Pharmacy in the United Arab Emirates

Like the profession in the rest of the developed world, pharmacy in the United Arab Emirates capital Abu Dhabi and the other six Emirates is moving towards new horizons in practice and education through the provision of world-class health care for its population and a first-rate education system for its health care practitioners.

There are 11,459 licensed professionals practising in the pharmacy sector in the UAE. Many initiatives exist to encourage high school students to study in pharmacy and medical colleges. Pharmacy professionals in the UAE come from many countries and represent different cultural and educational backgrounds. The UAE has a first-rate regulatory system to oversee these pharmacy professionals. The Ministry of Health and Prevention (MOHAP), in collaboration with health authorities in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, provides world-class standards for the regulation of professionals, facilities, medicinal products, clinical trials and medicines advertisements.

In addition, MOHAP also facilitates patient access to safe drugs through a fast-track approval system for life-saving medicines. It also ensures the implementation of good pharmacovigilance practice at national level.