Eli Lilly and Mubadala Bio partner to produce weight-loss drugs in UAE

American pharmaceutical giant Eli Lilly has signed an agreement to manufacture weight-loss medications within the United Arab Emirates, marking a significant step in the country’s ambitions to become a hub for life-sciences production.

The deal, concluded with Mubadala Bio, covers four Eli Lilly drugs, including the widely prescribed injectable Mounjaro and the oral medication Foundayo. Production is expected to begin shortly, Hamad Almarzooqi, deputy chief executive of Mubadala Bio, told reporters on the sidelines of the Abu Dhabi Future Health Summit on Tuesday.

“These products will be produced under contract in the UAE and then shipped to global markets,” Almarzooqi said. He added that the agreement aims to “support reliable access to innovative medicines while strengthening the UAE’s role in the global life-sciences supply chain”.

Obesity challenge in the UAE

Earlier this year, a report published by The National highlighted that UAE efforts to reduce obesity rates could yield a USD 51 billion boost to productivity, improve military fitness, and raise educational standards. Approximately 32 percent of the UAE population is projected to be obese by 2031, a condition linked to elevated risks of diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and hypertension.

A joint study by Eli Lilly, market analysts Whiteshield, and the Ministry of Economy and Tourism suggests that with accelerated intervention, the obesity rate could be lowered to 18 percent within the same timeframe.

The National has also reported that UAE residents have been urged to use weight-loss medications responsibly and only on medical advice. In June, authorities approved the Wegovy weight-loss pill for use in the UAE; the oral medicine had already been available in injection-pen form for weight loss.

Misuse of prescription drugs such as Ozempic, Wegovy, and Mounjaro has surged in recent years, driven by rapid weight-loss effects. Health authorities worldwide have struggled to contain the unregulated use of off-brand injectables obtained without a prescription for cosmetic purposes, often spurred by social-media trends and peer pressure.

Drug security and local manufacturing

Mubadala Bio was established in May 2025 with three core goals: ensuring drug security in the UAE, addressing the most prevalent diseases, and building local expertise and talent. Almarzooqi noted that most pharmaceuticals used in the country are imported. The company has a five-year plan to reduce import reliance, though a specific target has not yet been publicly set.

“Mubadala Bio was created for three reasons: to ensure drug security in the UAE, to address the most prevalent diseases in the UAE, and to build that local ecosystem and talent within the company,” he said.

The company reported that it maintained supplies of essential medicines during shipping disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz earlier this year. Before the strait was closed, Mubadala Bio increased raw-material inventories, arranged alternative air and land transport routes, utilised other UAE ports, and sourced some raw materials locally.

“Many of our raw materials for essential drugs are manufactured here in the UAE,” Almarzooqi said. “That helped us supply the country when disruptions were happening.”

The company’s aim, he stated, is to ensure that patients receive essential medicines when needed, “not delayed, not out of stock, not in a ship somewhere”. He stressed the human cost of supply failures: “A patient on dialysis cannot postpone this treatment. A patient with diabetes needs continuous assurance of continuity of insulin. A lady who’s getting cancer treatment in a hospital needs assurance that her treatment is available at all times. We’re dealing with people’s lives.”

Mubadala Bio operates four manufacturing plants in the UAE. Bioventure Healthcare, located in Jebel Ali, produces soft-gelatin capsules and runs a high-potency oncology site that also manufactures hormones. Almarzooqi said the company has launched more than four oncology products and female fertility hormones, with additional products in the pipeline.

He emphasised that the partnerships with international drugmakers extend beyond importation. Companies are selecting the UAE, he explained, “because of the talent that we have, because of the connectivity and the outreach that we have and because of the quality of the finished goods that we produce”.

Building confidence in locally produced generic medicines will depend on their efficacy, Almarzooqi acknowledged. “We are very comfortable that our products meet the highest global standards,” he added.