6th Blood Drive in Dubai Delivers Transfusion Supply for Patients

The sixth edition of the ‘Help Save a Life’ blood donation drive has concluded in Dubai. Announced on Oct. 5, 2026, the annual operation is run by Bristol Myers Squibb together with the Emirates Thalassemia Society and Dubai Science Park, and its purpose is operational: keeping a steady flow of blood reaching patients who depend on regular transfusions. The drive forms part of Bristol Myers Squibb’s Global Patient Week and aims to turn corporate social responsibility into direct, tangible action that sustains the local blood supply.

The delivery model behind the initiative is straightforward. Dubai Science Park, the region’s leading science-focused hub and part of TECOM Group PJSC, provides the platform where community members and healthcare professionals come together to donate. The Emirates Thalassemia Society, a non-profit public benefit organization established on October 10, 1997 by families of patients, anchors the patient side of the operation, connecting donations to individuals managing chronic blood disorders such as thalassemia, for whom routine transfusions are essential lifelines that allow them to live full and active lives.

Marwan Abdulaziz Janahi, Senior Vice President of Dubai Science Park, part of TECOM Group, described the hub’s operational role in the partnership. “Dubai Science Park brings together a vibrant community of healthcare and life sciences organisations and professionals, creating a platform for partnerships that deliver meaningful impact,” he said. “Our collaboration with the Emirates Thalassemia Society and Bristol Myers Squibb for the sixth edition of the ‘Help Save a Life’ blood donation drive reflects our commitment to supporting initiatives that contribute to health and wellbeing in the UAE.”

Consistency of delivery is central to how the organizers frame the drive’s success. Her Highness Sheikha Sheikha Bint Saif Al Nahyan, Chairperson of the Emirates Thalassemia Society, pointed to the sustained record of the partnership as its defining feature. “Our long-standing partnership with Bristol Myers Squibb highlights the profound impact of collective social responsibility,” she said. “Blood donors are quiet heroes in our community, playing an indispensable role in the daily lives of individuals and families managing thalassemia. By showing up consistently year after year, our community proves that we can lighten the burden for patients in need. We are proud to join hands once again for this drive, reinforcing our shared dedication to awareness, education, and steadfast patient support.”

For Bristol Myers Squibb, the drive is the flagship event of its annual Global Patient Week, a week of patient-centered activities during which individuals share their lived experiences, reminding the company’s teams of the human impact behind their daily work. Mayada Al Ahmad, General Manager of Bristol Myers Squibb, GCC Countries, framed the drive as the operational expression of the company’s stated priorities. “At Bristol Myers Squibb, patients are at the heart of everything we do, and we are reminded every day of our responsibility to support them,” she said. “Marking the sixth year of this blood donation drive during Global Patient Week allowed us to put those values into direct action. A consistent, reliable blood supply is essential to supporting patients living with thalassemia and other blood disorders, ensuring they have access to the care they need when it matters most.”

Al Ahmad also acknowledged the operational contributions of the partners and donors. “We are deeply grateful to our partners at the Emirates Thalassemia Society and Dubai Science Park, and to the community members whose generosity helps us deliver tangible support and renewed hope to families across the UAE,” she added.

Meanwhile, the timing was deliberate. The drive took place on the eve of Blood Cancer Awareness Month in October, a point the organizers describe as a timely reminder of the constant need for community health initiatives that support patients managing various blood conditions.

Beyond the drive itself, the partner organizations maintain standing operations in the sector. Dubai Science Park, one of TECOM Group PJSC’s 10 business districts, has for more than two decades fostered innovation in the life sciences, energy, and environmental sciences through a purpose-built ecosystem that includes LEED-certified labs, Grade-A offices, and storage and logistics spaces, along with networking platforms such as The DSP Leadership Network. It is home to over 6,500 professionals. The Emirates Thalassemia Society, a member of the Thalassemia International Federation (TIF) since 1997, provides comprehensive medical, social, and financial support to those affected by the condition, and contributes to prevention through health awareness campaigns and premarital screening advocacy.

With six editions now completed, the question for the partners is whether the seventh can keep the same steady supply of donors arriving year after year.