According to statistics issued by Dubai Customs, the value of Dubai’s external pharmaceutical and medical supplies trade reached $1.85 billion in Q1 2021, up 31 percent from $1.4 billion in the same period of 2020.
Imports were for $1.4 billion, exports were worth $160 million, and exports and re-exports were worth $380 million. In terms of volume, Dubai’s pharma and medical supply trade increased by 47 percent in the first three months of 2020 and 2021, from 33,000 to 48,600 tonnes.
Dubai Customs is committed to facilitating border clearance of medical supplies shipments so that they could reach local, regional, and global markets without delay, after fulfilling the requirements of the Ministry of Health and Prevention which guarantees high levels of quality and efficiency for these vital products to protect the community’s health and safety.
“In light of the current COVID-19 situation, Dubai Customs has sought to keep up with the growing demand for pharmaceuticals and medical supplies, putting more effort into ensuring quick inspection, clearance, and release of these strategic goods to meet the community’s needs and maintain product availability in the market,” said Ms. Nassim Al Mehairi, Manager of the statistics section at Dubai Customs.
The recent statistics revealed the pivotal role Dubai has been playing as a regional hub for trade in pharmaceutical and medical products thanks to the industry’s sophisticated logistics infrastructure, Ms. Al Mehairi explained.
The Dubai Science Park is one of the greatest examples of how the city is driving the UAE’s transformation into a next-generation pharmaceutical producer, supporting growth in medical tourism and digital transformation in the healthcare domain, as part of the Operation $300 billion industrial strategy.
