The Department of Health – Abu Dhabi (DoH), the regulator of the healthcare sector in the Emirate, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with AstraZeneca to establish a world-class Rare Diseases Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Abu Dhabi.

Leveraging Abu Dhabi's advanced healthcare infrastructure and AstraZeneca's global expertise and experience in rare diseases management, the two entities will spearhead innovation to improve the lives of people and communities impacted by rare diseases, regionally and globally.

In the presence of Mansoor Ibrahim Al Mansoori, Chairman of DoH and Hicham Mirghani, GCC and Pakistan Corporate Affairs Director at AstraZeneca, the MoU was signed by Dr Asma Ibrahim Al Mannaei, the Executive Director of the Research and Innovation Centre at DoH and Ghaleb Al Ahdab, Head of Government Affairs, GCC and Pakistan at AstraZeneca.

Data suggests genetic and congenital disorders are more common in the Arab Gulf than in other industrialised countries, leading to a high socio-economic burden on patients, families and communities. This collaboration will help to address this burden by allowing the two entities to work together to establish a Rare Disease Centre of Excellence in the Emirate, serving as a hub for comprehensive diagnosis, treatment, follow-up, research education and patient care with a focus on haematology, neurology, and metabolic disorders.

The two will work together to redefine diagnostic processes, implement state-of-the-art early detection processes and innovate for new technologies for comprehensive patient management across some of the most devastating and hard to manage rare diseases.