Sheikh Hamdan visited the Aster Pharmacy distribution centre in Dubai, highlighting technology and private-sector collaboration in strengthening healthcare services.
DUBAI: Sheikh Hamdan visited the Aster Pharmacy distribution centre in Dubai Industrial City on September 11, highlighting the role of advanced technology and private-sector investment in strengthening the emirate’s healthcare infrastructure.
The Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence of the UAE, and Chairman of The Executive Council of Dubai toured the 145,000 sq ft pharmaceutical facility, described by Aster as one of the largest warehouses of its kind in the region.
During the visit, Sheikh Hamdan highlighted the private sector’s role in building an efficient and reliable healthcare system. He also stressed the importance of cooperation between government and private businesses in ensuring communities have access to high-quality medicines and medical supplies.
Aster DM Healthcare Founder and Chairman Dr Azad Moopen and Managing Director and Group CEO Alisha Moopen briefed Sheikh Hamdan on the distribution centre’s operations and its role in supporting Aster’s network across the UAE and wider GCC.
The scale of those operations is significant. According to Aster, the facility handles approximately 75,000 transactions every day and supports a UAE network comprising 350 pharmacies, 120 medical clinics and 15 hospitals.
Automation is central to the facility’s operations, with Aster using an advanced robotic warehouse system to improve the speed and accuracy of medicine distribution.
Sheikh Hamdan commended the facility’s approach to innovation and its use of technology to improve operational efficiency. He also expressed support for Aster’s continued growth and adoption of solutions designed to enhance healthcare services in the UAE.
The visit reflects Dubai’s wider push to use technology and private-sector expertise to develop critical services as the city’s population and economy continue to expand.
Dr Moopen said the company remains committed to supporting Dubai’s vision for a “world-class, technology-enabled healthcare system”.
Sheikh Hamdan was accompanied during the visit by Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy and Remote Work Applications Omar Sultan Al Olama, Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism Director General Helal Saeed Almarri and TECOM Group Chairman Malek Al Malek.
The Sheikh Hamdan visit also puts a spotlight on the increasingly important infrastructure operating behind everyday healthcare. While hospitals and pharmacies are the most visible parts of the system for patients, large-scale pharmaceutical distribution centres play a crucial role in ensuring medicines reach healthcare providers reliably and efficiently.
