Mubadala Biopharma Unveils Revamped Executive Leadership Structure

Mubadala Bio, the pharmaceutical arm of UAE sovereign wealth fund Mubadala Investment Company, has announced its new executive leadership team as it pushes to become a major player in global drug manufacturing. The company aims to strengthen the UAE's pharmaceutical security while supporting the country's shift toward a knowledge-based economy.

The leadership restructuring comes as the UAE works to reduce its dependence on oil revenues and build domestic capabilities in critical sectors like healthcare. Mubadala Bio wants to ensure reliable access to high-quality medicines and medical devices, both locally and internationally.

The new executive team includes Dr. Essam Mohammed as CEO and Hamad Hussein Al Marzouqi as Deputy CEO. They're joined by Atef Azeem as Chief Financial Officer and Khaled Abdullah Al Kaaf as General Manager for Logistics and Pharmaceutical Services.

Dr. Bakhit Al Kathiri, CEO of Mubadala's UAE Investments platform and Chairman of Mubadala Bio's board, said the new leadership brings the expertise needed to expand the company's impact from the UAE to global markets. The focus remains on innovation and developing the pharmaceutical sector's capabilities.

For investors and the broader healthcare market, this move signals the UAE's serious commitment to pharmaceutical manufacturing. The country has been building its life sciences infrastructure, seeing it as both an economic opportunity and a strategic necessity after supply chain disruptions during the pandemic.

Ismail Ali Abdullah, Executive Director of Strategic Clusters at Mubadala's UAE Investments, emphasized that pharmaceuticals play a central role in building a resilient and sustainable future. The company wants to contribute to better health outcomes across the UAE and the broader region.

This leadership announcement reflects a broader trend of Gulf states investing heavily in pharmaceutical capabilities. Countries like Saudi Arabia and the UAE are trying to reduce their reliance on imported medicines while positioning themselves as regional pharmaceutical hubs.

The pharmaceutical sector offers the UAE a chance to diversify its economy while addressing a critical need. With an aging population and rising healthcare demands across the Middle East, local drug manufacturing could prove both profitable and strategically important for the country's long-term economic plans.