Emirates SkyCargo has launched Emirates SkyPharma, a new purpose-built facility at Dubai International Airport dedicated exclusively to the transport of sensitive pharmaceutical shipments.

Covering an area of 4,000 square metres, the facility is part of an 11,000 square metre extension project costing $165 million made at the carrier’s SkyCentral terminal. This brings its total dedicated pharma space across DXB and Dubai World Central (DWC) to 8,600 square metres.

The new facility at DXB features temperature-controlled zones for two to eight degrees Celsius and 15-25 degree Celsius, 88 temperature controlled individual positions in the automated ULD handling system and five temperature controlled acceptance and delivery truck doors.

Emirates SkyCargo has also been awarded the certification of compliance under the European Union Good Distribution Practice (GDP) guidelines for medicinal products for human use by Bureau Veritas.

Emirates is the first carrier in the world that has obtained GDP for its hub operations covering two airports – DXB and DWC and the 24/7 bonded trucking service that connects cargo between them.