Abu Dhabi Biobank expands access to cord blood banking services with major NMC Healthcare partnership
In a move to advance personalized healthcare and expand its operations, Abu Dhabi Biobank has announced a collaboration with NMC Healthcare, one of the largest private healthcare providers in the region, to offer private cord blood storge services for families, helping secure a healthier future for their children, as well as public cord blood storage services to support research and the development of innovative treatments that are shaping the future of healthcare.
With more than 60,000 transplants performed globally using stem cells from umbilical cord blood, the demand for life-saving treatment using cord blood banking is growing. Cord blood, rich in lifesaving stem cells, has the potential to treat over 80 serious diseases, including blood disorders, immune deficiencies and certain cancers.
Through this partnership, expectant parents receiving care at NMC hospitals will now have seamless access to Abu Dhabi Biobank’s world-class cord blood banking services. This includes private cord blood storage services, while also giving expectant mothers the option to donate cord blood at birth, helping advance pioneering research and develop innovative treatments that can improve patients’ quality of life worldwide.
Paul Downey, General Manager, Abu Dhabi Biobank said: “More than 95% of cord blood is discarded as medical waste due to a lack of understanding of its benefits. Every cord blood sample is a promise of hope, healing and medical breakthroughs. We’re proud to be working with NMC Healthcare to ensure more families can be part of this powerful solution. With NMC’s extensive maternity and neonatal network, the partnership will ensure widespread availability and awareness of cord blood banking services, from education during prenatal care to safe, seamless collection during delivery.”
By integrating cord blood banking into trusted, family-focused healthcare settings across key branches of NMC, the partnership aims to empower more parents to contribute to a healthier, more resilient next generation. The service will be available 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.
Dr Zaka ullah Khan, Chief Clinical Officer, NMC healthcare added: “Our partnership with Abu Dhabi Biobank aligns perfectly with our commitment to offering comprehensive, personalised and future-ready care. Cord blood banking isn’t just a medical service, but a gift of health for tomorrow. We’re proud to make this option more accessible for the families we serve. As we celebrate our 50th anniversary this year, this collaboration is a significant step in expanding our healthcare services and continuing our contribution to build a robust, future-focused biomedical ecosystem in the UAE.”
The Abu Dhabi Biobank currently serves families across Abu Dhabi and Al Ain through trusted partner hospitals including Danat Al Emarat, Corniche Hospital and Kanad Hospital. It offers both public and affordable private banking options to expectant couples, helping families access this beneficial medical resource and saving lives. Equipped with advanced long-term storage capabilities, the biobank can preserve stem cells for up to 30 years, ensuring their viability for future therapeutic applications and access from anywhere in the world.
The initiative is part of a broader national effort to establish the UAE as a global hub for advanced medical research and innovation. By building one of the region’s largest cord blood repositories, Abu Dhabi Biobank is helping to unlock the potential of stem cell therapies and personalized medicine in the UAE and beyond. Located in Abu Dhabi’s Masdar City, the state-of-the-art, net-zero facility is equipped with advanced robotic systems that automate the processing, storage and retrieval of biological samples at scale and manages the end-to-end operations within the country.
Expectant families are encouraged to get in touch with Abu Dhabi Biobank advisors at 800 213 via call or WhatsApp or register at https://abudhabibiobank.ae/ or visit any of the NMC branches mentioned here.
