Regulatory Prospects of Clinical Trials with Stem Cells in the United Arab Emirates

Health research and clinical trials are driving the development of valuable medical knowledge. Many types of clinical research have been conducted in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) by governmental and private health providers in recent years, and a growing number of publications and UAE-based clinical trials have been registered worldwide. However, there are wide differences between the Emirates regarding the policies governing emerging stem cell therapies. This article aims to discuss the regulatory framework for conducting clinical trials involving stem cell therapies in the UAE. UAE-based clinical trials with stem cells were searched in international registries and national databases. Two health authorities are leading regulatory affairs on stem cells and regenerative medicine: The Department of Health - Abu Dhabi and Dubai Health Authority, while the public databases revealed 7 studies that investigated stem cells in the UAE. We recommend increasing the inter-organizational relationships between health authorities and regulated parties.