If you’ve ever wondered where the next big medical breakthrough might come from, the answer could soon be Ajman.
Thumbay Group has officially broken ground on the new Thumbay International Research Centre, a purpose-built facility designed to bring scientific discovery, advanced diagnostics, and clinical care together under one roof. In simpler terms? It’s where some very smart people will be working on some very important things that could shape the future of healthcare.
The groundbreaking ceremony took place at Dusit Ajman Resort and Villas under the patronage of Sheikh Ammar bin Humaid Al Nuaimi, Crown Prince of Ajman and Chairman of the Ajman Executive Council. The event was hosted by Dr. Thumbay Moideen, Founder President of Thumbay Group, who described the centre as the next chapter in the group’s healthcare journey.
A Building Designed for Big Ideas
This isn’t your average office building with a few microscopes scattered around.
Spanning approximately 3,000 square metres, the six-storey facility will rise 27.75 metres above Plot 7150 in Al Jurf, Ajman. Every floor has been carefully planned to support a different stage of the research process, creating a complete ecosystem for innovation.
The ground floor will feature a 110-seat seminar hall and a shared imaging core, making it a hub for collaboration and knowledge sharing.
The first floor will house start-up laboratories, an incubation centre, and an AR/VR lab, helping turn innovative ideas into real-world solutions.
The second floor is dedicated to general wet laboratories, while the third floor focuses on experimental oncology research.
Things get even more futuristic on the fourth floor, where researchers will work in genomics, next-generation sequencing, and bioinformatics.
And because no cutting-edge research centre would be complete without specialised facilities, the fifth floor will include preclinical research spaces, animal facilities, and a dedicated zebrafish unit. Yes, zebrafish. Tiny fish, surprisingly big contributions to medical science.
The New Home of Medical Discovery
The centre will become the permanent home of Gulf Medical University’s growing research enterprise.
Faculty members and students from medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, nursing, health sciences, veterinary medicine, and even artificial intelligence in healthcare will all have access to the facility.
At the heart of the centre will be the Thumbay Research Institute for Precision Medicine (TRIPM), a specialised institute focused on advancing personalised healthcare and precision medicine research.
For Dr. Thumbay Moideen, the project represents the natural evolution of decades of investment in healthcare and education.
“For the past three decades, we have invested in building hospitals, healthcare services and a world-class private medical university,” he said. “This research centre represents the next chapter of that journey. Our vision was to bring discovery, diagnosis and treatment together.”
Research That Reaches Across the Globe
The ceremony wasn’t only about breaking ground. It also celebrated groundbreaking ideas.
During the event, the second cycle of the Thumbay International Research Grant awarded AED 3 million to 13 research projects led by investigators from institutions across 26 countries. Each project is paired with a Gulf Medical University researcher, encouraging global collaboration and knowledge exchange.
The funded projects cover a wide range of topics, including precision oncology, drug discovery, cochlear implant research, artificial intelligence in medical education, and veterinary diabetes.
That’s a pretty impressive mix of science, technology, and innovation packed into one grant programme.
Global Partnerships, Local Impact
One of the most exciting aspects of the initiative is the calibre of international partners involved.
The research grant programme draws on collaborations with globally recognised institutions including Harvard Medical School, Baylor University, Washington University, the University of Arizona, Waterloo University in Canada, Policlinico Hospital in Italy, Erasmus University Rotterdam, Regensburg University, Hannover Medical School, Charité Berlin, and Lublin University.
The announcement of a third grant cycle during the ceremony signals that this is only the beginning.
Ajman’s Next Big Leap in Healthcare Innovation
Hospitals treat patients. Universities educate future professionals. Research centres create the discoveries that change healthcare forever.
With the Thumbay International Research Centre now underway, Ajman is positioning itself as a serious player in global medical research and innovation.
From cancer research and genomics to AI-powered healthcare solutions, the facility promises to become a place where ideas move from laboratory benches to real-world impact.
And while the building itself is still rising from the ground, the ambition behind it is already reaching for the future.
