Nad Zabeel will bring laboratories, universities and investors together to support research and commercial development
Health technology is among the priority sectors for a new research and innovation campus in Dubai, with plans to bring scientists, universities, technology companies and investors together in Zabeel Park.
Nad Zabeel will provide laboratories, scientific and research centres, and incubators to support the development and application of new technologies. Healthcare forms part of a wider remit that includes artificial intelligence, robotics, advanced technology and environmental technologies. Construction and associated operations are expected to be completed within five years, under the supervision of Dubai Future Foundation.
The campus aims to connect research with commercial development, bringing academic institutions and technology businesses into the same environment as government bodies and investment companies. Accelerator and incubator programmes will help promising businesses develop and access funding to expand. For healthcare researchers and technology developers, this proposed structure could offer opportunities to find partners and investment alongside access to research facilities.
The name Nad Zabeel draws on the Emirati word ‘nad,’ meaning elevated ground. It reflects the campus’s distinctive architectural character and embodies Dubai’s ambition to reach new heights in research, knowledge and innovation.
Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence of the UAE, launched the project on 1 November in the presence of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai.
“Shaping the future in Dubai is not a slogan or a temporary project, but an integrated institutional system established by Mohammed bin Rashid that we continue to develop and build upon,” he said. “Our goal is to keep Dubai ahead in anticipating global transformations, developing solutions to future challenges, attracting the world’s leading minds and expertise, and reinforcing its position as a global centre for knowledge creation and shaping the future.”
The development is intended to attract scientific and technical expertise from the UAE and overseas, with more than 30,000 scientists, researchers and entrepreneurs expected to participate in its programmes and events each year. Alongside research organisations and businesses, Nad Zabeel will accommodate entities working on future legislation. Dedicated spaces for scientific and professional gatherings are also planned, supporting exchanges between researchers, investors, government and start-ups.
The campus forms part of the Dubai Research, Development and Innovation Ecosystem, established in December 2025 and overseen by Dubai Future Foundation. The framework brings existing and future research initiatives together and supports public and private sector organisations developing applications for emerging technologies.
Nad Zabeel also supports the Dubai Economic Agenda, D33, which aims to double the size of the emirate’s economy by 2033. Its contribution will centre on attracting specialist talent and investment, supporting technology businesses and connecting scientific research with commercial opportunities.
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