DUBAI — Dubai moved on Wednesday to position itself at the forefront of a new global industry, as His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, signed a law establishing the Dubai Longevity Authority, a dedicated body tasked with making the emirate the world’s leading hub for regulated longevity science, advanced healthcare, and wellness innovation.
The new authority will oversee the entire ecosystem — from laboratory research and clinical trials through to manufacturing, therapy delivery, and patient clinics — under a science-driven regulatory framework aligned with international standards.
Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence of the UAE, and Chairman of the Executive Council, will serve as President of the DLA. Helal Saeed Almarri, Director General of the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism, has been appointed its Chairman.
“The true wealth of nations lies in their people,” Sheikh Mohammed said. “Our vision is for Dubai to be at the forefront of shaping the future of healthcare by harnessing life sciences, biotechnology and medical innovation to develop new solutions that enhance quality of life and advance human health.”
The authority was launched in coordination with Dubai Health Authority, Dubai Health, Dubai Municipality, and Dubai Future Foundation.
The DLA sits at the intersection of two of Dubai’s most ambitious strategic commitments: the Dubai Economic Agenda D33, which targets a place among the top three global cities for economic output, and the Dubai Social Agenda 33, which aims to achieve a leading global ranking in healthy life expectancy.
Almarri described the longevity and advanced health sector as “one of the fastest-growing economic frontiers in the world,” adding that the authority would deliver regulatory certainty across the full value chain — attracting investment, industrial capacity, specialised talent, and genuine technology transfer into the economy.
Beyond commerce, the authority is mandated to establish frameworks for ethical experimentation and clinical innovation, draw on international scientific expertise, and drive global dialogue through major events — signalling that Dubai intends to participate in shaping the science itself, not merely host its applications. With inputs from WAM
