Emirates SkyCargo crosses one million pharma shipments since 2016

Emirates SkyCargo said it has carried over one million pharmaceutical shipments through Dubai since September 2016, a volume equivalent to more than 800,000 tonnes. The carrier said the milestone coincides with the tenth anniversary of its Pharma product and its GDP-certified pharma handling hub in Dubai. Its Dubai facilities cover more than 16,500 square metres of GDP-certified handling and storage space at Dubai International Airport (DXB) and Dubai World Central (DWC), and it operates over 55 cool dollies for temperature-controlled transfers.

Currently, Emirates SkyCargo carries between 1.5 million and 2 million kilogrammes of pharmaceutical products each week. India, Germany, Belgium, the UK, the USA and Switzerland are among its largest pharma origin markets. The carrier says it is the only global air cargo carrier to use thermal blankets on all pharma shipments without exception, and in 2026 it widened its pool of thermal blanket suppliers to improve availability, lower costs and shorten lead times.

The carrier described several steps in its pharma development: in 2017 it began partnering with specialised container manufacturers for shipments with specific temperature requirements; in 2018 it introduced Emirates Pharma Corridors linking high-volume pharma hubs; during 2020–2022 it set up a dedicated GDP-certified hub for vaccines and flew more than one billion doses; in 2023 it added Emirates Vital and Emirates Medical Devices for human organs, tissues, cell and gene therapies, clinical trial materials and medical equipment. By 2025 its pharma network had grown to 43 stations worldwide, with dedicated 2–8°C temperature corridors across select hubs.

Looking ahead, Emirates SkyCargo said it will continue investing in healthcare logistics as the industry moves towards cell and gene therapies, biologics and precision medicines. Badr Abbas, Divisional Senior Vice President, Emirates SkyCargo, said the product had become a standard for air transportation of pharmaceuticals and that the goal is to transport medicines in the best possible conditions.