UAE emerges as top destination for life science investment, says Afonso

 The global life science market size is calculated at $88.2 billion in 2024, grew to $98.63 billion in 2025, and is projected to reach around $269.56 billion by 2034. The market is expanding at a CAGR of 11.82% between 2025 and 2034.

The UAE is emerging as a leading destination for life sciences investment due to its strong regulatory environment, advanced infrastructure, healthcare innovation ecosystem, and long-term national vision.

"The UAE has created one of the most compelling environments globally for life sciences investment by bringing together regulation, infrastructure, digital health, talent, and capital in a highly integrated ecosystem," said Isabel Afonso, Chief Executive Officer of Arcera Life Sciences.

Arcera continues to play a key role in supporting the country's ambitions, with more than 40 per cent of its UAE portfolio already manufactured locally. The company is also working closely with key stakeholders, including the Emirates Drug Establishment and M42, to strengthen manufacturing capabilities, innovation, talent development, and healthcare resilience.

Arcera Life Sciences is accelerating its growth ambitions for 2026, with a strong focus on innovation, capability building, strategic partnerships, and global expansion,

Speaking about the company's future direction, Isabel Afonso said Arcera has successfully completed the integration of five companies over the past two years, creating a unified life sciences enterprise with a clear strategy, purpose, and operating model.

"Our priorities for 2026 are centred around advancing innovation, strengthening capabilities, and scaling the business," said Afonso. "We are expanding our portfolio of innovative medicines in areas such as neuroscience, cardiometabolic health, and anti-infectives, while continuing to invest in manufacturing, digital technologies, AI, regulatory excellence, medical capabilities, and talent development."

The company is also pursuing strategic partnerships and selective mergers and acquisitions to expand its geographic footprint and strengthen its innovation portfolio, particularly in oncology and rare diseases.

Artificial intelligence remains a central pillar of Arcera's long-term strategy. According to Afonso, AI is already improving forecasting, supply chain planning, manufacturing efficiency, commercial effectiveness, and data-driven decision-making across the organization.

"Technology alone is not the differentiator. The true value of AI lies in its ability to solve meaningful healthcare challenges, improve productivity, support healthcare professionals, and ultimately deliver better outcomes for patients," she said.

Looking ahead, Arcera sees significant opportunities in the convergence of AI, genomics, and advanced healthcare systems. The company believes the UAE is uniquely positioned to lead this transformation through initiatives such as the Emirati Genome Program and broader investments in healthcare innovation.

Afonso identified healthcare resilience, the convergence of science and technology, and innovation at scale as the three key trends expected to shape the life sciences sector over the next five years.

"Countries are increasingly focused on strengthening healthcare security, ensuring supply continuity, and improving access to critical medicines. At the same time, advances in AI, genomics, and data analytics are accelerating the shift toward more precise and personalised healthcare," she explained.

On Arcera's expansion strategy, Afonso emphasised that every acquisition and partnership opportunity is evaluated against its ability to strengthen patient access to innovative therapies and enhance the company's long-term capabilities.

"Our ambition is to build a leading life sciences company from Abu Dhabi, combining innovation, scale, and patient impact. Greater scale allows us to bring more innovation to more patients, attract leading partners, and create sustainable value for all stakeholders," she said.

Looking ahead, Arcera's success will be measured by its ability to translate innovation into tangible patient outcomes while creating long-term value.

"Success means bringing more innovation to our markets, strengthening our platform through continued investment, and contributing to the UAE's long-term ambition of becoming a global life sciences hub," Afonso concluded. "We are committed to building a trusted life sciences company that improves lives while creating sustainable value for patients, partners, employees, and shareholders."