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One of the world’s leading engineering, architecture, environmental and construction services companies, GHD has extended its design stage agreement with Al Jalila Foundation to oversee construction of Al Jalila Foundation Research Centre in Dubai.
This will be the first standalone medical research centre in the UAE and will focus on five regional health challenges: diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular diseases, cancer and mental health. Once established, the centre will undertake medical research programs in purpose built facilities.
The new 10-storey building is to be co-located with a major new academic health science centre within Dubai Healthcare City. It will have three floors of research laboratories, as well as clinic spaces, administration and spaces for other partner organisations.
GHD led a multidisciplinary team through the design phases of the project, with specialist healthcare architecture services being undertaken by IBI Group.
Dr Abdulkareem Sultan Al Olama, CEO of Al Jalila Foundation, commented: “We are very pleased with the design, which presents Al Jalila Foundation Research Centre as the world-class institution it will be. As the UAE’s first independent multidisciplinary medical research centre, we hope that it will inspire local youths to study biomedical science, and provide a solid foundation for cutting-edge medical findings that will address the region’s most pressing health challenges. We thank GHD and IBI Group for helping us transform this vision into a reality.”
Iain Caution, GHD’s Project Director, said, “We are proud of our significant involvement in this landmark project for Dubai. Our team has worked closely with Al Jalila Foundation to deliver the design and we are delighted to extend our services into the construction phase.”
Al Jalila Foundation aims to promote the UAE as a centre of excellence in the field of medical education and research, and position Dubai at the forefront of medical innovation. The not-for-profit organisation will fund ground breaking studies to be undertaken at the centre. The foundation is named after Sheikha Al Jalila, daughter of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.