The 2026 Abu Dhabi Investment Forum was recently held in Shanghai. This edition of the forum concentrated on emerging industries such as artificial intelligence (AI), esports, advanced manufacturing, cross-border investment, the experience economy, green energy, and the low-altitude economy. It discussed topics including cross-border financial empowerment, corporate international expansion support, and bilateral industrial implementation through keynote presentations and thematic dialogues.
Wang Xingli, Co-President and CEO of the Innovative Drug Business Unit of Fosun Pharma, participated as a representative of Chinese enterprises in a roundtable discussion. Centered on the theme of "Unlocking Cross-Border Investment Opportunities," he shared Fosun Pharma's strategic positioning and collaborative practices in the Middle Eastern market.
Wang Xingli noted that Abu Dhabi is not only a hub of capital but also a crucial strategic fulcrum for Fosun Pharma's global strategy. He stated that the company plans to deeply integrate into the Middle Eastern healthcare system and expand into global emerging markets through collaborative development, capability co-creation, and ecosystem synergy.
During the forum dialogue, Wang Xingli explained that the core rationale for Fosun Pharma's focus on Abu Dhabi and the broader Middle East market lies in "market complementarity and capability complementarity." He pointed out: "The Middle East is a vital hub for the 5 billion people in global emerging markets, while China has already achieved global competitiveness in innovative drug R&D, cost, and accessibility. We aim to leverage affordable innovation, combined with Abu Dhabi's investment and operational strengths, to benefit more patients worldwide."
In April 2026, Fosun Pharma entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with Arcera Life Sciences LLC OPC, a global life sciences company headquartered in Abu Dhabi, UAE. The two parties will establish a long-term strategic partnership focusing on licensing, technology development, innovation in neuroscience, and value creation within the global life sciences sector.
This collaboration closely aligns with the "Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between China and the United Arab Emirates" and Abu Dhabi's Vision 2030 for Healthcare and Life Sciences. It aims to effectively combine Fosun Pharma's globalized innovation, R&D, and manufacturing capabilities with Arcera's strengths in regional market access and commercial systems.
The partnership is dedicated to establishing Abu Dhabi as a core hub connecting Chinese biotech innovation with the global market, accelerating the delivery of innovative breakthrough therapies to patients in the Middle East and beyond.
Specifically, the parties will evaluate and promote the licensing and commercialization of Fosun Pharma's innovative products, which are already marketed in China or in late-stage clinical development, within the Middle Eastern and global markets. Potential collaborative projects cover areas including oncology, neurodegenerative diseases, rare diseases, and cardiovascular and metabolic disorders.
Furthermore, both sides plan to explore establishing localized cooperation in Abu Dhabi, focusing on cutting-edge technologies such as small molecules, biologics, radiopharmaceuticals, siRNA, and cell and gene therapies, with the goal of fostering local independent R&D capabilities.
Wang Xingli stated that Fosun Pharma's objective is to evolve into a China-originated multinational pharmaceutical company (C-MNC), and Abu Dhabi will be a significant engine for achieving this goal. Looking ahead, through deep synergy with Arcera and leveraging the systematic capabilities Fosun Pharma has accumulated over more than three decades in global R&D and industrialization, the partnership will be infused with greater confidence. This will accelerate the introduction of innovative therapies in the Middle East and globally, ensuring that innovations originating from China benefit more patients worldwide.
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