M42, Toshiba to launch region’s first heavy-ion cancer therapy facility

M42 has partnered with Toshiba Energy Systems & Solutions Corporation (Toshiba ESS) to build the Middle East’s first heavy-ion therapy facility for cancer treatment.

The new facility will be located at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, part of the M42 group, adjacent to the Fatima bint Mubarak Center, a comprehensive cancer centre

Construction is set to begin in 2026.

The announcement was made during the 2025 edition of Abu Dhabi Global Health Week, a government initiative by the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi.

M42’s heavy-ion therapy facility: Details

The centre will be equipped with a heavy-ion therapy system, including a rotating gantry and a horizontally fixed beam treatment room, using high-speed scanning irradiation technology and superconducting magnets.

Heavy-ion therapy is considered a highly advanced form of radiation therapy and will be introduced to the UAE and the broader region for the first time.

“With no other heavy-ion radiotherapy centre within a five-hour flight radius of Abu Dhabi, this advanced, accurate and effective form of radiation therapy gives hope to cancer sufferers in the region,” said Hasan Jasem Al Nowais, MD and group CEO of M42, and chairman of Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi.

Globally, only 15 centres currently offer heavy-ion radiotherapy. The treatment is known for delivering precise radiation doses directly to tumors while minimising damage to surrounding tissues.

It is particularly effective for inoperable tumors or those resistant to conventional therapies.

In some cases, such as early-stage lung cancer, the therapy can be completed in a single outpatient session.

Part of a strategic partnership

Toshiba ESS will provide the heavy-ion technology as part of the strategic partnership.

A signing ceremony between Al Nowais and Tsutomu Takeuchi, director and VP for Power Systems Division at Toshiba ESS, took place ahead of a planned private celebration in Japan next week.

“Heavy-ion therapy represents a significant leap forward in radiation therapy, offering faster and less frequent treatments,” said Takeuchi. “We are thrilled to partner with M42 to transform cancer treatment in the Middle East region.”

Dr Georges-Pascal Haber, CEO of Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, said the new facility reflects the hospital’s mission to offer cutting-edge treatment options to patients across the region.

“By integrating this groundbreaking technology into our comprehensive cancer care programme, we are not only elevating treatment outcomes but also transforming lives,” he said.

The facility will be developed next to the Fatima bint Mubarak Center, which already offers multidisciplinary cancer treatment. Combined, the two centres will reinforce Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi’s status as a leader in oncology in the region.

Heavy-ion therapy, which accelerates carbon ions to about 70 per cent of the speed of light, enables targeted treatment with minimal impact on healthy tissue and reduced risk of secondary cancers. The introduction of this modality positions Abu Dhabi as a hub for oncology innovation and expands patient access to advanced cancer care across the Middle East.