Between 2019 and 2020, DP World, UAE Region's Jebel Ali Free Zone (Jafza) had a 12% upsurge in its healthcare and pharmaceuticals client base. DP World, UAE Region, and Jafza shall join in Arab Health 2021, one of the major medical equipment exhibits in the Middle East, to demonstrate their dedication to propagating the expansion of healthcare and pharmaceutical enterprises.

The healthcare and pharmaceuticals industry, one of the most significant contributing industries in the Free Zone, is one of Jafza's main economic pillars. The section employs 1,100 people and covers an area of about 170,000 square meters. It is currently home to 174 firms from 41 nations. In 2019, the segment's trade volume was 25,000 metric tonnes, worth AED900 million.

The UAE's healthcare industry has swiftly developed to suit the changing requirements of the people, assisting the country in its goal of becoming a regional medical tourism powerhouse. Partnerships and efforts between the government and private and public sector firms are assisting in the achievement of these objectives. DP World, UAE Region, and Jafza have always been in the frontline of guaranteeing the sector's long-term growth.

“The surge in the healthcare and pharmaceuticals sector in Jafza has underlined the key competencies of the industry in the Middle East and the streamlined connectivity DP World, UAE Region continues to offer to over 3.5 billion customers through the extremely efficient trade and logistics centre in Jebel Ali, which involves Jafza,” said Abdulla Bin Damithan, CEO & managing director, DP World-UAE Region and Jafza.

“Our trade and logistics centre has accelerated worldwide distribution of COVID-19 equipment and played a massive role in the Dubai Vaccine Logistics Alliance, a January 2021 initiative.” As a great trade facilitator, we had secured a seamless supply chain until 2020, regardless of market volatility.”

Jafza, as the sole free zone capable of supporting indigenous production in the healthcare and pharmaceutical domains, includes facilities allocated to the storage of auxiliary vaccine preparation and administration goods. Jebel Ali Port features temperature-controlled warehouses and now almost 10,000 reefer points distributed across the terminals to power refrigeration vessels and facilitate pharmaceutical commerce.

Several bonuses, such as on-demand warehouses on short-term lease with multi-functional storage choices, no VAT or customs charges, and cost-effective transportation facilities, improve accessibility and enable faster delivery for companies operating in Jebel Ali. The participation of DP World, UAE Region, and Jafza in Arab Health 2021 would create new growth areas for enterprises, providing value to the country's economy.