On June 10, 2026, Dubai launched the Dubai Authority for Healthy Longevity, aiming to make the emirate the world's leading hub for regulated longevity.
The authority was established through Law No. 17 of 2026, issued by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. Its mandate is to build a science-driven, risk-proportionate regulatory framework for longevity-related therapies and innovations, covering the full value chain from research and development through to clinical trials, manufacturing, and patient care.
Dubai has previously created authorities for sectors like space, artificial intelligence and virtual assets, often ahead of other jurisdictions. The longevity sector has gained momentum globally as advances in biotechnology and life sciences offer new possibilities for extending healthy lifespan. However, many jurisdictions lack clear regulatory frameworks for these emerging therapies, creating an opportunity for Dubai to establish itself as a regulated hub.
What this means in practice: researchers, biotech companies, and clinicians working on therapies that extend healthy lifespan now have a dedicated regulatory body in Dubai to work with. That is different from simply having a health ministry. It is a government institution whose entire mandate is longevity.
The longevity and wellness sector represents one of the fastest-growing economic frontiers globally. Dubai is positioning itself early to capture investment and talent in this emerging field, which combines biotechnology, life sciences and medical innovation.
Whether other cities will follow is an open question. The infrastructure required, regulatory capacity, investment, and a government willing to move ahead of established consensus, is not trivial. But the signal from Dubai is clear. Living longer and living better is being treated as a policy priority, not just a personal ambition.