Mubadala Bio and Eli Lilly and Company have announced a strategic collaboration to advance the localised packaging and logistics of Lilly’s GLP-1 medicines in Abu Dhabi, supporting the emirate’s ambition to become a global life sciences hub.
The agreement was announced at the Abu Dhabi Future Health Summit 2026 by Hamad Almarzooqi, Group Deputy CEO of Mubadala Bio, and Nabil Daoud, President and General Manager of Lilly’s Intercontinental Hub. The partnership brings together Lilly’s pharmaceutical expertise with Mubadala Bio’s integrated life sciences platform to develop advanced capabilities in the UAE.
The collaboration will be supported by a 125,000-square-metre site in Khalifa Economic Zones Abu Dhabi (KEZAD), which includes packaging and warehousing facilities. These capabilities are intended to strengthen pharmaceutical contract manufacturing, packaging and logistics, helping serve industry partners across regional and global markets.
Dr Bakheet Al Katheeri, Chairman of Mubadala Bio, said: “The agreement with Lilly is a defining moment for Mubadala Bio. By signing this agreement, we are placing the UAE at the forefront of global healthcare, strengthening the nation’s supply in key therapeutic areas and building capabilities that will serve our country for decades to come. It shows the confidence that one of the world’s leading pharmaceutical companies has in the UAE as a trusted partner and a base to serve the region and global markets. This is what it means to build a national life sciences champion: bringing world-class medicines closer to home, creating high-value jobs, and advancing Abu Dhabi’s ambition to become a leading global life sciences hub.”
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Nabil Daoud, President and General Manager, Intercontinental Hub at Eli Lilly and Company, said: “This agreement represents an important step in strengthening our long-term presence in the UAE and contributing to the continued development of its life sciences ecosystem. By bringing Lilly’s global medicines expertise together with Mubadala Bio’s capabilities, we have the opportunity to develop advanced pharmaceutical capabilities in the UAE, while continuing to support our shared ambition to improve health outcomes for patients.”
Patrik Jonsson, Executive Vice President and President, Lilly International, Eli Lilly and Company, said: “Scientific innovation has the greatest impact when it is supported by strong collaboration across the healthcare ecosystem. At Lilly, we work across markets with governments, healthcare systems and organisations that bring complementary expertise and capabilities, with a shared focus on translating innovation into meaningful progress for patients. Building these long-term relationships is fundamental to how we advance healthcare and create sustainable impact around the world.”
Edgardo Hernandez, Executive Vice President and President, Lilly Manufacturing Operations, said: “To make safe and reliable medicines around the world. Lilly counts on strong partners like Mubadala Bio that are willing to share our commitment to innovation, safety and quality. The Mubadala Bio team shares our urgency to meeting patient demand and our responsibility to deliver high-quality medicines to the people who depend on them.”
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Hamad Almarzooqi, Group Deputy CEO at Mubadala Bio, said: “Our ambition is to build a globally connected life sciences company from Abu Dhabi — one that partners with leading multinational pharmaceutical companies to bring innovative medicine, technologies and expertise to the UAE. By strictly applying best-in-class international quality, manufacturing and regulatory standards across our operations, we are strengthening the foundations of an internationally competitive pharmaceutical sector and advancing Abu Dhabi’s ambition to become a leading global life sciences hub.”
The initiative builds on the UAE’s efforts to expand access to innovative medicines and strengthen pharmaceutical supply chains. For Mubadala Bio, it also supports its strategy to build international partnerships, advance drug security and expand its role in pharmaceutical manufacturing and logistics.
Localised packaging and logistics activities will be introduced in phases, subject to the relevant technical, quality and regulatory requirements.
