At a Glance
Dubai has established the Dubai Longevity Authority (DLA), a public institution chaired by HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, with broad jurisdiction over all longevity-related activities in the Emirate. No person or entity may carry out longevity activities in Dubai (including in Free Zones and the DIFC), without DLA authorisation. The DLA’s mandate intersects with the Emirates Drug Establishment’s (EDE) federal jurisdiction over medical products, creating a dual-regulatory landscape for longevity-related therapies. Businesses in healthcare, biotech, pharma, medtech, wellness, and related sectors should assess their regulatory exposure now.
What This Means for You — Implications and Next Steps
Navigating a maturing landscape the UAE’s healthcare regulatory framework has developed rapidly in recent years, with each emirate building sophisticated, tailored licensing regimes through its own health authority (specifically the Dubai Health Authority (DHA) in Dubai and the Department of Health (DoH) in Abu Dhabi). Abu Dhabi regulates longevity, anti-ageing, regenerative medicine, and advanced therapy activities through the DoH’s well-established healthcare facility and professional licensing framework, supplemented by federal controls. The DoH’s regulatory reach also extends into ADGM, where the ADGM Healthcare Regulations 2022 expressly adopt Abu Dhabi onshore healthcare legislation and require DoH final licensing before any health-sector activity can be practised. Dubai’s decision to create a dedicated authority for longevity reflects the emirate’s ambition to build a world-class, purpose-built ecosystem for this fast-growing sector and to offer regulatory clarity and a defined pathway for market participants. For businesses looking to scale across the UAE, the practical takeaway is that a comprehensive market-entry strategy should account for the specific requirements in each emirate. Understanding how these frameworks interact is the key to unlocking the full potential of a UAE launch.
Recommended Actions
- Assess exposure now. Review your Dubai activities against the Law’s broad definitions of “Activity,” “Longevity,” and “Advanced Therapeutic Products.”
- Map the dual regulatory landscape. Identify where the DLA, DHA, EDE, and other federal and emirate-level frameworks apply to your specific operations. Don’t assume one licence covers everything.
- Watch for implementing regulations. The implementing resolutions under the DLA Law and have not yet been issued. Similar is the case for the Federal Decree-Law No. (38) of 2024 (though these appear imminent); monitor for guidance on fines, licensing procedures, and coordination mechanisms between regulatory authorities.
How can Al Tamimi help?
For more information on the above alert, feel free to contact the key contacts.
Key Contacts
Andrea Tithecott, Partner, a.tithecott@tamimi.com
Ammina Rao, Senior Associate, a.rao@tamimi.com
Clive DSouza, Associate, c.dsouza@tamimi.com