Report

UAE gene therapy market is projected to witness a CAGR of 24.92% during the forecast period 2024-2031, growing from USD 60.03 million in 2024 to USD 285.00 million in 2031. The increasing research activities bolster the market's growth, the rising number of supportive collaborations and partnerships, the growing threat of genetic diseases, and the rising efforts of healthcare institutions to provide gene therapies to patients.
The country also aims to leverage digital transformation to build a hub for gene therapy. Starting in 2022, the UAE aims to double its contribution of digital products and services to 19% of its GDP within ten years. By 2027, the government expects to invest more than USD 27 billion in artificial intelligence-enabled technologies that will have an impact on the country's healthcare system. This investment is also likely to act as an early step toward the country's goal of having a digitally advanced and personalized healthcare system that can absorb the latest gene therapy technologies. With such investments, the country hopes to maximize the potential benefits of gene therapy and other therapeutic solutions.
Additionally, the increasing efforts of the UAE government to improve public health with the help of genomic data are also expected to boost the growth of the UAE gene therapy market. The Emirati Genome Program, launched in March 2023, is a national project that aims to study the genetic makeup of Emiratis with the help of artificial intelligence technologies and cutting-edge DNA sequencing technologies. The genomic data is expected to aid healthcare professionals in developing various strategies to address the different requirements of the population in the future.
Increasing Support for Research Activities Boosts the Market
The increasing research activities towards genetic diseases and genomic medicines in the country are expected to provide lucrative growth opportunities to the UAE gene therapy market. Due to the promising prospects of gene therapies for treating various genetic and chronic diseases previously thought to be incurable, researchers are increasingly focusing on developing new therapies and evaluating their efficacy and safety. The different measures by the country's Department of Health to encourage and support research activities on gene therapies are expected to bolster the availability of new gene therapies in the UAE.
In order to advance life sciences, in June 2023, the Abu Dhabi Department of Health (DoH) declared collaboration with the International Center for Genetic Disease (iCGD). The partnership aims to advance life sciences across clinical and translational research, technology transfer, and capacity building, as well as around commercialization. The partnership also seeks to expand research activities in genetic diseases and genomic medicines to provide patients in the country with new therapeutic solutions. The DoH is also going to facilitate treatment and clinical research activities associated with rare genetic diseases and focus on developing novel gene therapies.
Collaborations Bolster Market Expansion
The rising collaborations between biotechnology companies and government organizations to propel the development of gene therapies is expected to increase the UAE gene therapy market size. In June 2024, Opus Genetics, Inc. and the Abu Dhabi DoH announced a collaboration for advancing gene therapy research for inherited retinal diseases. With this collaboration, both parties aim to accelerate the development of gene therapies for inherited retinal diseases in the country, as the disease is a growing threat and severely impacts the lives of the patients as well as the caregivers. The parties are also expected to explore the potential of expediting and conducting clinical trials and preclinical testing. Such collaborations are also expected to push the gene therapy industry forward, as both parties have a vested interest in augmenting the availability of novel gene therapies. This can also develop an ongoing relationship between the parties to continue the research activities.
Hospitals Hold Major Market Share
The growing efforts of various hospitals in the country to bolster the availability of advanced therapeutic solutions, including gene therapies, are supporting the segment's expansion. In April 2024, the Medcare Women & Children Hospital (MWCH) in Dubai emerged as the first private healthcare facility in Africa, the Middle East, and the Asia Pacific to administer gene therapy infusions for spinal muscular atrophy in 100 children from various regions across the globe. The debilitating condition affects voluntary muscle movement in children and results in atrophy and progressive muscle weakening. Such efforts by the hospitals in the country are expected to successfully provide life-changing treatment solutions to patients living with chronic diseases such as spinal muscular atrophy and improve their quality of life.
Genetic Diseases Hold Significant Market Share
The growing threat of genetic diseases and disorders in the country is propelling the requirement for novel therapeutic solutions, including gene therapies, to combat the diseases. According to the estimates of the UAE government, approximately 4,500 new cases of cancer are reported in the country every year. Gene therapy approaches aid in treating genetic disorders by correcting the DNA or by providing new DNA to various cells. Gene therapy is provided to fix faulty genes responsible for causing diseases by either turning off the genes that are not working properly so that they are unable to promote the disease or by turning on healthy genes that can aid in preventing diseases. Gene therapy is also deployed to train the immune system in cases where the immune system does not attack the diseased cell as it does not view it as an intruder. The therapy holds significant potential to aid patients living with chronic diseases.
Future Market Scenario (2024-2031F)
As per the UAE gene therapy market analysis, the market is expected to witness significant growth in the coming years as the country recognizes the role and potential of understanding human genetics for improving patient health. The potential wave of new therapies in the near future is expected to aid patients with chronic diseases in effectively combating their conditions.
Additionally, the country's increasing efforts to bolster its understanding of different genetic diseases are also expected to provide lucrative growth opportunities to the market as they are expected to support the development of novel therapeutic solutions. The increasing awareness about the promising prospects of gene therapy for improving the quality of life of patients with diseases that were previously without any effective treatment options and ensuring their lifelong health is further encouraging research activities towards gene therapies. These therapies hold the potential to shift the country's healthcare sector and provide it with curative treatments that are cost-efficient in the long run.
Key Players Landscape and Outlook
The increasing efforts of the market players to augment the availability of different gene therapies in the country are expected to support the UAE gene therapy market growth. In August 2023, the UAE Ministry of Health and Prevention (MoHAP) gave fast-track approval to delandistrogene moxeparvovec, the first gene therapy for treating muscular dystrophy in children aged 4-5 years. The approval showcases the UAE government's commitment to improving patient access and supporting innovation in healthcare. Additionally, the accelerated and smooth registration process of delandistrogene moxeparvovec is expected to encourage the market players to increase their efforts toward developing more therapies, positively influencing the market's expansion.