The Department of Health – Abu Dhabi (DoH), the regulator of the healthcare sector in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, has announced the operational launch of the region’s vaccine distribution hub in Abu Dhabi, following the arrival of the facility’s first shipments.
Located in Abu Dhabi and developed in partnership with leading global and regional stakeholders, the hub is a strategic milestone in the Emirate’s vision to strengthen global health security, ensure equitable vaccine access, and build resilient supply chains across the region.
Located in KEZAD and operated by Rafed, a subsidiary of PureHealth, the hub was developed in collaboration with the Department of Health–Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO), GSK, AD Ports Group, Etihad Cargo, and KEZAD Group.
The hub leverages Abu Dhabi’s strategic location, its advanced cold-chain logistics infrastructure, and a regulatory environment that is both agile and supportive of innovation. This hub reflects Abu Dhabi’s model of cross-sector collaboration uniting government, biopharma, logistics, and innovation under one ecosystem.
Strategic agreement
The activation of the hub follows a strategic agreement signed between DoH and GSK during Abu Dhabi Global Healthcare Week in 2024 to establish regional vaccine distribution capabilities in the emirate.
Now realized, the facility becomes GSK’s first vaccine distribution centre in the Middle East and the fourth worldwide, further solidifying Abu Dhabi’s role in supporting regional health security and global supply chain resilience.
“Through this hub, we are making vaccines more accessible to communities across borders and strengthening the UAE’s leadership in preventive, future-ready healthcare,” stated HE Dr. Noura Khamis Al Ghaithi, Undersecretary of the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi.
Innovation
“This initiative is a testament to Abu Dhabi’s position in the global value chain, strengthening its role in global health and innovation,” commented Boyd Chongphaisal, Vice President and General Manager, GSK Gulf.
Rafed, the operator of the facility, has deployed advanced cold-chain and smart distribution technologies that preserve vaccine integrity and ensure end-to-end visibility throughout the logistics process.
The hub is fully integrated with Etihad Cargo’s PharmaLife network, which connects Abu Dhabi to more than 100 international destinations and offers time-sensitive, temperature-controlled freight services tailored for pharmaceutical products.
Better health outcomes
“We remain focused on supporting governments and health partners with confidence and reliability to achieve better health outcomes for communities from Abu Dhabi across the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia,” noted Mohammad Mustafa Saeed, Chief Executive Officer, Rafed.
“We are proud to support Abu Dhabi’s vision of becoming a global leader in life sciences and supply chain excellence,” concluded Stanislas Brun, Chief Cargo Officer, Etihad Airways.
