Paying high prices for essential medicines could soon become a thing of the past. The UAE is reviewing how drug prices are set, with lawmakers and health officials pushing for tighter controls, more transparency, and stronger support for locally made medicines — all with patients in mind.
During a recent Federal National Council (FNC) session focused on pharmaceutical security, officials acknowledged what many residents already feel: Medicine prices in the UAE remain higher than in many regional and global markets.
A multi-ministry committee is now studying the pricing system, how the market is regulated, and where gaps still exist.
The Emirates Drug Establishment confirmed it is reassessing pricing rules and rolling out new initiatives to boost local production of essential medicines, particularly those used to treat chronic conditions. The goal? Better availability, more stable pricing, and less reliance on imports.
Lawmakers also highlighted a noticeable gap between government procurement prices and what patients pay at private pharmacies, despite a federal system designed to buy medicines directly from manufacturers.
FNC member Naama Al Sharhan said revisiting medicine pricing, even if limited to essential drugs, would have a direct and positive impact on patients, especially those managing long-term illnesses such as diabetes and high blood pressure. She described the health minister’s response as flexible and encouraging, stressing that proper follow-up would be key to turning recommendations into real change.
She also pointed to weak monitoring as a major reason prices still vary between pharmacies, despite existing regulations. “Prices are said to be unified, but in reality, they’re not,” she noted.
Transparency and local manufacturing emerged as major themes during the session. Al Sharhan said expanding domestic pharmaceutical production would strengthen national drug security and help shift public perception about locally made medicines.
“Medicines produced in the UAE meet global standards and are competitive in quality,” she said.
Echoing those concerns, FNC member Mohammed Al Kashf called for price differences between the UAE and other markets to be “almost non-existent,” warning against excessive pricing and market dominance by major companies. While official price lists already exist, he noted that some medicines still see inflated prices during periods of high demand, something he said stronger regulation must address.
Both lawmakers agreed that expanding local manufacturing should be a top priority, alongside securing raw materials and encouraging global drugmakers to produce in the UAE. If successful, officials say patients, especially those dependent on long-term medication, will feel the difference at pharmacy counters.
