Eli Lilly Drugstore LLC (Lilly) and the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi (DoH), regulator of the healthcare sector in Abu Dhabi, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at the BIO International Convention 2026, in San Diego, USA to address obesity and Alzheimer’s disease, two of the most pressing health challenges in the region.
Through this landmark collaboration, Lilly and DoH will explore establishing an AI enabled obesity healthcare model and a world-class Alzheimer’s Disease Centre of Excellence in Abu Dhabi. The collaboration combines Lilly’s deep therapeutic expertise and leadership in transformative medicines with Abu Dhabi’s robust population data and advanced healthcare infrastructure, supporting Abu Dhabi’s vision to become a leading global hub for life sciences and innovation.
“Lilly is honored to partner with the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi on initiatives that reflects a powerful alignment between Abu Dhabi’s intelligent life sciences ecosystem and Lilly’s mission to unite caring with discovery to make life better for people,” said Leena Aziz, Senior Director, Corporate and Government Affairs Gulf. “Together, we are advancing a model of care that brings together AI, population health insights, clinical excellence and breakthrough science to address two of the region’s most urgent health challenges: obesity and Alzheimer’s disease. As a trusted partner in the UAE’s healthcare journey, Lilly is committed to supporting the country’s ambitions to build a more predictive, personalized and innovative health system that delivers meaningful impact for patients and communities.”
Dr. Asma Ibrahim Al Mannaei, Executive Director of the Health Life Sciences Sector at the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi, said: “Abu Dhabi has established one of the world’s most advanced ecosystems for precision medicine, built on population-scale genomics, advanced health data and clinical excellence. This collaboration with Lilly strengthens our ability to translate these capabilities into more personalised approaches to obesity and Alzheimer’s disease, improving outcomes for patients across the Emirate and beyond.”
The collaboration will focus on two core strategic workstreams. First, Lilly and DoH aim to establish a joint task force to co-design and develop an AI-enabled obesity and cardiometabolic care model, tailored to the needs of the Abu Dhabi population. The initiative is expected to leverage Abu Dhabi’s population health data and Lilly’s therapeutic expertise in metabolic diseases to support advanced risk stratification and personalized interventions.
The second workstream aims to focus on exploring advancing the development of an Alzheimer’s Disease Centre of Excellence, building on the neurodegenerative disease collaboration between DoH and Lilly, with the aim to strengthen early detection, integrated digital cognitive screening, and care pathways across the Alzheimer’s disease continuum.
This MoU signifies a deepening of the relationship between Lilly and the DoH, to create operational health system assets that directly impact patient lives. It aligns with Lilly’s mission to tackle the region’s most urgent health challenges through cutting-edge research, strategic alliances, and a relentless focus on patient outcomes.
