UAE $1.56 billion pharma market set to grow on health care demand

In 2010, the United Arab Emirate (UAE) pharmaceutical market reached a value of 5.71 billion dirham ($1.56 billion), according to Business Monitor International, which says that one of the key drivers of growth for the UAE pharmaceutical sector is increased health expenditure.

BMI expects that most of the value development will be realized in the prescription sector, boosted by rising population numbers and a changing diseases profile. In particular, the country is tackling an obesity and diabetes epidemic, which will also require long-term treatment of related conditions, such as increased blood pressure. The recently established single market of the six GCC states (Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar, Bahrain, the UAE and Kuwait) will also facilitate the placement of foreign products in the region.

Headline expenditure projections