Crown Prince Hamdan Approves Dubai Longevity Authority Strategy and Budget
The Dubai Longevity Authority, the world's first dedicated regulator for the longevity, wellness and advanced health sector, has received strategic and budgetary approval from H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum following its inaugural board meeting.
The Dubai Longevity Authority (DLA) has secured formal approval of its strategy and operating budget from H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence, marking a significant milestone in the Authority’s transition from establishment to active implementation.
Established under Law No. (17) of 2026 and operating under the presidency of His Highness the Crown Prince, the DLA represents a pioneering approach to regulating the longevity, wellness and advanced health sector. The Authority operates under the chairmanship of Helal Saeed Almarri, Director General of the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism, and encompasses a comprehensive governance model designed to oversee the entire value chain from research and clinical trials through to manufacturing, market delivery and responsible commercialisation.
The inaugural board meeting brought together leading figures from Dubai’s government and health sectors, including Omar Sultan Al Olama, Director General of the Office of the Crown Prince of Dubai; Dr. Alawi Alsheikh-Ali, Director General of the Dubai Health Authority; Eng. Marwan Ahmed bin Ghalita, Director General of Dubai Municipality; Khalfan Belhoul, Chief Executive Officer of the Dubai Future Foundation; and Dr. Amer Sharif, Chief Executive Officer of Dubai Health.
Central to the DLA’s approach is its Minimum Viable Product (MVP) programme, a controlled environment enabling selected innovators to test, refine and scale solutions under professional supervision. This regulatory framework prioritises progressive enablement whilst maintaining rigorous standards, allowing public and private sectors to advance in tandem rather than sequentially.
Beyond its regulatory responsibilities, the Authority carries a shared mandate to enable the wider ecosystem, encompassing investment, intellectual property development, talent acquisition and infrastructure enhancement. This holistic approach positions Dubai to build a globally competitive industry capable of evolving dynamically and establishing international benchmarks for the sector.
H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed emphasised that Dubai’s development model places people’s health, wellbeing and quality of life at its core, with the DLA’s strategy establishing Dubai as a leading global hub for longevity and advanced health solutions. The Authority’s work supports the objectives of both the Dubai Economic Agenda D33 and the Dubai Social Agenda 33.
Looking forward, the DLA will deepen its regulatory capability, advance the MVP programme in partnership with key government entities, and expand focus to strategic partnerships, investor enablement and globally operable frameworks for data and intellectual property protection.
Source: WAM