Brief
UAE launches new veterinary college to boost One Health agenda
The Thumbay College of Veterinary Medicine graduates its inaugural class of 2026 doctors, a move seen as key to improving disease surveillance and food security in the country.
By Felo News Desk · Published
On 23 September, the first cohort of Doctor of Veterinary Medicine students graduated from the Thumbay College of Veterinary Medicine, the seventh college of the German University in the Emirates. The ceremony, held at Thumbay grounds in Ajman, marked the launch of a locally trained veterinary workforce that will work across livestock, pets, wildlife and public health.
Professor Mohammad Khalifeh, dean of the new college, said the programme would help the UAE meet the World Health Organization’s One Health objectives. “Most new infectious diseases in people start in animals. So the first person to see an outbreak coming is often a vet, not a doctor,” he told Gulf News. Khalifeh added that local training gives vets an understanding of the animals, farms, markets and environmental conditions specific to the UAE, and that the curriculum is designed to foster cooperation with doctors, pharmacists and laboratory scientists on the same campus.
Veterinarians will be able to spot early warning signs of disease, advise farmers and pet owners, and implement preventive measures such as vaccination, parasite control and humane handling. Khalifeh highlighted rabies control as an example of how animal health and human health are linked, and said that a well‑trained vet “does more than treat” by raising the standard of care around them.
The programme aligns with the UAE’s broader efforts to strengthen food safety and animal welfare. Earlier this month, the Abu Dhabi Agriculture and Food Safety Authority temporarily closed the Ahl Al Raya Butchery over repeated food safety violations, and a viral video of cat abuse sparked a national conversation about animal welfare laws. The new veterinary college is seen as a long‑term investment in the country’s public health and food security.
Key facts
- Thumbay College of Veterinary Medicine graduates its inaugural class of 2026 doctors (gulfnews.com)
- The programme follows WHO’s One Health model (gulfnews.com)
- Professor Mohammad Khalifeh is dean of the college (gulfnews.com)
- Veterinarians will work across livestock, pets, wildlife and public health (gulfnews.com)
- The college aims to strengthen cooperation with doctors, pharmacists and laboratory scientists (gulfnews.com)
Background
The UAE has recently taken steps to improve food safety and animal welfare, including the temporary closure of a butchery for violations and a viral cat‑abuse incident that prompted calls for stronger enforcement of animal‑cruelty laws.
Timeline
- 2026-09-23 — Graduation of first cohort of Doctor of Veterinary Medicine students at Thumbay College of Veterinary Medicine
- 2026-09-24 — Abu Dhabi temporarily closes Ahl Al Raya Butchery over food safety violations
- 2026-09-24 — Viral video of cat abuse sparks animal‑welfare debate
Why it matters
A locally trained veterinary workforce is expected to improve disease surveillance, food safety and animal welfare, supporting the UAE’s One Health strategy and protecting public health.
What happens next
The new college will continue to expand its curriculum and collaborate with other health professions across the German University in the Emirates.
Sources
- [1] gulfnews.com — originally reported as “How locally trained UAE vets strengthen public health, food safety, animal welfare, and national food security”
