Sheikh Hamdan visits Aster Pharmacy distribution centre
- Last updated: September 11, 2026 | 10:22
Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister, and Minister of Defence, and Chairman of The Executive Council of Dubai, visited Aster Pharmacy’s distribution centre in Dubai Industrial City, one of the largest pharmaceutical warehouses in the region.
During the visit, Sheikh Hamdan said the private sector has an important role to play in building and developing an efficient and reliable healthcare system.
He noted the importance of cooperation between the private and public sectors in providing high-quality services that meet the community’s needs for medicines and medical supplies.
Sheikh Hamdan was briefed by Dr. Azad Moopen, Founder and Chairman of Aster DM Healthcare, and Alisha Moopen, Managing Director and Group CEO of Aster DM Healthcare, on the operations of the 145,000 sq ft facility and the services it provides across the UAE and the GCC through Aster’s network.
Sheikh Hamdan commended the facility’s innovative approach, which improves efficiency and enables medicines to be distributed faster and with greater accuracy.
He expressed his support for Aster’s continued growth and its efforts to adopt innovative solutions that further enhance its services and contribute to the development of the UAE’s healthcare system.
Sheikh Hamdan was accompanied by Omar Bin Sultan Al Olama, Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy and Remote Work Applications; Helal Saeed Almarri, Director-General of the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism; and Malek Al Malek, Chairman of TECOM Group.
The facility handles approximately 75,000 transactions each day through Aster’s UAE network of 350 pharmacies, 120 medical clinics and 15 hospitals.
Meanwhile, Aster Clinics UAE, the largest private primary care network under the Aster DM Healthcare GCC group, is strengthening its long-term commitment to the country through sustained expansion, enhanced clinical capabilities, and deeper community integration.
Aster Clinics UAE plans to expand its network from 85 to over 100 facilities across the UAE by 2030, through a combination of multiple expanded clinics and new clinics.
The expansion is expected to increase staff strength to 4,100 across the UAE and is backed by an investment commitment of Dhs100 million.
The new facilities will introduce speciality centres, strengthen in-clinic diagnostics, and integrate digital and smart health solutions through myAster, alongside expanded homecare and personalised care services.
The expansion is being driven by sustained growth in patient demand, with annual footfall across the clinics network increasing by 15 percent over the past year.
Recently, Aster DM Healthcare unveiled ongoing projects, with investments totalling Dhs1 billion, aimed at providing world-class healthcare locally in the UAE and redefining the future of healthcare for the country’s residents.
Aster DM Healthcare is one of the largest and fastest-growing integrated healthcare providers in the GCC, with its integrated model currently comprising 15 hospitals, 126 clinics, and 338 pharmacies in the Middle East, serving all segments of society with a focus on delivering high-quality care.
Supported by the myAster app, the region’s leading omnichannel healthcare application, the group is expanding its services to reach 75 million people annually over the next five years, compared to 17.6 million people currently.
Dr. Azad Moopen said, “For nearly four decades, Aster has been guided by one goal: to provide high-quality healthcare to every community we serve. Today’s announcement reflects our unwavering commitment to the UAE, which has always championed innovation, excellence, and placing the patient at the heart of healthcare.”
Alisha Moopen stated during her speech at the World Health Exhibition 2026, “Our Dhs1 billion project is not just about adding beds or infrastructure, but about enabling world-class care pathways locally, supported by technology, specialised competencies, and an integrated patient experience.”
Aster DM Healthcare Group had announced plans to open two new multi-specialty hospitals in Dubai, one in Studio City and the other in Discovery Gardens, adding more than 250 beds to the group’s current capacity in the UAE, which stands at approximately 920 beds.
WAM