Rafed, the recently established healthcare procurement company, and Abu Dhabi Ports, the region’s premier facilitator of logistics, transport, and trade, have signed a collaboration agreement to jointly launch the largest healthcare and medical supplies cold store distribution centre in the UAE.

Both entities are part of ADQ, one of the region’s largest holding companies with a broad portfolio of major enterprises. Under the strategic collaboration agreement, Abu Dhabi Ports will deliver a state-of-the-art warehouse and inventory management solution for upstream, midstream and downstream operations as Rafed’s fourth-party logistics service provider. The new distribution centre will be the largest, most technologically advanced centre in the UAE. The partnership will provide stakeholders with streamlined services and synergies across multiple business areas, specifically enabling them to deliver pharmaceuticals, medical equipment and consumables across the local and regional supply chains.

Both Abu Dhabi Ports Group and Rafed are members of the Hope Consortium.  Spearheaded by the Department of Health Abu Dhabi, the consortium represents a public-private partnership and offers a complete supply chain solution to address vaccine transport, demand planning, sourcing, training, and digital technology infrastructure, and facilitate vaccine availability across the world.

Rashed Saif Al Qubaisi, Chief Executive Officer, Rafed, said: “Rafed’s first strategic partnership will prove pivotal in enhancing healthcare services across the emirates. As part of our strategy, we are creating a new business model that enhances the procurement process of the healthcare sector that is primed for future growth and deliver exceptional value, efficiency and quality.”

Robert Sutton, Head of Logistics Cluster, Abu Dhabi Ports, said: “Rafed’s agreement with Abu Dhabi Ports is a testament to our capabilities and expertise in efficiently managing end-to-end supply chain and associated value added services.”