Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06DUBAI3808
2006-06-19 11:43:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Consulate Dubai
Cable title:
DUBAI ESTABLISHES BIOTECHNOLOGY FREE ZONE
how-toVZCZCXRO3275 RR RUEHDE DE RUEHDE #3808 1701143 ZNY CCCCC ZZH R 191143Z JUN 06 FM AMCONSUL DUBAI TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 1589 INFO RUCPDOC/USDOC WASHDC 0014 RUEHAD/AMEMBASSY ABU DHABI 1567 RUEHAM/AMEMBASSY AMMAN 0039 RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC RHEHAAA/NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL WASHINGTON DC RUEHZM/GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL COLLECTIVE RUEHOT/AMEMBASSY OTTAWA 0065 RUEHDE/AMCONSUL DUBAI 4562
C O N F I D E N T I A L DUBAI 003808
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR U/S JOSEPH, ISN, NEA/ARP
NSC FOR DSTEPHENS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 6/13/2016
TAGS: TBIO ETTC SENV TNGD TSPL AE EINV
SUBJECT: DUBAI ESTABLISHES BIOTECHNOLOGY FREE ZONE
CLASSIFIED BY: Jillian L. Burns, Acting Consul General, Dubai,
UAE.
REASON: 1.4 (e)
C O N F I D E N T I A L DUBAI 003808
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR U/S JOSEPH, ISN, NEA/ARP
NSC FOR DSTEPHENS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 6/13/2016
TAGS: TBIO ETTC SENV TNGD TSPL AE EINV
SUBJECT: DUBAI ESTABLISHES BIOTECHNOLOGY FREE ZONE
CLASSIFIED BY: Jillian L. Burns, Acting Consul General, Dubai,
UAE.
REASON: 1.4 (e)
1.(SBU) Summary: Dubai Biotechnology and Research Park
(DuBiotech) is a free zone focused on biotechnology research and
development, rather than manufacturing. The Director of
Business Development told PolEconoffs it will be subject to UAE
laws and regulations, and the UAE Ministry of Health and Dubai's
Department of Health and Medical Services will also have
regulatory oversight. The free zone's headquarters building,
university/library and community laboratories are scheduled to
open in 2008. End Summary.
2.(SBU) On June 12, PolEconoffs visited the temporary
headquarters of Dubai Biotechnology and Research Park
(DuBiotech) at Dubai Media City and spoke with Yahya Al Ansari,
Director of Business Development. Ansari said DuBiotech's free
zone will be subject to UAE laws and regulations, like any free
zone in Dubai. Additionally, the UAE Ministry of Health and
Dubai's Department of Health and Medical Services have
regulatory oversight. DuBiotech is working with RTI
International to establish a regulatory framework based on
international standards that applies specifically to health and
safety, environmental management and laboratory operations. RTI
International is a non-profit scientific research and
development corporation headquartered in North Carolina.
3.(SBU) Ansari claimed DuBiotech's focus will be biotechnology
research and development. The complex will house laboratory
space which can be rented, a university/library building, retail
and commercial spaces, and offer long term (30-50 year) land
leases for entities to establish their own buildings. Single
offices and "hot desks" -- with their own PO Boxes designed for
independent researchers or businesses that want a small regional
presence -- are also available. Industrial areas for businesses
to manufacture pharmaceuticals or medical equipment at DuBiotech
for export are planned, but Ansari pointed out these
manufacturers could just as easily operate at a well established
free zone such as the Jebel Ali Free Zone. For this reason,
Ansari envisions DuBiotech's niche as research and development.
Ansari believes companies will come to Dubiotech because of its
world-class infrastructure, collaborative and university-like
atmosphere, as well as the opportunity Middle East expansion
presents. He said UAE government researchers -- through the
Foundation for Research and Innovation -- will also be located
at DuBiotech and initial work will be on issues of particular
concern to Arabs, such as thalassemia, a genetic blood disorder
endemic in all Arab countries.
4.(SBU) Ansari told PolEconoffs eleven companies are already
working at temporary offices in Dubai Media City and most of
them are planning the construction of their own buildings at
DuBiotech. Ansari said ten more businesses are in various
stages of application processing. DuBiotech is also courting US
and Canadian universities -- names of which he would not share
-- as partners. DuBiotech broke ground in June on its future
site near DubaiLand and Emirates Road 311. Ansari said the
headquarters building, university/library and laboratory spaces
are scheduled to open in 2008. PolEconoffs drove past the site
and witnessed three bulldozers -- only one in operation -- in a
vast, largely undisturbed, camel pasture.
5.(C) Comment: As DuBiotech develops into a fully-operational
free zone, it will require careful scrutiny to prevent abuse in
three particular areas of concern. First, ensuring that
proliferators do not use the research facilities to develop WMD.
Second, preventing the diversion of controlled technology and
equipment. Depending on the due diligence and oversight
provided by DuBiotech, "hot desks" in particular could function
as inexpensive cut-outs for proliferators to move technology.
Third, ensuring that DuBiotech does not become a platform for
counterfeiting or other forms of IPR violations.
BURNS
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR U/S JOSEPH, ISN, NEA/ARP
NSC FOR DSTEPHENS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 6/13/2016
TAGS: TBIO ETTC SENV TNGD TSPL AE EINV
SUBJECT: DUBAI ESTABLISHES BIOTECHNOLOGY FREE ZONE
CLASSIFIED BY: Jillian L. Burns, Acting Consul General, Dubai,
UAE.
REASON: 1.4 (e)
1.(SBU) Summary: Dubai Biotechnology and Research Park
(DuBiotech) is a free zone focused on biotechnology research and
development, rather than manufacturing. The Director of
Business Development told PolEconoffs it will be subject to UAE
laws and regulations, and the UAE Ministry of Health and Dubai's
Department of Health and Medical Services will also have
regulatory oversight. The free zone's headquarters building,
university/library and community laboratories are scheduled to
open in 2008. End Summary.
2.(SBU) On June 12, PolEconoffs visited the temporary
headquarters of Dubai Biotechnology and Research Park
(DuBiotech) at Dubai Media City and spoke with Yahya Al Ansari,
Director of Business Development. Ansari said DuBiotech's free
zone will be subject to UAE laws and regulations, like any free
zone in Dubai. Additionally, the UAE Ministry of Health and
Dubai's Department of Health and Medical Services have
regulatory oversight. DuBiotech is working with RTI
International to establish a regulatory framework based on
international standards that applies specifically to health and
safety, environmental management and laboratory operations. RTI
International is a non-profit scientific research and
development corporation headquartered in North Carolina.
3.(SBU) Ansari claimed DuBiotech's focus will be biotechnology
research and development. The complex will house laboratory
space which can be rented, a university/library building, retail
and commercial spaces, and offer long term (30-50 year) land
leases for entities to establish their own buildings. Single
offices and "hot desks" -- with their own PO Boxes designed for
independent researchers or businesses that want a small regional
presence -- are also available. Industrial areas for businesses
to manufacture pharmaceuticals or medical equipment at DuBiotech
for export are planned, but Ansari pointed out these
manufacturers could just as easily operate at a well established
free zone such as the Jebel Ali Free Zone. For this reason,
Ansari envisions DuBiotech's niche as research and development.
Ansari believes companies will come to Dubiotech because of its
world-class infrastructure, collaborative and university-like
atmosphere, as well as the opportunity Middle East expansion
presents. He said UAE government researchers -- through the
Foundation for Research and Innovation -- will also be located
at DuBiotech and initial work will be on issues of particular
concern to Arabs, such as thalassemia, a genetic blood disorder
endemic in all Arab countries.
4.(SBU) Ansari told PolEconoffs eleven companies are already
working at temporary offices in Dubai Media City and most of
them are planning the construction of their own buildings at
DuBiotech. Ansari said ten more businesses are in various
stages of application processing. DuBiotech is also courting US
and Canadian universities -- names of which he would not share
-- as partners. DuBiotech broke ground in June on its future
site near DubaiLand and Emirates Road 311. Ansari said the
headquarters building, university/library and laboratory spaces
are scheduled to open in 2008. PolEconoffs drove past the site
and witnessed three bulldozers -- only one in operation -- in a
vast, largely undisturbed, camel pasture.
5.(C) Comment: As DuBiotech develops into a fully-operational
free zone, it will require careful scrutiny to prevent abuse in
three particular areas of concern. First, ensuring that
proliferators do not use the research facilities to develop WMD.
Second, preventing the diversion of controlled technology and
equipment. Depending on the due diligence and oversight
provided by DuBiotech, "hot desks" in particular could function
as inexpensive cut-outs for proliferators to move technology.
Third, ensuring that DuBiotech does not become a platform for
counterfeiting or other forms of IPR violations.
BURNS