Medical Research Centre Development, Design, UAE Building, Architect, Images

Al Jalila Foundation Research Centre

Contemporary UAE Building – design by GHD and IBI Nightingale

4 Jun 2014

Al Jalila Foundation Research Centre in Dubai

Design: GHD and IBI Nightingale

GHD, IBI Nightingale and Al Jalila Foundation have unveiled the concept design for 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 new AED 100m centre will undertake medical research programmes 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.

IBI Nightingale has been assisting Dr Abdulkareem Sultan Al Olama, CEO of Al Jalila Foundation, and his team establish the vision for the project, and will shortly be progressing with a fast track programme of design development as part of a multi-disciplinary team headed by GHD.

“This is an exciting opportunity for us to develop a high quality landmark project, designed to embody the vision and values of Al Jalila Foundation. The curved form and elegant external treatment of the new Medical Research Centre is intended to give a focus to the Heart of the Dubai Healthcare City Masterplan and complement the massing that will complete the campus,” said Tony Burley, Project Director at IBI Nightingale.

Dr Abdulkareem Sultan Al Olama, Al Jalila Foundation CEO, commented: “We are very pleased with the designs, which present Al Jalila Foundation Research Centre as the world-class institution it will be. As the UAE’s first independent multi-disciplinary 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 Nightingale for helping us transform this vision into a reality.”

Al Jalila Foundation, 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, 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 groundbreaking studies to be undertaken at the centre.