Abu Dhabi Biobank has broadened access to cord blood donation services through a new partnership with NMC Healthcare, making the option available at five NMC hospitals across the UAE. The collaboration, announced September 23, 2025, aims to increase the collection of cord blood, which is rich in stem cells and used in treatments for a range of diseases.
Expectant parents at NMC Royal Hospital – Abu Dhabi, NMC Royal Hospital – Khalifa City, NMC Specialty Hospital – Abu Dhabi, NMC Royal Hospital – Mohammed Bin Zayed City, and NMC Specialty Hospital – Al Ain will now be offered the choice of donating their child’s cord blood to public banks or storing it privately. According to Abu Dhabi Biobank, cord blood has been utilized in over 60,000 transplants globally to treat more than 80 conditions, including blood disorders, immune deficiencies, and certain cancers.
Paul Downey, General Manager of Abu Dhabi Biobank, stated that “Every cord blood sample is a promise of hope and medical breakthroughs.” The partnership seeks to address the fact that over 95 percent of cord blood is currently discarded after birth, often due to a lack of awareness among expectant parents.
The Abu Dhabi Biobank, established in 2006, is the UAE’s only government facility offering both public and private cord blood banking. It is accredited by the Association for Advancement of Blood and Biotherapies. The Biobank currently has the capacity to store up to 100,000 cord blood units. A separate partnership between Abu Dhabi Biobank and Mediclinic Middle East was previously established to further expand public cord blood donation services.
The Dubai Cord Blood & Research Center (DCRC), similarly a government facility, offers similar services. Both the Abu Dhabi Biobank and the DCRC advocate for the importance of cord blood stem cell donation to build substantial registries for future medical use.
