MSD, a leading global pharmaceutical company (NYSE: MRK) has inaugurated its newly redesigned regional headquarters in the presence of H.E. Dr. Amin Hussain Al Amiri, Assistant Undersecretary of Public Health Policy and Licensing at the UAE Ministry of Health and Prevention; Meghan Gregonis, the U.S. Consul General in Dubai and Cara Nazari, Managing Director, AmCham Dubai.
Key MSD executives including Renan Ozyerli, Region President, Eastern Europe Middle East and Africa (EEMEA) and Ashraf Mallak, Managing Director, MSD GCC attended the event along with more than 200 team members who joined through digital channels to celebrate the company’s newly launched hybrid working model and Ways of Working philosophy. The goal of MSD’s new Ways of Working philosophy is to ensure that the workplace environment enhances collaboration, networking, employee experience and supports the team’s ability to respond quickly to changing business needs. In line with this philosophy, MSD’s Work From Home Policy offers a high degree of flexibility to provide employees the option to select their workplace according to their preferences and business requirements while maintaining the best possible work-life balance.
MSD has been operating in the UAE through a local partner network, establishing its first office in the UAE in Abu Dhabi in 2002 and in Dubai Healthcare City in 2011. The Dubai headquarters oversees key regional markets including the GCC and also caters towards EEMEA. The company’s portfolio in the GCC has grown from primary care, providing treatments for pain, cholesterol, and diabetes to now also covering hospital acute care, oncology and vaccines. MSD has more than 300 employees across the region, including more than 140 employees in the UAE, with 47 local market authorizations and plans to introduce four new products this fiscal year.
H.E. Dr. Amin Hussain Al Amiri, Assistant Undersecretary of Public Health Policy and Licensing at the UAE Ministry of Health and Prevention said, “The UAE’s strong commercial infrastructure and the organisational facilities provided to companies have made it an ideal destination for international pharmaceutical companies to operate and manage their operations across the region. This has also contributed to providing a package of attractive investment opportunities for pharmaceutical companies in a highly competitive atmosphere. ”
Dr. Al Amiri also highlighted the ministry’s keenness to strengthen the strategic partnership with global pharmaceutical companies to ensure early access to innovative medicines, and provide the best treatments to patients, along with supporting the pharmaco-economics system in the UAE. This is in line with the ministry’s strategy to provide comprehensive and innovative healthcare to community members in accordance with the highest international standards, he noted.
“Our cooperation with MSD with regards to the regulatory file for a new COVID-19 treatment falls within the pioneering efforts being made by the UAE in terms of the effective response to the pandemic, by attracting and providing innovative medicines proven to the effective and efficient, to be incorporated into treatment protocols.”
Renan Ozyerli, Region President, Eastern Europe Middle East and Africa (EEMEA) added, “I am very proud to visit the United Arab Emirates to inaugurate the GCC headquarters. The country has a special significance to MSD, both for the EEMEA region and globally. Our company has maintained a presence here for close to 30 years, and this new location demonstrates our continuing commitment to saving and improving the lives of patients and communities in the UAE and the broader GCC region.”
Ashraf Mallak, Managing Director, MSD, GCC added, “We are very pleased to host H.E. Dr. Amin Hussain Al Amiri and members of the US embassy and AmCham as we celebrate the inauguration of our regional offices. Grateful for the years of partnership and support received from the UAE’s leadership in reaching our innovations to the patient community, I also want to commend the national efforts in successfully managing the pandemic and allowing a return to work We took the time away to reimagine how we use our physical spaces and want to reinforce our commitment to the UAE through our continued investments. Our most valuable assets continue to be our team and they are instrumental in driving our growth, capabilities and business partnerships.
The Activity Based Workplace concept, implemented at MSD UAE provides employees with a choice of work environments that can help balance individual and collaborative time. Spread over two floors, covering an area of 1400 sqm. The hybrid workspace has been developed by Kinnarps Project Solutions, a design and build firm. The newly designed space is interspersed with open collaborative spaces, innovation areas, focus rooms, a library, state-of-the-art fitness equipment, a pink room for the female colleagues and video conferencing facilities. The design and ambient features have been inspired by input from the teams and reflect MSD’s core values.
Meghan Gregonis, the U.S. Consul General in Dubai stated, “MSD brings to the region over 350 years of global heritage within innovation and is a shining example among U.S. pharmaceutical companies investing in the UAE’s vision of a diversified knowledge-based economy that also is a hub for medical tourism. The UAE is the US’ largest export destination in the Middle East, demonstrating the success of the UAE’s increasingly diverse economy with non-oil sectors accounting for 70% of the GDP.”
Cara Nazari Managing Director, AmCham, said, “With the inauguration of this amazing office, MSD is clearly reaffirming its commitment to be a trusted partner to the U.A.E. and the region. We, at AmCham Dubai also trust that this reaffirms their deepening engagement as members. Our board has recognized many times during the global crisis how grateful we are to call the UAE home and we are equally inspired by all that team America has put forth! MSD is certainly a leading contributor in this regard, and we wish them continued success!”
MSD has been recognized among the number one Best Workplaces™ in Pharma and Healthcare sector in the GCC region by Great Place to Work® for its employee engagement, inclusive culture and a diverse team representing more than 30 nationalities. MSD has rolled out the hybrid work model in several countries across the world, combining in-person collaboration and remote work, supporting breakthrough innovation and business results while enabling better team collaboration, enhanced flexibility and improving employee well-being and experience.
