Emirates tops country-of-origin list with 2,950 registered products, highlighting growth of local pharmaceutical manufacturing
Dubai: The UAE has strengthened its position in pharmaceutical manufacturing, with locally produced medical products accounting for the largest share of items registered in the national medical products database, according to data published by the Emirates Drug Establishment (EDE).
The register shows that the total number of approved medical products in the UAE has reached 17,095, reflecting the expansion of treatment options available to healthcare providers and patients, while supporting the country’s healthcare system with a broad range of products that meet international standards.
UAE leads country-of-origin rankings
According to data, medical products carrying the UAE as their country of origin total 2,950 products, representing approximately 17.26% of all products registered in the country.
This places the UAE at the top of the list of countries of origin for registered medical products, ahead of several major pharmaceutical producers.
The United States ranked second with 1,679 registered products, followed by:
United Kingdom: 1,034 products
The figures highlight the growing role of national pharmaceutical manufacturers in the local market and the continued expansion of domestic production capabilities.
Products sourced from 74 countries
The register shows that approved medical products are sourced from 74 countries, supporting the sustainability and diversification of medical supply chains serving healthcare facilities across the UAE.
The broad geographic distribution reflects the country’s strategic partnerships with major pharmaceutical-producing nations while ensuring access to a wide range of medical products.
Wide range of medical products
The data also points to significant diversity in the categories of approved products.
Conventional medicines account for the largest share, with 6,992 products, followed by:
Medical devices for human use: 4,816 productsGeneral Sales List (GSL) products: 3,544 productsNatural source medicines: 945 productsBiological medicines: 798 products
The large number of medical devices also reflects ongoing expansion in healthcare infrastructure and hospital equipment across the UAE.
Supporting pharmaceutical manufacturing
The figures highlight the progress achieved by the UAE’s pharmaceutical sector in recent years, supported by investment in local manufacturing, public-private partnerships and the adoption of advanced technologies.
The expansion of the local manufacturing base is helping strengthen the readiness of the healthcare sector, improve pharmaceutical supply chain resilience and increase the capacity of national factories to produce medicines and medical products to international standards.
The UAE’s position as the leading country of origin for registered medical products reflects the success of national efforts aimed at building a competitive and innovative pharmaceutical industry capable of meeting local demand while supporting exports to regional and international markets.
