30 August 2015
Dubai - The number of new business partners based in Dubai Biotechnology and Research Park (DuBiotech) and the Energy and Environment Park (EnPark) rose a combined 20% in the year to July, underlining the TECOM Investment free zones' popularity as a regional springboard for businesses.

Forty-five new businesses joined the communities of DuBiotech and EnPark, located in Dubai's burgeoning growth corridor, Al Barsha South, in the year ended July 31. The number of companies in both business parks now totals 269.

World renowned names such as Pfizer, Amgen, PepsiCo, Bayer, ThermoFisher, and First Solar are located within the free zone, providing an innovative community for all businesses looking to utilize the best in class infrastructure and cutting edge research and development facilities. The free zones support both start-ups and international firms looking for a regional base for their Middle East or global operations.

In response to continued year-on-year increases in new business partners, plans were revealed last year for a new DuBiotech Headquarters to be completed in 2016. The development will consist of two iconic high-rise towers and provide over half a million square feet of office space.

Marwan Abdulaziz, Executive Director of DuBiotech and EnPark said: "New business partner growth at DuBiotech and EnPark continues to rise steadily each year, a feat that we are extremely proud of. Our business community is as active and vibrant as ever. The 45 new business partners we welcomed in the past year is a testament to our state of the art facilities and world class business communities. I expect demand to remain strong as the opening of our new Headquarters in 2016 grows closer."

Syed Jafry, senior vice president and president, Asia-Pacific and Emerging Markets for Thermo Fisher Scientific, a biotechnology product development company, said:
"The opening of our Customer Experience Centre in Dubiotech during April marked an important milestone in our growth strategy in the Middle East. With the help of our trusted channel partners and the wider Dubiotech community, we have been able to support our growing regional customer base and their evolving demands."

TECOM Investments announced last year an investment of AED 4.5 billion as part of a broader Dubai National Innovation Strategy. DuBiotech and EnPark both support Dubai's goal of becoming one of the most innovative cities in the world by providing a dynamic and vibrant community for business partners to operate in.

-Ends-

About DuBiotech
Dubai Biotechnology and Research Park (DuBiotech), a member of TECOM Investments, is a free zone business park dedicated to fostering the growth of the life sciences industry in the region. DuBiotech was established to support the Government of Dubai's vision to transform the UAE into a knowledge-based economy and develop the region's talent pool.

DuBiotech offers world-class infrastructure and cutting edge research and development facilities, specifically designed and built for the field of biotechnology, pharmaceutical, medical and scientific device, food and agricultural industries. The free zone can support both start-ups and international firms looking for a regional base for their Middle East or global operations. The park is central to a community that is committed to the industry's success by bringing together business, regulators and Government in partnership.

Since its launch in 2005, DuBiotech has rapidly grown into a community of more than 200 life sciences companies such as Pfizer, Merck-Serono, Amgen, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Maquet, National Reference Lab, ThermoFisher, Bayer, Mylan, Firmenich and IFF. 

For further information on DuBiotech, please visit our website: www.dubiotech.ae.

About EnPark
EnPark, a member of TECOM Investments, is a free zone dedicated to fostering the growth of the alternative energy and environmental industries, by offering excellent real estate facilities and providing access to the MENA region with a view to helping diversify Dubai's economy.

EnPark offers businesses technical and community infrastructure facilities across TECOM's portfolio of business parks promoting industry growth by acting as a bridge between businesses and Government.

As a founding member of the 'Green Economic Partnership', a strategic collaboration of Dubai's leading entities set up accordance with Dubai's Vision 2021, EnPark is dedicated to facilitating and fostering business growth and encouraging sustainable practices by providing a platform from which companies in the clean tech sector can operate. More than 50 companies, from clean-tech start-ups to energy multinationals, all operate under EnPark's licences.

For further information please contact:
Iain Munro, Bell Pottinger +971 55 559 7389

© Press Release 2015