Kuehne+Nagel has received official certification from the Emirates Drug Establishment (EDE) in the United Arab Emirates, authorizing it to store and handle raw pharmaceutical materials at its logistics facility in Dubai South.
This certification significantly enhances the company’s capabilities in the healthcare and life sciences sector, allowing it to offer more comprehensive services to pharmaceutical clients across the entire production cycle.
End-to-end logistics solutions
The certification complements Kuehne+Nagel’s existing licence to store finished medical products, enabling the company to provide end-to-end logistics solutions from raw materials to final distribution. This move is particularly important for supporting pharmaceutical supply chains in the Middle East and Africa, where compliant storage and handling of sensitive raw materials such as active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) and excipients are essential.
Leon Diradourian, Managing Director for the GCC Cluster at Kuehne+Nagel, emphasized that this development strengthens the company’s service offering for the healthcare sector, ensuring clients receive full support throughout their production and distribution processes.
To obtain the certification, Kuehne+Nagel’s designated pharmacist, Safa Alkhayat, completed a formal evaluation and became licensed to manage raw pharmaceutical substances in line with Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) standards. This individual qualification was a key requirement for securing approval from the UAE Ministry of Health.
The company’s 42,000-square-meter facility in Dubai South includes 25,500 square meters of temperature-controlled space dedicated to healthcare. It features cold storage areas maintained at 2–8°C and restricted zones with strict access controls. The site adheres to global standards such as GMP, Good Distribution Practice (GDP), and Good Storage Practice (GSP), backed by advanced security and monitoring systems. This achievement solidifies Kuehne+Nagel’s role as a critical logistics provider in the regional healthcare sector.