis for understanding how diseases present across different populations and how therapies can be developed more precisely.

The impact goes beyond the UAE. Regionally, it means better evidence and more relevant healthcare insights for local populations. Globally, it allows Abu Dhabi to help address longstanding representation gaps in health research, giving the biobank scientific value and relevance on an international scale.

Abu Dhabi has ambitions to become a global healthcare and life sciences hub. How does the biobank strengthen its competitiveness in attracting pharmaceutical companies, clinical trials and international research partnerships?

Global pharmaceutical companies and research partners are not looking for ambition alone. They are looking for infrastructure, high-quality data, regulatory clarity, operational readiness, and access to patient populations that can support meaningful research and development. Abu Dhabi Biobank brings those elements together.

Abu Dhabi Biobank integrates biospecimen access, automated cryogenic storage, genomic and clinical data, patient stratification, translational research, and clinical trial support within a nationally governed framework aligned with international standards. That is exactly the kind of environment global partners look for when deciding where to invest and run research programs.

More importantly, it allows Abu Dhabi to compete on capability, not aspiration. It signals that the emirate is building a leading life sciences ecosystem that can support discovery, translation, and advanced manufacturing. That is how you attract long-term partnerships and build global credibility in healthcare.

A second Qatari liquefied natural gas tanker is transiting the Strait of Hormuz days after the first such cargo crossed under an arrangement involving Iran and Pakistan, highlighting how cargoes are crossing the waterway on a case-by-case basis amid ongoing conflict risks.

The vessel, Mihzem, with capacity of 174,000 cubic metres, departed Ras Laffan and is heading northeast toward Port Qasim in Pakistan, where it is expected to arrive on May 12, according to LSEG shipping data.

This would be the second successful passage through Hormuz for a Qatari LNG tanker since the start of Iran conflict.

On Saturday, LNG tanker Al Kharaitiyat started crossing Hormuz via the Iranian-approved northern route and on Sunday it managed to cross the strait.

Read more-Strait talk: What the Hormuz crisis means for GCC markets in Q2 2026

The LNG is being sold by Qatar to Pakistan, a mediator in the war, under a government-to-government deal, according to two people familiar with the matter on May 9.

They said Iran had approved the shipment to help build confidence with Qatar and Pakistan.

Two more tankers laden with Qatari LNG are expected to head to Pakistan in the coming days, the sources said.

Pakistan has been in discussions with Iran to allow a limited number of LNG tankers to pass through the strait, as Islamabad urgently needs to address its gas shortage, a source briefed on the agreement told Reuters on May 9.

Iran agreed to assist, and the two sides are coordinating the first vessel’s safe passage carrying gas supplied under Pakistan’s agreement with Qatar, its main LNG supplier, the source added.

Earlier this month, the UAE’s ADNOC managed to send two LNG tankers through the strait after their tracking signals were switched off, according to shipping data, underlining the heightened risks and operational sensitivities in the waterway.

Qatar is the world’s second-largest exporter ⁠of LNG, ​with shipments mostly going to buyers in Asia. Iranian attacks knocked out 17 per cent of Qatar’s ​LNG export capacity, with repairs expected to sideline 12.8 million metric tonnes per year of the fuel for three to five years.

A new collaboration between BNY, Finstreet and the ADI Foundation is set to advance the UAE’s position in institutional digital finance, with a focus on building regulated, scalable digital asset custody infrastructure anchored in Abu Dhabi.

The initiative brings together global custody expertise, local digital market infrastructure and sovereign-grade blockchain capability under a framework based in the Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM).

It is designed to provide institutional clients with a secure and regulated pathway into digital assets, while laying the groundwork for future expansion into stablecoins and tokenised real-world assets.

As institutional demand for regulated digital asset solutions accelerates and jurisdictions compete to define the standards for tokenised finance, the collaboration reflects Abu Dhabi’s growing role as a bridge between traditional capital markets and the digital asset economy.

Against this backdrop, Ajay Bhatia, principal council member at ADI Foundation, and Hani Kablawi, executive vice chair at BNY, discuss the rationale behind the partnership, the institutional gap it aims to close, and how Abu Dhabi is positioning itself in the next phase of global financial infrastructure.

What specific market gap in the UAE’s digital asset ecosystem does this collaboration between BNY, Finstreet and ADI Foundation aim to address?

There is an opportunity for a fully regulated, globally credible, locally anchored institutional digital asset infrastructure platform in the UAE that can support institutional clients as traditional financial infrastructure evolves toward tokenised and digitally native markets.

This strategic collaboration between BNY, Finstreet, and ADI Foundation looks to fill that gap. By combining BNY’s global custody, and asset servicing capabilities with Finstreet’s local digital market infrastructure and ADI Foundation’s sovereign-grade blockchain infrastructure, we aim to offer secure, compliant and localised institutional-grade digital asset custody solutions to UAE clients which is anchored in the Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM).

Why was Abu Dhabi, and specifically ADGM, chosen as the base for this digital asset custody initiative?

Abu Dhabi, and ADGM specifically, have positioned themselves as leading hubs for digital finance, blockchain innovation, and institutional capital markets. Abu Dhabi and ADGM were chosen as the base of this initiative because of growing local institutional client demand, alongside their emphasis on regulatory modernisation and technological ambition.

This collaboration aligns with the UAE’s broader ambition to become a global centre for regulated digital assets and tokenised finance. By anchoring the initiative in Abu Dhabi, our collaboration will combine digital market infrastructure with global financial expertise in a highly regulated environment.

The partnership will initially focus on custody for Bitcoin and Ethereum before expanding into stablecoins and tokenised real-world assets. What does that expansion roadmap look like?

We are taking a phased approach, beginning with the assets that institutions most commonly custody today – Bitcoin and Ethereum. Over time, in line with client demand and evolving market infrastructure, we aim to support additional asset types including stablecoins, and tokenised real-world assets.

IHC recently announced the launch of the dirham-backed stablecoin DDSC. How does this new custody partnership complement that initiative, and could the two eventually intersect?

This alliance aims to create the institutional infrastructure needed to support broader adoption of digital assets in the UAE, with the potential to support future stablecoin use cases, like DDSC. While the initial focus is on custody for assets such as Bitcoin and Ethereum, we intend to explore stablecoins and tokenised assets over time. Given that, DDSC and the custody platform could eventually intersect.

What level of demand are you currently seeing from institutional investors in the UAE for regulated digital asset custody services?

We are seeing strong and growing institutional demand for regulated digital asset custody in the UAE, especially from firms that want a locally anchored solution under ADGM.

The consistent message we hear is that institutions will scale activity when custody meets the same standards they expect in traditional markets: governance, security, auditability, and clear regulatory oversight.

How do you see the UAE positioning itself against other global digital asset hubs such as Singapore, Switzerland and Hong Kong?

As we discussed previously, the UAE is positioning itself as a leading global digital asset hub with sovereign-backed infrastructure, regulatory modernisation, and strong institutional support. The UAE has moved quickly to establish clear regulatory frameworks for digital assets and cultivate an environment where institutional and digital native players can innovate responsibly.

Through initiatives like this collaboration, Abu Dhabi is continuing to build its presence among global hubs such as Singapore, Switzerland, and Hong Kong in institutional digital finance and tokenisation.

In addition, the UAE is emerging with a differentiated approach driven by regulatory agility, strong human and institutional capital, and an emphasis on embedding digital assets within its wider economic and financial strategies.

Over the next five years, how do you see digital assets evolving within mainstream banking and capital markets?

In the years ahead, we expect digital assets to become increasingly integrated with traditional banking and capital markets, particularly through tokenised assets, stablecoins, and blockchain-based settlement infrastructure.

Large financial institutions are expected to increase focus on regulated, institutional use cases that improve efficiency, transparency, and cross-border connectivity.

We also expect greater adoption of digital custody, tokenised securities, and real-world asset tokenisation as regulatory frameworks continue to mature globally.

In essence, over the next five years, we see the market likely to move beyond experimentation toward real-world deployment, with Abu Dhabi positioned as an important hub for regulated digital finance – and we are proud to be at the centre of this transformation.

Dubai Municipality has completed the Middle East’s first pilot project for surveying waterways and canals using Mobile Mapping technology through the Leica TRK system mounted on a specially equipped vessel, in a move aimed at strengthening the emirate’s advanced digital infrastructure and geospatial capabilities.

The pilot project covered surveying works across Dubai Water Canal in Al Jaddaf, where high-precision spatial datasets and 3D models were developed to support infrastructure management, urban planning, and asset monitoring.

The initiative forms part of Dubai’s wider push to enhance its geospatial ecosystem and support the emirate’s Digital Twin ambitions through continuously updated and highly accurate spatial data.

According to Dubai Municipality, the project was carried out in collaboration with specialised partners and is expected to create wider opportunities for using advanced geospatial datasets across critical sectors.

Eng. Maitha Alnuaimi, Director of the Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Centre Department at Dubai Municipality, said: “This initiative forms part of Dubai Municipality’s ongoing efforts to strengthen digital infrastructure by developing an integrated geospatial database that supports the emirate’s Digital Twin project and enables government entities to make accurate and timely decisions based on reliable data.”

“The project further reinforces Dubai’s readiness and leadership as a smart and future-focused city while enhancing the efficiency and sustainability of urban management systems,” she added.

Dubai Municipality said it is now expanding surveying works to cover waterways across the emirate in coordination with relevant entities, as part of preparations for the next operational phase and wider implementation of the project’s outputs.

The move is expected to support the integration of smart systems and improve the efficiency, resilience, and sustainability of city management frameworks.

Etihad Rail, the developer and operator of the UAE’s national railway network, has launched a nationwide rail safety campaign ahead of the phased introduction of passenger services across the country later this year.

The initiative marks a major milestone in the UAE’s preparations for its first national passenger rail network and reflects Etihad Rail’s broader strategy to position safety as a shared responsibility between passengers, communities, road users, and infrastructure operators.

Read more-Etihad Rail passenger service: What’s on offer for UAE travellers

The campaign will be rolled out through a multi-channel communications strategy spanning broadcast, digital, outdoor, and community engagement platforms. It is designed to reach audiences across all Emirates as the country moves closer to the launch of passenger rail operations in 2026.

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Etihad Rail said the campaign has been developed not only to educate the public on safe interactions with railway infrastructure, but also to establish a long-term culture of awareness and responsible behaviour around rail environments.

The company’s latest move comes as the UAE accelerates investment in transport infrastructure and connectivity projects aimed at supporting economic diversification, sustainable mobility, and population growth.

Behavioural approach to safety

Unlike conventional safety campaigns that rely heavily on warnings and enforcement messaging, Etihad Rail said its strategy is rooted in behavioural science and long-term cultural engagement.

The campaign introduces the positioning “safety is care,” framing rail safety as a collective social responsibility rather than a set of instructions. Through calm, human-centred messaging and relatable real-life scenarios, the company aims to encourage greater public awareness and instinctive safe behaviour in shared spaces.

Etihad Rail noted that many safety incidents globally are linked not to deliberate misconduct, but to distraction, routine behaviour, or a lack of awareness around rail infrastructure.

As part of the initiative, the operator has released a series of indicative advertising visuals showcasing everyday passenger and community interactions around rail environments. The materials are expected to appear across physical and digital platforms as the campaign expands nationwide.

The programme will also include direct engagement with schools, local communities, and strategic stakeholders as Etihad Rail works to embed rail safety awareness ahead of passenger operations.

Passenger services to roll out in phases

Passenger rail services are scheduled to begin in 2026 through what the company described as a carefully planned phased rollout designed to maintain the highest standards of operational safety and reliability from launch.

Adhraa Almansoori, director of Public Policy and Sustainability at Etihad Rail, said the campaign reflects the organisation’s long-term commitment to ensuring safety remains central to every stage of the railway’s development.

“Safety sits at the heart of everything we do at Etihad Rail. As we prepare to introduce passenger services across the UAE, it is essential that we build awareness and understanding of how to engage safely with the railway,” Almansoori said.

“This campaign is about building a culture of care and shared responsibility, ensuring that our communities, our passengers, and our employees all play a role in maintaining the highest safety standards.

“This year, we will be introducing passenger services through a carefully planned, phased approach, designed to ensure that every journey meets our expectations for safety, reliability, and comfort from the very beginning,” she added.

The launch of passenger rail services is expected to represent a transformational moment for the UAE’s transport sector, enhancing inter-emirate connectivity while supporting broader sustainability goals by offering an alternative to road-based travel.

Safety positioned as core operational pillar

Rail transport is widely regarded as one of the safest modes of transportation globally due to extensive investment in signalling systems, infrastructure standards, and operational controls.

Etihad Rail said its network has been developed in line with international best practices and incorporates advanced signalling technologies, continuous monitoring systems, and robust operational protocols aimed at ensuring safe and efficient operations across the UAE.

The company added that safety will remain the foundation of every phase of network expansion and passenger service deployment.

Industry observers view the campaign as a key preparatory step ahead of passenger operations, particularly as the UAE introduces rail travel to communities that may have limited prior interaction with large-scale railway systems.

The broader passenger rail programme is expected to strengthen national mobility, support tourism and business travel, and contribute to economic integration between major population and industrial centres across the emirates.

With passenger services approaching, Etihad Rail’s latest campaign signals a strategic shift from infrastructure delivery to public readiness, underscoring the operator’s focus on building trust, awareness, and long-term confidence in the UAE’s emerging passenger rail ecosystem.