Report

UAE in-vitro diagnostics (IVD) market is projected to witness a CAGR of 5.85% during the forecast period 2024-2031, growing from USD 711.21 million in 2023 to USD 1,120.79 million in 2031. The market is anticipated to reflect robust growth during the forecast period.
The demand for IVD products in the UAE is fast surging, hence its market expansion. Some of these driving factors includes increasing emphasis on quality diagnostics, increasing affinity for personalized treatments, an incredibly high burden of chronic diseases, government initiatives to minimize the disease burden, technological leaps and bounds in IVD devices and solutions, and most importantly, medical tourism. One of the crucial factors adding to the demand for IVD products in the UAE is medical tourism. Patients who travel UAE for medical treatment are tested before and during their treatment, and diagnostic screening tests are carried out on them to determine their health status so that the type of treatment can be performed accordingly. According to the Government of Dubai, 674,000 medical tourists visited Dubai from all over the world in 2022. Per the observation of medical tourism in Dubai, it was remarkable and increased in 2022, with 674,000 medical tourists spending USD 270 million in the year, much higher than USD 71.33 million in 2021.
Increasing Healthcare Spending to Strengthen IVD Market Growth
The amount of funds allocated to the healthcare sector of the UAE increases year by year, indicating the emphasis on health sector, including the area of in-vitro diagnostics. Another reason for the market growth is the increasing population, which again, through diseases and preventive methods of healthcare, creates more demand for specific diagnostics. Two of the major driving forces include increased demand for rapid diagnostic tests and healthcare accessibility, especially in hospitals and clinics. It is well focused on personalized medicines and the early diagnosis of diseases, further improving the opportunities for IVD market players, as it comes in line with global trends towards innovative and efficient healthcare solutions. For instance, the budget allocated by government of UAE for healthcare was USD 1.26 billion in 2020, USD 1.29 billion in 2021, USD 1.16 billion in 2022, USD 1.33 billion in 2023, and USD 1.36 billion in 2024 as stated by the Ministry of Finance, UAE. Also, a lot of policies and regulations are being offered by the UAE government which are anticipated to propel the IVD market of the country at an increasing rate. The policies of this sector will be fruitful mainly through the agenda of the National Agenda and National Innovation Strategy of the UAE, Vision 2021.
Growing Disease Burden to Fasten the Market Growth
The primary factor driving the IVD devices market in the UAE is the increased incidence of chronic diseases. This, in turn is a resultant of changes in lifestyle. The most common non-communicable diseases include diabetes, heart conditions, and cancer catalyzed by growing urbanization, sedentary lifestyle, and diet. Medical care providers emphasize early diagnosis and treatment to combat these diseases. IVD devices vary from biomarker assays to molecular diagnostics, thus providing valuable insights into genetic predispositions, treatment response, and the presence of markers of disease. This allows the medical practitioner to personalize the treatment programs, track the treatment course, and optimize the interventions. With the rising tide of chronic diseases, the need for precision diagnostics has been a key hence fueling the need for IVD devices in UAE market. For instance, the United Nations Development Program states that the total healthcare costs of all possible conditions were comprised by 19.8% of non-communicable diseases, and that was predominantly because of complications caused by diabetes, chronic respiratory disease, and cardiovascular disease.
Point-of-Care (POC) Segment is Expected to Account for Major Market Share
Various pivotal factors drive the rapid growth of Point-of-Care (PoC) diagnostics segment in the UAE. This can be partly put down to the increasing need to manage chronic and infectious diseases, where early detection capabilities are possible through PoC diagnostics. Technological advancements with miniaturized devices like integrated biosensors have made it more accessible and user-friendly while ensuring faster results and providing better care for the patient. The sheer spread of the COVID-19 pandemic has catapulted the adoption of PoC diagnostics as leading segment. The PoC experience has opened up acceptance by various social circles in valuing these methods for uses far beyond managing COVID-19. Initiatives from government and private sector stakeholders have further enhanced the market growth. Increased investments in healthcare infrastructure and R&D have encouraged innovation and brought closer the availability of PoC diagnostic solutions in almost every healthcare setting.
Infectious Disease Segment to Cover Major Market
Infectious disease segment is expected to acquire significant market share in the application areas of the UAE IVD market. High usage of in-vitro diagnostics products in the infectious diseases is highly increasing the market growth, as it is also enabling fast and accurate diagnosis. These devices allow for quick detection and management of disease outbreaks, which in turn strengthens public health response. The increase in infectious diseases in the UAE is linked to environmental changes determined through climate conditions, population demographics due to migration, and the resultant public health challenges. For instance, according to an article in the Cureus journal, published in September 2023, rhinovirus/enterovirus had the highest viral infection at 45% across the year, followed by Influenza at 20.2%, while RSV stood at 17.1% in UAE.
Future Market Scenario (2024-2031F)
The most promising futuristic developments in the UAE IVD market so far are technological innovations in the field of IVD devices and integrating multi-step processes in a single platform. IVD testing involves multi-steps and thus uses several different types of devices, however, market players and innovators are trying to integrate the process within a single platform in order to minimize resource utilization and save several different device costs. For instance, in June 2024, Blitz Diagnostics announced its entry into the in vitro diagnostics market with an innovative, all-in-one point-of-care (PoC) platform designed to revolutionize healthcare delivery with faster, more accessible diagnostic results to better improve patient care and accelerate medical decisions.
Key Players Landscape and Outlook
The UAE in-vitro diagnostics market is dominated by a few major players, such as F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd. and Abbott Laboratories S.A. These companies have a strong presence in the UAE due to their extensive product portfolios, active R&D investments, and strategic collaborations to accelerate product launches and approvals.
In March 2023, AstraGene FZ LLC, a UAE-based molecular diagnostics manufacturer, partnered with Indian company Mylab Discovery Solutions Pvt. Ltd. to form a joint venture aimed at developing and commercializing fully automated molecular diagnostics in the Middle East. This collaboration will focus on marketing these solutions in Kuwait and the UAE, enhancing laboratory infrastructure, and advancing diagnostic capabilities in the region. The partnership leverages Mylab's extensive product portfolio and AstraGene's local expertise to improve health outcomes. This move aligns with Mylab's strategy to expand its international presence in the rapidly growing molecular diagnostics market.
In May 2023, Virax Biolabs Group Limited, an innovative diagnostics company focusing on detecting immune responses and diagnosing viral diseases, announced the establishment of a regional headquarters at Dubai Science Park. By expanding into the region, Virax Biolab Group aims to enhance its distribution network for high-quality in-vitro diagnostics, innovative products, and proprietary T-Cell tests while also improving logistics. The new headquarters will lead to the creation of new jobs and attract investment and talent to the UAE in line with the Dubai Economic Agenda 'D33'.