e-Pharmatimes

UAE Ends Medicine Monopolies: New Pharma Rule to Lower Drug Costs UAE Announces New Pharmaceutical Rule to Break Medicine Monopolies and Lower Drug Costs In a landmark move for the Middle Eastern healthcare sector, the Emirates Drug Establishment (EDE) has officially activated a new regulatory mechanism aimed at ending the "single-agent" monopoly over medical products in the UAE. As of February 24, 2026, pharmaceutical manufacturers are now required to register multiple authorized agents for each medicine, moving away from exclusive distribution rights that have historically kept prices high. Key Objectives of the New Rule Breaking Monopolies: Prevents any single distributor from having exclusive control over the pricing and availability of vital medications. Lowering Drug Costs: Increased competition among various authorized agents is ex...