Emirates Drug Establishment outlines regulatory cooperation at GCORAS 2026 in Seoul
The Emirates Drug Establishment joined regulators and industry at the Global Cosmetics Regulatory Authority Summit, leveraging the UAE–Korea CEPA and new reference-authority ties to deepen cooperation in medicines and medical technologies.
EDE promotes regulatory partnership and technology transfer in Seoul
The Emirates Drug Establishment (EDE) underscored the UAE’s drive to strengthen regulatory frameworks and industry ties at the Global Cosmetics Regulatory Authority Summit (GCORAS 2026) in Seoul. The delegation was led by Director‑General Dr Fatima Al Kaabi and included senior officials from the Establishment.
Dr Al Kaabi opened the summit with remarks on the need to pair innovation with robust regulation to nurture competitive, sustainable healthcare and pharmaceutical sectors. She cited the Korean beauty industry as an exemplar of advanced technology, product safety and market access, and highlighted how recent bilateral advances create fresh opportunities for cooperation.
The UAE’s participation followed two consequential developments earlier this year: the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) between the UAE and the Republic of Korea, which entered into force on 1 May 2026, and the designation of Korea’s Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) as a reference regulatory authority by the Emirates Drug Establishment. Together, these steps are intended to facilitate institutional cooperation and commercial engagement across pharmaceutical and medical markets.
At GCORAS, the EDE joined as a founding member of the platform, which organisers described as a vehicle for regulatory cooperation and the exchange of expertise. EDE’s membership is expected to broaden channels for technical dialogue on issues such as medical cosmetics and related medical products.
During the visit, Dr Al Kaabi held discussions with Jamal Abdulla Al Suwaidi, UAE Ambassador to the Republic of Korea, focusing on ways to deepen UAE–Korea collaboration in the medical products industry. The EDE delegation also conducted two bilateral meetings with representatives of the MFDS, attended by Dr Yu Kyung Oh, Minister of Food and Drug Safety, to review progress under their memorandum of understanding and to explore further areas for partnership.
Topics on the agenda included innovative medical technologies, research and development, medical devices, World Health Organization benchmarking, herbal medicines and the regulation of genetically modified organisms. The delegation met Lee Hyung Hoon, Second Vice Minister of Health and Welfare, to discuss expanding healthcare cooperation and technical aspects of integrating traditional and complementary medicine into mainstream clinical settings.
As part of engagement with Korea’s industrial sector, the EDE delegation held meetings and site visits with five firms developing Advanced Therapy Medicinal Products (ATMPs): MEDIPOST, Biosolution, CORESTEMCHEMON Inc., CHA Biotech Co., Ltd. and ORGANOID SCIENCES Ltd. The companies outlined capabilities and plans for the UAE market while EDE briefed them on regulatory requirements, government support for innovation and prospects for localisation.
EDE described its presence at GCORAS 2026 as consistent with a strategic aim to draw on international expertise and accelerate regulatory practices that support safe, innovative medical products in the UAE.
Source: WAM