Abu Dhabi announces Middle East’s first eye bank for corneal transplants
Local infrastructure to reduce reliance on imported donor corneas
ABU DHABI – The UAE capital is set to establish the Middle East’s first eye bank following a landmark partnership between Abu Dhabi Biobank (ADBB) and Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, marking another major step in the emirate’s drive to become a global centre for advanced healthcare and transplantation services.
The collaboration agreement was signed during the BIO International Convention 2026 in San Diego, US, between Abu Dhabi Biobank, a strategic initiative of the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi (DoH) and M42, and Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, part of the University of Miami Health System. The initiative aims to strengthen corneal transplantation services while improving access to sight-restoring treatment across the UAE and the wider Middle East.
The announcement builds on a partnership launched last year, when DoH and Bascom Palmer Eye Institute agreed to establish the institute’s first international facility in Abu Dhabi, bringing its internationally recognised ophthalmic care, research and medical education programmes to the emirate.
Abu Dhabi eye bank
The Abu Dhabi Biobank - Eye Bank is expected to become a key part of the emirate’s transplant and biobanking infrastructure. By creating local eye banking capabilities for the first time, the project will provide patients with faster and more reliable access to corneal transplants while reducing dependence on imported donor tissue.
The facility will recover, process, preserve and distribute donor corneal tissue in accordance with international standards. Establishing a local supply chain from donor to recipient is expected to minimise logistical challenges, reduce supply uncertainty and shorten delays associated with sourcing tissue from overseas. It will also strengthen quality assurance, improve traceability and support better patient outcomes.
Dr Noura Khamis Al Ghaithi, Undersecretary of the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi, said the partnership reflects the emirate’s commitment to delivering world-class healthcare and specialised medical expertise closer to home.
She said Abu Dhabi continues to strengthen its position as a globally connected healthcare hub by combining innovation, international collaboration and advanced technology to accelerate the delivery of next-generation, patient-centred care.
Corneal transplantation
Beyond supporting clinical care, the eye bank is designed to strengthen long-term regional self-sufficiency in corneal transplantation while creating critical infrastructure for future research and medical training.
Albarah El Khani, Chief Operating Officer of Integrated Health Solutions at M42, said the project would restore sight, reduce reliance on imported tissue and establish sustainable transplant capabilities across the region.
He added that the collaboration combines Bascom Palmer’s internationally recognised expertise with Abu Dhabi’s ambition to lead the future of healthcare, ensuring the eye bank is developed to the highest international standards from the outset.
Dr Zain Kenderian, Chief Executive Officer of Bascom Palmer Eye Institute Abu Dhabi, said the institute’s six decades of experience in ophthalmic care, research and education would support the long-term success of the initiative.
He described the eye bank as more than a storage and logistics facility, saying it would serve as essential infrastructure for transplantation science while supporting clinical training and research for years to come. The project is expected to strengthen sustainable, high-quality corneal donation and transplantation capabilities throughout the region.
The Abu Dhabi Biobank - Eye Bank will also work closely with Hayat, the UAE’s national organ donation initiative, on the recovery, processing, preservation and distribution of donor corneal tissue, creating an integrated system to support sight-restoring care across the country.