UAE advances global health through fertility research and polio eradication

The Department of Health – Abu Dhabi (DoH) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Merck to advance fertility and reproductive medicine. The partnership, announced during the Abu Dhabi Future Health Summit 2026, focuses on professional education, scientific exchange, and research. A primary objective is the establishment of a Fertility and IVF Centre of Excellence and Academy in the UAE to facilitate workforce development and knowledge transfer across the Middle East, Africa, and Asia-Pacific.

In separate global health efforts, UAE Minister of Health and Prevention Ahmed Ali Al Sayegh reported that a UAE-led program has delivered over 850 million polio vaccine doses in Pakistan since 2014. The Minister noted that President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan has contributed $525 million to international polio eradication efforts since 2011.

Additionally, the UAE supports disease detection and outbreak response in Africa through Dubai Humanitarian and eHealth Africa. These initiatives have helped coordinate polio outbreak responses in 26 African countries and supported immunization drives for over 14.6 million children in Nigeria.