Today's Edition
BATOOL GHAITH (ABU DHABI)
Abu Dhabi is rapidly emerging as a global hub for cancer care, where cutting‑edge technology and compassionate patient‑centred treatment is transforming outcomes for thousands of patients in the UAE and across the region.
In October 2025, the Abu Dhabi Stem Cells Centre (ADSCC) announced the launch of the UAE’s first Tumour‑Infiltrating Lymphocytes (TILs) immunotherapy programme, using patients’ own immune cells to target and destroy cancer cells.
This personalised treatment represents a shift towards precision medicine in oncology, offering new hope for sufferers of aggressive cancers that traditionally respond poorly to conventional therapies.
“On World Cancer Day, we reaffirm our commitment to advancing cancer research and expanding access to innovative therapies. The initiation of Tumour-Infiltrating Lymphocytes research and the incorporation of CAR-T cell therapy, each introduced for the first time in the UAE, mark a significant advancement in the nation’s immunotherapy capabilities,” Prof. Yendry Ventura, CEO, ADSCC told Aletihad.
Beyond clinical translation, Ventura said that ADSCC is placing strong emphasis on fundamental research in cancer immunology and cancer biology to drive long-term innovation.
“By developing these advanced programmes locally, we aim to reduce the need for patients to seek treatment abroad and support the UAE’s vision for world-class, patient-centred healthcare,” Ventura added.
Also at the forefront of clinical cancer care in the UAE is Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, whose Fatima bint Mubarak Center for Cancer Care has treated thousands since its opening, delivering multidisciplinary treatment plans that include screening, diagnostic testing, radiation therapy, chemotherapy and precision cellular therapies.
In its first year alone, the centre attended to more than 3,000 new patients and administered tens of thousands of treatments, cementing its central role in the UAE’s oncology ecosystem.
The centre has also embraced artificial intelligence to enhance detection and personalised care, with adaptive radiotherapy that adjusts treatment in real time based on tumour position, and AI‑assisted colonoscopy units that improve screening accuracy for colorectal cancer, the leading cancer among men in the UAE.
Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi has also achieved a surgical first with the UAE’s robotic‑assisted DIEP flap breast reconstruction, offering breast cancer survivors a minimally invasive option that preserves muscle function and accelerates recovery.
Beyond treatment, organisations such as the Cancer Patient Care Society (Rahma) work to support patients and connect them with care resources, highlighting the community and humanitarian dimension of the cancer fight in the UAE.
As the UAE marks World Cancer Day, the country’s trajectory in oncology and innovation underscores a commitment not only to treating disease but to pioneering a future where cancer care treatment is personalised, technologically advanced and rooted firmly in compassionate care.
