UAE Gene Therapy Market By Type (Gene Augmentation, Gene Silencing, Others), By Application (Oncological Diseases, Genetic Diseases, Cardiovascular Diseases, Neuromuscular Diseases, Hematological Diseases, Infectious Diseases, Others), By Region, Competition, Forecast & Opportunities, 2020-2030F

Market Overview

UAE Gene Therapy Market was valued at USD 50.36 Million in 2024 and is expected to reach USD 61.91 Million by 2030 with a CAGR of 3.70% during the forecast period. The UAE gene therapy market is poised for significant growth, driven by the increasing demand for innovative medical treatments, advancements in genetic research, and the country's strategic focus on enhancing its healthcare sector. Gene therapy, which involves the modification of a patient's genetic material to treat or prevent diseases, holds immense potential in addressing a range of genetic disorders, cancers, and other chronic conditions. The UAE, with its robust healthcare infrastructure and commitment to adopting cutting-edge medical technologies, is emerging as a key player in the region's gene therapy landscape.

The UAE government’s emphasis on becoming a global hub for healthcare innovation aligns with its Vision 2021 and National Strategy for Innovation. These initiatives have fueled investments in biotechnology and advanced medical treatments, including gene therapy. The UAE's healthcare system, which is known for its state-of-the-art facilities and high-quality medical services, is increasingly adopting novel therapies, with gene therapy expected to be a major focus area in the coming years.

A significant driver of the gene therapy market in the UAE is the rising prevalence of genetic diseases, including hemophilia, cystic fibrosis, and inherited retinal diseases. These conditions often have limited treatment options, making gene therapy a promising solution. The UAE’s diverse population, with a higher incidence of genetic disorders due to consanguinity (marriage between close relatives), creates a unique demand for specialized treatments such as gene therapy.

Key Market Drivers

Growth in Healthcare Industry

The growth of the healthcare industry is a significant driver of the UAE gene therapy market, as the country continues to expand its medical infrastructure and enhance its healthcare offerings. The UAE boasts a robust, government-funded healthcare system complemented by a rapidly growing private sector, both of which provide high-quality healthcare services to the population. Healthcare regulation is managed at both the federal and emirate levels, with oversight provided by various authorities, including the Ministry of Health and Prevention, the Health Authority-Abu Dhabi (HAAD), the Dubai Health Authority (DHA), and the Emirates Health Authority (EHA). With increasing investments in healthcare innovation, advanced treatment modalities, and cutting-edge technologies, the UAE is positioning itself as a leading player in the region's medical landscape. Gene therapy, a transformative approach to treating genetic disorders and certain types of cancer, is gaining traction as part of the broader shift towards personalized and precision medicine, further fueling market growth.

The UAE's commitment to healthcare advancement is reflected in its Vision 2030 and other strategic initiatives, which emphasize the integration of advanced medical technologies, including gene therapy, into clinical practice. This emphasis on innovation has led to significant investments in research, development, and clinical trials, driving the demand for gene therapy products and services. As the UAE aims to provide world-class healthcare solutions, gene therapy is increasingly seen as a promising option to address unmet medical needs, particularly in the treatment of rare genetic diseases and complex conditions that have limited treatment options.

In addition to government initiatives, the rising prevalence of genetic disorders, cancers, and chronic diseases is accelerating the adoption of gene therapy in the UAE. The country's growing population and an increasing number of healthcare facilities are creating an environment conducive to the development and deployment of gene-based treatments. Hospitals and healthcare providers are integrating gene therapy into their treatment offerings to provide patients with more personalized, targeted therapeutic options that focus on the root causes of diseases at the genetic level.

Surge in Technological Advancements

The surge in technological advancements is a key driver of the UAE gene therapy market, propelling the country’s healthcare sector toward innovative treatment options for a wide range of genetic disorders. The UAE has made significant progress toward establishing itself as a global leader in healthcare research with the inauguration of a pioneering Center for Genomic Discovery. This initiative will aid in diagnosing and treating genetic disorders, advance local genomic research, and foster the development of the country’s next generation of scientists. The Center is the result of a groundbreaking collaboration between Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences (MBRU) and Al Jalila Children’s Specialty Hospital (AJCH) through its Al Jalila Genomics Center. The launch took place during the University’s participation at Arab Health 2021 at the Dubai Healthcare City stand, aligned with the “Research and Innovation” theme, reinforcing Dubai's position at the forefront of scientific advancement. As the UAE continues to position itself as a leader in medical innovation, advances in gene editing, delivery mechanisms, and manufacturing technologies are significantly transforming the landscape of gene therapy.

One of the primary technological advancements driving the UAE gene therapy market is the progress in gene-editing techniques, particularly CRISPR-Cas9. This revolutionary tool has enabled more precise and targeted alterations to the genetic code, offering a promising solution for treating genetic diseases at their root cause. The adoption of CRISPR and other gene-editing technologies in the UAE is creating new opportunities for developing therapies for conditions that were previously considered untreatable, such as certain inherited genetic disorders, cancer, and autoimmune diseases. As the cost of these technologies continues to decrease and their efficacy improves, gene therapy is becoming a more viable option for a broader patient population in the UAE.

Furthermore, advancements in viral vector delivery systems are enhancing the effectiveness of gene therapies by improving the precision with which therapeutic genes are delivered to target cells. In 2023, the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi (DoH), the regulatory authority for the healthcare sector in the Emirate, entered into a Declaration of Collaboration with Mass General Brigham’s International Center for Genetic Disease (iCGD). This agreement is designed to foster advancements in life sciences across three core areas: clinical and translational research, capacity building, and technology transfer and commercialization. By leveraging the Emirate’s cutting-edge genomics capabilities, the partnership aims to drive research in genomic medicine, focusing on critical global genetic diseases such as rare diseases, oncology, neurology, and cardiovascular and metabolic conditions. The collaboration's overarching goal is to enhance access to innovative treatments and solutions for patients both within the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and internationally. Adeno-associated viruses (AAVs) and lentiviral vectors, for instance, are playing an increasingly crucial role in ensuring that gene therapies are safely and effectively delivered to the correct site in the body. These innovations are enabling the UAE to provide more targeted treatments with fewer side effects, which is essential for patient acceptance and long-term success. As the technology evolves, the potential to treat a wider array of genetic conditions becomes a reality, accelerating the market’s growth.

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Key Market Challenges

High Costs and Accessibility

One of the primary challenges facing the UAE gene therapy market is the high costs associated with these advanced treatments, which can limit their accessibility for a broad patient population. While gene therapy holds tremendous potential to treat and even cure genetic disorders that have historically been difficult or impossible to address, the financial burden it imposes remains a significant obstacle to its widespread adoption in the UAE healthcare system.

The development, production, and administration of gene therapies are highly complex and resource-intensive processes. The costs of research and development (R&D), clinical trials, and manufacturing of gene therapy products are considerable. Additionally, the personalized nature of many gene therapies, which often require tailoring to individual patients’ genetic profiles, further drives up the cost. As a result, the price of gene therapy treatments can reach millions of dollars per patient, making them unaffordable for a large segment of the population.

In the UAE, where healthcare is largely private, the high cost of gene therapies presents a challenge for both patients and insurance providers. While the government’s health insurance schemes, such as those provided for public sector employees, cover a wide range of medical treatments, gene therapy is often not included due to its high cost. Even in private healthcare settings, where insurance coverage may be more extensive, the expense of gene therapies may not be fully covered, leaving patients to bear the brunt of the costs.

Key Market Trends

Rising Demand for Personalized Medicine

The rising demand for personalized medicine is emerging as a key trend in the UAE gene therapy market, as healthcare providers and patients increasingly seek tailored, precision-based treatments. In a significant advancement for personalized healthcare, the UAE's Technology Innovation Institute (TII) has introduced an AI-driven digital avatar capable of interpreting complex multi-omics medical data. Unveiled at Gitex Global 2024, this cutting-edge system integrates genetic, epigenetic, and metabolic data with TII’s Falcon language model to provide tailored health insights, signaling a major step forward in the adoption of precision medicine across the Middle East. Personalized medicine focuses on using an individual's genetic, environmental, and lifestyle information to customize healthcare interventions, ensuring that treatments are more effective and have fewer side effects. Gene therapy, which directly targets the underlying genetic causes of diseases, aligns seamlessly with this trend, offering the potential for highly personalized, targeted treatments that address specific genetic mutations and disorders.

In the UAE, the healthcare industry is rapidly evolving, with a strong emphasis on advancing medical technologies that provide customized care. The country's growing focus on personalized medicine is being driven by a combination of factors, including a rising incidence of genetic disorders, an aging population, and an increasing demand for more effective treatments for chronic and complex diseases. As part of this shift towards precision healthcare, gene therapy is gaining traction as a transformative solution, enabling medical professionals to address the root causes of diseases at the molecular level.

The demand for personalized medicine in the UAE is also being fueled by the growing availability of genetic testing and genomic data. As more individuals undergo genetic screening to assess their risk for certain conditions, there is an increasing need for therapies that can be tailored to their genetic profiles. Gene therapies, which can be designed to correct genetic mutations or enhance the body’s ability to fight disease, offer a promising avenue for personalized treatment options, particularly for rare genetic disorders and cancers that have limited treatment alternatives.

Segmental Insights

Type Insights

Based on Type, Gene Augmentation have emerged as the fastest growing segment in the UAE Gene Therapy Market in 2024. One of the main drivers of the growth of gene augmentation is its ability to treat inherited genetic diseases by restoring or enhancing the function of specific genes. Conditions such as muscular dystrophy, cystic fibrosis, and certain types of blindness can now be targeted with gene augmentation therapies that introduce healthy copies of the malfunctioning gene, providing patients with long-term relief and, in some cases, a potential cure. As the understanding of genetic diseases deepens and the technology to implement gene augmentation improves, the segment is seeing a surge in adoption within the UAE healthcare system.

Additionally, advancements in vector technology have played a crucial role in the expansion of gene augmentation therapies. Viral vectors, such as adeno-associated viruses (AAVs), are increasingly being used to deliver therapeutic genes to target cells with greater precision and efficiency. These technological developments have enhanced the safety and effectiveness of gene augmentation, making it a more viable and scalable treatment option. As these vectors are optimized for better delivery and fewer side effects, gene augmentation is becoming more accessible to a broader patient base, further fueling its growth.

Application Insights

Based on Application, Oncological Diseases have emerged as the fastest growing segment in the UAE Gene Therapy Market during the forecast period. The prevalence of cancer in the UAE has been steadily increasing, driven by lifestyle changes, an aging population, and environmental factors. This rising incidence of oncological diseases has created a high demand for advanced treatments, including gene therapies, as a potential solution for patients with difficult-to-treat cancers.

Significant progress has been made in the development of gene therapies targeting various forms of cancer, including personalized and targeted therapies that can improve treatment outcomes. As new therapies become available, gene therapy has become an increasingly important tool in the fight against cancer, offering the potential for more effective and less invasive treatment options.

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Regional Insights

Based on Region, Dubai have emerged as the dominating region in the UAE Gene Therapy Market in 2024. Dubai boasts a world-class healthcare system, with state-of-the-art medical facilities and cutting-edge technologies that are crucial for the development and application of gene therapies. The city’s hospitals, research centers, and specialized clinics are equipped to conduct advanced treatments and clinical trials for gene therapies. This infrastructure not only attracts top-tier talent but also provides a conducive environment for the successful implementation of gene therapy solutions.

The government of Dubai has made substantial investments in healthcare innovation and biotechnology. Initiatives such as the Dubai Health Strategy 2021 and the Dubai Biotechnology and Research Park (DuBiotech) aim to foster the growth of biotech companies, including those specializing in gene therapy. The city’s favorable regulatory environment and commitment to healthcare excellence further attract international biotech firms and encourage local innovation in gene therapy.

Recent Development

• In August 2024, the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi (DoH), the regulatory authority for the healthcare sector, introduced a groundbreaking gene therapy for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) in Abu Dhabi, marking the first time the treatment is available outside the United States. Previously accessible only in the U.S., this pioneering therapy is now offered at Sheikh Khalifa Medical City (SKMC), a key facility under SEHA, a subsidiary of PureHealth. This advancement further solidifies Abu Dhabi's status as a global leader in healthcare and a growing hub for life sciences. The treatment, approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in June 2023, was administered to an Emirati DMD patient by a specialized team, led by a consultant pediatric neurologist from SKMC, in collaboration with the Department's Research and Innovation Centre in 2024.
• In June 2024, at the BIO 2024 International Convention, the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi (DoH), the regulatory authority overseeing the healthcare sector in the Emirate, entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with Opus Genetics, a clinical-stage gene therapy company focused on patient-centric treatments for inherited retinal diseases. This collaboration aims to expedite the development of innovative gene therapies for patients suffering from rare inherited retinal diseases (IRD) in the UAE.
• In June 2023, Burjeel Holdings, a leading healthcare provider in the MENA region, and BridgeBio Pharma, Inc., a commercial-stage biopharmaceutical company specializing in genetic diseases and cancers, announced a collaborative initiative aimed at transforming early diagnosis and treatment of rare diseases in the UAE and the broader region. The two organizations signed a preliminary, non-binding Collaboration Agreement, outlining their shared intention to collaborate on Project NADER (Needs Assessment and Therapeutics Development for Rare Diseases), with "nader" meaning "rare" in Arabic. Rare diseases, often genetic in origin, are life-threatening or chronically debilitating conditions that affect a small percentage of the population and persist throughout a person’s life, sometimes without immediate symptoms. The partnership will establish operations in Abu Dhabi, conducting clinical trials and research by utilizing the Emirate’s state-of-the-art infrastructure for innovation and life sciences.
• In September 2024, coinciding with the visit of President of the UAE, to the United States, the Abu Dhabi Stem Cells Centre (ADSCC) unveiled its new strategic roadmap. This initiative is aimed at fostering comprehensive partnerships with US-based companies to advance pioneering research, development, and clinical care. Recently, ADSCC has formed a partnership with Vertex Pharmaceuticals, a leading global biotechnology firm renowned for its innovative treatments for complex diseases. Together, ADSCC and Vertex are working to introduce the first CRISPR-Cas9 gene therapy in the UAE, with the first patient expected to begin treatment later this year.

Key Market Players

• SGS S.A.
• CureLeads
• Charles River Laboratories, Inc.
• Roche Diagnostics Middle East FZCO
• Ocugen, Inc.

Report Scope

In this report, the UAE Gene Therapy Market has been segmented into the following categories, in addition to the industry trends which have also been detailed below:

• UAE Gene Therapy Market, By Type:

o   Gene Augmentation

o   Gene Silencing

o   Others

• UAE Gene Therapy Market, By Application:

o   Oncological Diseases

o   Genetic Diseases

o   Cardiovascular Diseases

o   Neuromuscular Diseases

o   Hematological Diseases

o   Infectious Diseases

o   Others

• UAE Gene Therapy Market, By Region:

o   Dubai

o   Abu Dhabi

o   Sharjah

o   Rest of UAE

Competitive Landscape

Company Profiles: Detailed analysis of the major companies present in the UAE Gene Therapy Market.

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Company Information

• Detailed analysis and profiling of additional market players (up to five).

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