Today's Edition
SARA ALZAABI (ABU DHABI)
Abu Dhabi will soon see the construction of a groundbreaking centre that will offer heavy-ion therapy — one of the most advanced and precise cancer treatments in the world, it was announced on Tuesday during Abu Dhabi Global Health Week (ADGHW) 2025.
M42 is set to build the Middle East’s first heavy-ion therapy facility at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi (CCAD), in partnership with Toshiba Energy Systems and Solutions Corporation.
Backed by the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi, the construction is set to begin in 2026, marking a major leap in the region’s mission to lead in oncology innovation.
The facility, which will be located at the recently launched Fatima bint Mubarak Centre at CCAD, will provide a level of cancer care that was previously available at only 15 centres globally, most of them in Japan.
Heavy-ion therapy is an advanced form of radiation therapy that delivers unparalleled precision in targeting and destroying cancerous tumours with greater efficacy.
With no heavy-ion therapy centre within a five-hour flight radius of the UAE, this facility ensures patients from across the region can access world-class care.
Speaking to Aletihad, Hasan Jasem Al Nowais, M42’s Managing Director and Group Chief Executive Officer, said: “With the launch of the region’s first heavy-ion therapy facility, we are shaping a new dawn for cancer care right here in Abu Dhabi. Together with Toshiba and Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, this collaboration is about breaking boundaries together - combining world-class research, advanced technology, and multidisciplinary care to deliver real impact for patients around the world.”
“At M42, we are proud to build bridges across nations and institutions, and to reinforce the position of Fatima bint Mubarak Center as a global hub of hope and innovation in cancer care,” he said.
How this Treatment Works
This technology offers new hope for cancer patients, especially those with resistant tumours that do not respond to photon or proton therapy, said Maram Qandeel, Vice President of Investment at M42 Health.
“This offers hope where there was none. It opens doors for many difficult cases: pancreatic, liver, recurrent colon, head and neck. In some cases, small lung tumours can be treated in just one session,” she told Aletihad.
Explaining how AI works with precision medicine, Qandeel said: “The way we target tumours uses two cutting-edge Toshiba technologies: LET-painting and respiratory gating. It means extreme precision with minimal damage to healthy tissue.”
Dr. Stephen R. Grobmyer, MD, Chair of the Oncology Institute at CCAD, told Aletihad that this facility “is going to bring a completely new approach to cancer treatment”.
Through this technology, “we are delivering more effective and precise radiation, targeting only the cancer”‚ its key differentiator from traditional treatment, said Dr. Grobmyer.
The new heavy-ion therapy system will include a treatment room with a rotating gantry and another with a horizontally fixed beam, incorporating high-speed scanning irradiation technology and superconducting magnet systems for enhanced precision and performance.
Future of Healthcare in UAEThe new heavy ion therapy facility positions Abu Dhabi at the forefront of cancer treatment innovation, Qandeel said.
“This is a huge product announcement … This changes everything for patients. They no longer need to travel abroad for advanced radiation therapy,” she said.
This project is a direct reflection of Abu Dhabi’s leadership and long-term health strategy, she added. “M42 is committed to pushing the boundaries, and this is proof. We are doing what many other places have not been able to, and it is because we’re backed by a country that thinks boldly and acts fast.”
Bringing heavy-ion therapy to Abu Dhabi is “a perfect fit” for the emirate’s goal to lead in healthcare, said Dr. Grobmyer.
“Heavy ion represents our mission to innovate and bring hope to cancer patients in the region,” he said.
