Abu Dhabi has opened a clinical trials centre to further medical research and help to establish the capital as a global hub for medicine.
The centre at Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City is a partnership with the Mayo Clinic and will seek cures to diseases after traditional treatments and medicines have failed.
Clinical trials are research studies of medications, vaccines, medical devices, procedures, diagnostics tests, and other health-related products.
Research work will extend to neurology, rheumatology, haematology, oncology, cardiology, ophthalmology, gastroenterology and paediatrics.
The clinical trial unit will help us conduct the trials inside the hospital to test new potential treatments
Dr Naser Ammash,
chief executive of Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City
Medical research is not new to the hospital. About 100 patients are already involved in clinical trials and 87 studies are under way.
Dr Naser Ammash, chief executive of Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City, said: “This is a major milestone. The clinical trial unit will help us conduct the trials inside the hospital to test new potential treatments.
“As a cardiologist, I wish I had solutions for everybody but in my 25 years of practice, there were times when I didn't have answers to everybody’s needs.”
He said in the long run when new treatments are found, it will give treatment options to patients after FDA-approved drugs have failed to help them.
Many people travel abroad for treatment but this may be avoided when the centre's work starts showing results.
“If we do not find a solution, then we have to look for a solution and this is where research and development can work. We need to find innovative solutions,” Dr Ammash said.
“Some patients have unmet needs and as physicians, nurses and scientists, we need to look for solutions and part of the solution is to do research.
“This will elevate our institution to higher levels because we're not only taking care of patients but also looking for different kinds of solutions for their needs when needed.
“This is how you develop the life sciences hub in Abu Dhabi and take it to that next level.”
In what areas will research work be carried out?
The new centre will carry out research work in all areas.
“This would include innovative drugs, which have not been used in the country,” said Dr Shahrukh Hashmi, acting medical director of research.
“After the appropriate approvals by the Department of Health, our priority areas from a clinical perspective are haematology, oncology and transplant, gastroenterology, neurology, cardiology and endocrinology but we are conducting trials in all areas."
Research will also be carried out in healthcare technology, such as artificial intelligence, blockchain, and the Internet of Things to further advancement in the field.
Clinical trials can take up to two years but successful ones may last longer.
“One of the top areas is cancer and we want to do individualised personalised medicine,” Dr Hashmi said.
“This will provide hope to patients who have gone through all their cancer therapies without success.”
Joining the trials is voluntary but officials did not rule out the possibility of some of them being paid in the future.
What are the different phases in clinical trials?
There are three main phases of clinical trials.
Some trials have an earlier stage called phase 0, and there are some phase 4 trials done after a drug has been licensed.
In phase 1, products are tested with humans for the first time but limited to a small group to assess the safety of the product or treatment.
In phase 2, the product/treatment is given to a larger group with a focus on studying effectiveness.
In phase 3, thousands of patients are involved to further assess safety, monitor side effects, and compare with other products and medicines if there are any in the market.
Abu Dhabi as a medical research centre
According to officials from the Department of Health — Abu Dhabi, the capital is well-placed to become the leading destination for clinical trials.
With its population from all parts of the world and its strategic position on the map, Abu Dhabi is suited to attracting international life sciences corporations.
In June 2022, a delegation from Abu Dhabi visited the US Chamber of Commerce in Washington and toured biomedicine research and development in the city of Boston, a centre for life sciences.
Currently, there are about 400 clinical research trials under way in Abu Dhabi.
Researchers can use the Emirati Genome Programme, which aims to provide preventive and personalised health care for the Emirati population, and the Malaffi system which has unified health services and patient information.
Research has revealed some drugs are ineffective in Emirati patients, including those with diabetes, and scientists are seeking to understand why.
Abu Dhabi-based G42 Healthcare extracts data anonymously for analysis by its Biogenix Labs and Omics Centre of Excellence.
Meanwhile, a centralised database of patient records under the Malaffi system provides population health information to assist in service planning.
As the system progresses, AI technology and machine learning will be used to reduce disease progression and promote improved health outcomes.
The UAE was one of the first countries to participate in clinical trials of Sinopharm coronavirus vaccines, while Abu Dhabi locally manufactured more than 300,000 Covid-19 RNA extraction solution samples.
It is an example of the emirate’s potential and rapid development, according to Dr Omar Najim, director of executive affairs at the Department of Health — Abu Dhabi.
Inside the laboratory taking samples for the Emirati Genome Programme: in pictures
Five expert hiking tips
Always check the weather forecast before setting off
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How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
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Coffee: black death or elixir of life?
It is among the greatest health debates of our time; splashed across newspapers with contradicting headlines - is coffee good for you or not?
Depending on what you read, it is either a cancer-causing, sleep-depriving, stomach ulcer-inducing black death or the secret to long life, cutting the chance of stroke, diabetes and cancer.
The latest research - a study of 8,412 people across the UK who each underwent an MRI heart scan - is intended to put to bed (caffeine allowing) conflicting reports of the pros and cons of consumption.
The study, funded by the British Heart Foundation, contradicted previous findings that it stiffens arteries, putting pressure on the heart and increasing the likelihood of a heart attack or stroke, leading to warnings to cut down.
Numerous studies have recognised the benefits of coffee in cutting oral and esophageal cancer, the risk of a stroke and cirrhosis of the liver.
The benefits are often linked to biologically active compounds including caffeine, flavonoids, lignans, and other polyphenols, which benefit the body. These and othetr coffee compounds regulate genes involved in DNA repair, have anti-inflammatory properties and are associated with lower risk of insulin resistance, which is linked to type-2 diabetes.
But as doctors warn, too much of anything is inadvisable. The British Heart Foundation found the heaviest coffee drinkers in the study were most likely to be men who smoked and drank alcohol regularly.
Excessive amounts of coffee also unsettle the stomach causing or contributing to stomach ulcers. It also stains the teeth over time, hampers absorption of minerals and vitamins like zinc and iron.
It also raises blood pressure, which is largely problematic for people with existing conditions.
So the heaviest drinkers of the black stuff - some in the study had up to 25 cups per day - may want to rein it in.
Rory Reynolds
Ballon d’Or shortlists
Men
Sadio Mane (Senegal/Liverpool), Sergio Aguero (Aregentina/Manchester City), Frenkie de Jong (Netherlans/Barcelona), Hugo Lloris (France/Tottenham), Dusan Tadic (Serbia/Ajax), Kylian Mbappe (France/PSG), Trent Alexander-Arnold (England/Liverpool), Donny van de Beek (Netherlands/Ajax), Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Gabon/Arsenal), Marc-Andre ter Stegen (Germany/Barcelona), Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal/Juventus), Alisson (Brazil/Liverpool), Matthijs de Ligt (Netherlands/Juventus), Karim Benzema (France/Real Madrid), Georginio Wijnaldum (Netherlands/Liverpool), Virgil van Dijk (Netherlands/Liverpool), Bernardo Silva (Portugal/Manchester City), Son Heung-min (South Korea/Tottenham), Robert Lewandowski (Poland/Bayern Munich), Roberto Firmino (Brazil/Liverpool), Lionel Messi (Argentina/Barcelona), Riyad Mahrez (Algeria/Manchester City), Kevin De Bruyne (Belgium/Manchester City), Kalidou Koulibaly (Senegal/Napoli), Antoine Griezmann (France/Barcelona), Mohamed Salah (Egypt/Liverpool), Eden Hazard (BEL/Real Madrid), Marquinhos (Brazil/Paris-SG), Raheem Sterling (Eengland/Manchester City), Joao Félix(Portugal/Atletico Madrid)
Women
Sam Kerr (Austria/Chelsea), Ellen White (England/Manchester City), Nilla Fischer (Sweden/Linkopings), Amandine Henry (France/Lyon), Lucy Bronze(England/Lyon), Alex Morgan (USA/Orlando Pride), Vivianne Miedema (Netherlands/Arsenal), Dzsenifer Marozsan (Germany/Lyon), Pernille Harder (Denmark/Wolfsburg), Sarah Bouhaddi (France/Lyon), Megan Rapinoe (USA/Reign FC), Lieke Martens (Netherlands/Barcelona), Sari van Veenendal (Netherlands/Atletico Madrid), Wendie Renard (France/Lyon), Rose Lavelle(USA/Washington Spirit), Marta (Brazil/Orlando Pride), Ada Hegerberg (Norway/Lyon), Kosovare Asllani (Sweden/CD Tacon), Sofia Jakobsson (Sweden/CD Tacon), Tobin Heath (USA/Portland Thorns)
Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026
1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years
If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.
2. E-invoicing in the UAE
Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption.
3. More tax audits
Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks.
4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime
Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.
5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit
There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.
6. Further transfer pricing enforcement
Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes.
7. Limited time periods for audits
Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion.
8. Pillar 2 implementation
Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.
9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services
Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations.
10. Substance and CbC reporting focus
Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity.
Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer
NINE WINLESS GAMES
Arsenal 2-2 Crystal Palace (Oct 27, PL)
Liverpool 5-5 Arsenal (Oct 30, EFL)
Arsenal 1-1 Wolves (Nov 02, PL)
Vitoria Guimaraes 1-1 Arsenal (Nov 6, Europa)
Leicester 2-0 Arsenal (Nov 9, PL)
Arsenal 2-2 Southampton (Nov 23, PL)
Arsenal 1-2 Eintracht Frankfurt (Nov 28, Europa)
Norwich 2-2 Arsenal (Dec 01, PL)
Arsenal 1-2 Brighton (Dec 05, PL)
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MATCH INFO
Cricket World Cup League Two
Oman, UAE, Namibia
Al Amerat, Muscat
Results
Oman beat UAE by five wickets
UAE beat Namibia by eight runs
Namibia beat Oman by 52 runs
UAE beat Namibia by eight wickets
UAE v Oman - abandoned
Oman v Namibia - abandoned
Company profile
Date started: 2015
Founder: John Tsioris and Ioanna Angelidaki
Based: Dubai
Sector: Online grocery delivery
Staff: 200
Funding: Undisclosed, but investors include the Jabbar Internet Group and Venture Friends
6.30pm: Al Maktoum Challenge Round-3 Group 1 (PA) | US$95,000 | (Dirt) 2,000m
7.05pm: Meydan Classic Listed (TB) ) | $175,000) | (Turf) 1,600m
7.40pm: Handicap (TB) ) | $135,000 ) | (D) 1,600m
8.15pm: Nad Al Sheba Trophy Group 3 (TB) ) | $300,000) | (T) 2,810m
8.50pm: Curlin Handicap Listed (TB)) | $160,000) | (D) 2,000m
9.25pm: Handicap (TB)) | $175,000) | (T) 1,400m
10pm: Handicap (TB) ) | $135,000 ) | (T) 2,000m
How to avoid crypto fraud
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