For immediate release

Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates — 21 October 2026

Pink Ribbon International Launches Pink Ribbon Foundation in the United Arab Emirates

UAE launch sets a 2032 mission — world-leading prevention of female gender-related cancers — aligned with the UAE National Policy for Improving Women's Health, Abu Dhabi's Healthy Living Strategy and Dubai's health strategy.

PinkRibbon International (Pink Ribbon Inc., New York) today announced the formal launch of the Pink Ribbon Foundation – United Arab Emirates, a national affiliate dedicated to research funding, prevention, early detection and awareness for breast cancer and other female gender-related cancers.

The Foundation opens in a country that strives to stand at the top of the world in female gender-related cancer prevention and in programmes that save women's lives. The launch mission is clear: by 2032, to help the United Arab Emirates set the global standard for prevention, early detection and research — and to accelerate the science that will find a cure.

The official ceremony will take place on Wednesday, 21 October 2026 at Four Seasons Hotel Abu Dhabi at Al Maryah Island. Guests will include representatives of government, health professionals, corporate and private investors, and distinguished guests. The launch is held during the Abu Dhabi Future Health Summit 2026 (20–22 October 2026).

Hosted by Future Health – A Global Initiative by Abu Dhabi and the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi, the Summit convenes global leaders from healthcare, technology, science and investment. Its 2026 theme, "To Sense is to Predict", speaks directly to the Foundation's purpose: identify risk earlier, prevent disease where possible, and fund the research that changes outcomes.

The 2032 mission

Pink Ribbon Foundation UAE is launched with a six-year mission to 2032:

1. 1

   Prevention first. Support programmes that place the United Arab Emirates among the world's leading nations in the prevention of female gender-related cancers — including breast, ovarian, cervical and endometrial cancers.

2. 2

   Programmes that save lives. Advance awareness, education and early detection so more women are reached earlier, when treatment is most effective.

3. 3

   Research that finds a cure. Channel philanthropic and partnership capital into health programmes, prevention, early detection and the search for a cure. A minimum of 85 per cent of donations is directed to these purposes. Of direct donations received by PinkRibbon International in New York, 100 per cent of that 85 per cent is allocated to scientific research programmes.

The Foundation will work with government, clinicians, researchers, corporates and private investors to turn that ambition into measurable national programmes — not awareness alone, but science, prevention and results.

The Emirates strategy — aligned with national, Abu Dhabi and Dubai policy

The Pink Ribbon strategy in the Emirates is designed to sit in line with the United Arab Emirates' national women's health policy and with the health agendas of both Abu Dhabi and Dubai.

In Abu Dhabi, the Foundation's work is aligned with the Abu Dhabi Healthy Living Strategy, endorsed in November 2025. Following that endorsement, 25 strategic initiatives are underway to make healthy living easier in everyday life. These initiatives focus on addressing common barriers and creating supportive environments, so healthier choices become the easy, everyday choice. Orchestrated by Healthy Living and delivered in partnership with Abu Dhabi Government entities, they respond to real gaps in healthy living across the emirate. The first phase focuses on food and physical activity, with other core pillars of health to be addressed in future. The Strategy also confronts the growing burden of non-communicable diseases — including cancer — by moving from treatment alone to prevention and wellbeing.

In Dubai, the Foundation's approach is aligned with the Dubai Health Sector Strategy 2026, which sets a human-centred health system and the healthiest possible lifestyle for the people of Dubai, including periodic screening and early detection for cancers that affect women. Pink Ribbon programmes in awareness, prevention and research are intended to complement that strategy — not to replace government services.

At federal level, the Emirates strategy is aligned with the UAE National Policy for Improving Women's Health (National Policy for the Promotion of Women's Health in the United Arab Emirates). The Policy sets a clear cancer-mortality target: reduce female cancer deaths to 23.24 per 100,000 women. It also aims to reduce overall female mortality to 62.77 per 100,000 and to lower lifestyle-related health risks — including obesity — by three per cent.

Key goals and focus areas of the national policy that the Pink Ribbon Emirates strategy is built to support include:

• Cancer mortality target. Lower female cancer deaths to 23.24 per 100,000 women.
• Overall health target. Reduce overall female mortality to 62.77 per 100,000 and cut lifestyle-related risks such as obesity by three per cent.
• Screening guidelines. Promote early detection, with breast cancer screening recommendations tailored for younger age groups — regular mammograms from age 40, or earlier where risk factors require it.
• Research and policy. Support translational research and awareness, including work of the kind advanced through initiatives such as the Dubai Women's Health Study at Latifa Women's Hospital, addressing conditions including endometrial cancer and cervical cancer screening awareness.

One Emirates-wide Pink Ribbon strategy is therefore aligned with the UAE National Policy for Improving Women's Health, with Abu Dhabi's Healthy Living Strategy, and with Dubai's Health Sector Strategy 2026. Prevention, early detection and research toward a cure by 2032 are framed as support to public policy already in motion across the Federation and in both emirates.

A national affiliate of a global research platform

Pink Ribbon Foundation UAE will operate under the strategic direction and governance of Pink Ribbon Inc., New York, as the organisation's affiliate in the United Arab Emirates. It follows the launch of PinkRibbon United Arab Emirates in New Delhi on 26 August 2026, as PinkRibbon International builds country foundations to deliver its charitable mission locally.

Founded in New York in 2008 by philanthropist Walter Scheffrahn, PinkRibbon International is a registered New York nonprofit and a global platform for breast cancer and other female cancers, with reach across 96 countries. A minimum of 85 per cent of donations is directed to health programmes, prevention, early detection and the search for a cure. Of direct donations received by PinkRibbon International in New York, 100 per cent of that 85 per cent goes to scientific research programmes. Programmes are peer-reviewed by a Scientific Research Advisory Council. Accounts are audited annually.

In 2024 the organisation widened its mission from breast cancer alone to all female gender-related cancers. Early detection and research funding should not depend on which cancer a woman faces, or where she lives.

"The United Arab Emirates has the vision, the health system and the investment capacity to lead the world in preventing female cancers and in funding the science that ends them."

"Pink Ribbon Foundation UAE is launched in line with the UAE National Policy for Improving Women's Health, Abu Dhabi's Healthy Living Strategy and Dubai's health strategy, so that this leadership becomes a 2032 mission: save lives now, and find a cure."

Why Abu Dhabi, why October

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month worldwide. Holding the UAE launch during the Abu Dhabi Future Health Summit places the new Foundation inside a gathering built to move health systems from reactive treatment to prediction, prevention and investment in life sciences — the same shift required to make the 2032 mission real.

Event details

What

Official launch of Pink Ribbon Foundation – United Arab Emirates

When

Wednesday, 21 October 2026

Where

Four Seasons Hotel Abu Dhabi at Al Maryah Island, Abu Dhabi, UAE

Alongside

Abu Dhabi Future Health Summit 2026 | 20–22 October 2026

Guests

Government, health professionals, corporate and private investors, and distinguished guests

Alignment

UAE National Policy for Improving Women's Health; Abu Dhabi Healthy Living Strategy; Dubai Health Sector Strategy 2026

Mission

World-leading female cancer prevention and life-saving programmes; research toward a cure by 2032

Notes to editors

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