How to access Stelara from the UAE, the named-patient import pathway, 2026
By Reserve Meds · Clinical & regulatory team · Last reviewed 2026-04-23
A UAE patient with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, Crohn's disease, or ulcerative colitis may receive a prescription for Stelara (ustekinumab) from their treating dermatologist, rheumatologist, or gastroenterologist. Stelara is FDA-approved, manufactured by Janssen (Johnson & Johnson), and is an IL-12 and IL-23 pathway blocker with an established track record across immune-mediated inflammatory disease. In the UAE, Stelara has been registered and is available through some tertiary hospital pharmacies, but availability of specific strengths, particularly the 90 mg SC syringe used for adult maintenance and the weight-banded IV induction vial for IBD, can be inconsistent, which is why some families elect the MoHAP personal-use import pathway for a predictable start.
This guide explains the pathway, documentation your physician prepares, indicative timing and how quotes work, and where Reserve Meds fits in.
Ask about Stelara in UAE
Tell us the medicine and your country. We reply within one business day. On WhatsApp we usually reply the same day.
The clinical situation
Stelara is a human IgG1 monoclonal antibody that binds the shared p40 subunit of interleukins 12 and 23, blocking downstream Th1 and Th17 inflammatory cascades central to psoriatic disease and IBD. For psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis, the dosing is a subcutaneous 45 mg or 90 mg (weight-banded) injection at weeks 0 and 4, then every 12 weeks. For Crohn's and ulcerative colitis, the regimen starts with a weight-banded intravenous induction (260 / 390 / 520 mg) followed by subcutaneous 90 mg every 8 weeks. Your physician will screen for latent tuberculosis, confirm no active infection, and map out a response-review cadence.
Case active and ready to skip the regulatory walkthrough? Ask about a medicine or WhatsApp us.
Is Stelara legally importable into the UAE?
Yes, through the UAE Ministry of Health and Prevention (MoHAP) personal-use / named-patient import framework (Rule 36 and related provisions of the Drugs and Cosmetics Rules). The pathway permits import of up to three months' personal supply for a named patient under a registered medical practitioner's prescription, with customs clearance supported by the prescription, the physician's letter, and product documentation. The mechanism has been used routinely for specialty biologics when local supply, specific strength, or institutional procurement timing does not match the clinical plan.
How the pathway works, step by step
- Consultation with your treating physician. Diagnosis confirmation, severity assessment (PASI for psoriasis, Mayo or CDAI for IBD), prior therapy history, and rationale for Stelara.
- Baseline screening. Latent TB, hepatitis panel, baseline CBC and liver function per labeling.
- Prescription and import letter. Your physician issues the prescription and a clinical letter describing indication, dosing schedule, and personal-use rationale.
- US-side sourcing. Reserve Meds coordinates with our US-licensed pharmaceutical wholesale partner to secure product from authorised distribution under DSCSA.
- Cold-chain shipment to the UAE. Stelara ships under validated 2-8 °C conditions with temperature logging; Reserve Meds handles customs documentation with the importing agent.
- Arrival and administration. IV induction runs at the hospital infusion centre; SC maintenance is administered under physician supervision or, after training, by the patient at home.
What documentation your physician needs
- Clinical rationale letter confirming diagnosis, severity, and Stelara as the indicated therapy
- Verification of Medical Council of the UAE / NMC registration
- PASI score, Mayo/CDAI score, or equivalent severity documentation
- Latent-TB and hepatitis screening results
- Planned dosing schedule (induction plus maintenance)
- Patient identifier and residential address for import clearance
Reserve Meds provides a physician documentation kit that bundles the templates MoHAP and customs expect to see for IL-12/23 biologic personal imports.
Typical costs and indicative timing
Medicine price: quote on request. You get a written quote for your case before you commit. International cold-chain logistics, MoHAP documentation handling, customs clearance, and coordination are quoted separately. Reserve Meds issues a full transparent delivered quote at intake so your family sees one landed number before committing.
We give you a written timeline estimate for your case before you commit. Maintenance refills ship on the 8-week or 12-week cadence set by your physician.
If your clinical situation is time-sensitive, tell us at intake. We triage accordingly.
Where Reserve Meds fits in
Reserve Meds is a US-based digital health company that coordinates access to cross-border specialty medicine. For Stelara specifically, we provide:
- Sourcing. Through our US-licensed pharmaceutical wholesale partner, operating under DSCSA chain-of-custody from authorised channels.
- Documentation. Regulatory package for your physician, MoHAP import documentation, and customs-clearance support.
- Logistics. Validated 2-8 °C cold-chain shipment with temperature logging.
- Dedicated case lead. A named point of contact for your family and physician throughout.
What we do not do: we are not the prescriber, we do not practise medicine, and we are not the dispensing pharmacy. All clinical decisions remain with your treating physician.
Frequently asked
Is this legal in the UAE? Yes, when executed through the MoHAP personal-use / named-patient framework with a valid prescription and supporting physician letter. See our trust and compliance page for methodology.
What about Stelara biosimilars? Several biosimilars (including ustekinumab-auub / Wezlana in the United States) are now available. Your physician selects the reference product or biosimilar based on clinical fit and availability. We can coordinate either.
How is the IV induction handled? IV induction for IBD is typically administered at a hospital infusion centre. We ship the weight-banded vial on a schedule that matches your infusion appointment.
Can I receive maintenance injections at home? Yes, after physician-supervised training on SC injection technique, maintenance is commonly self-administered or administered by a visiting nurse.
Will private insurance cover this? Cash-pay is the default. Some UAE private insurers and corporate plans consider named-patient imports case by case; we supply documentation for your submission but do not process claims directly.
Next step
Examples and timings above are composite illustrations drawn from published sources and typical personal-use import patterns. Your individual case is assessed by your physician and our clinical-regulatory team; Reserve Meds does not guarantee outcomes or timelines.
Reserve Meds is a digital health company. Medicines are supplied through a US-licensed pharmaceutical wholesale partner. We are not a pharmacy, not the prescriber, and not the manufacturer. Cash-pay. Export-only (US → overseas). Composite case examples. Not medical advice.
Reviewed by the Reserve Meds clinical operations team. Last reviewed: 2026-04-23.
Abu Dhabi and Dubai
This guide covers the whole UAE, including Abu Dhabi and Dubai. At federal level, medicines are regulated by the Emirates Drug Establishment (EDE) and the Ministry of Health and Prevention (MOHAP). MOHAP also issues permits to import medicines for personal use. Hospitals, clinics and doctors are licensed by the health authority of their own emirate: the Department of Health Abu Dhabi (DoH) in Abu Dhabi, and the Dubai Health Authority (DHA) in Dubai.
In practice, the hospital that treats you follows the rules of its own emirate, so the paperwork is prepared for that hospital. Tell us which hospital or doctor is treating you, in Abu Dhabi, Dubai or another emirate, and we prepare the document pack for that route.
Sources: Department of Health Abu Dhabi; Dubai Health Authority, Health Regulation Sector; MOHAP, permit to import medicines for personal use; Simmons & Simmons, UAE pharmaceutical law and the Emirates Drug Establishment.
Frequently asked questions
How can I get Stelara in the UAE if it is not approved or available there?
Reserve Meds coordinates US-sourced Stelara for patients in the UAE through a legal named-patient pathway, working with your treating doctor. Your treating physician provides the prescription and clinical justification; Reserve Meds prepares the named-patient documentation for the UAE and arranges DSCSA-compliant US sourcing and delivery to your physician or hospital pharmacy.
Can I access Stelara in the UAE through a named-patient import?
Often, yes. Named-patient access (sometimes called personal import) is the legal route we use for FDA-approved medicines such as Stelara. It is different from compassionate use, which covers investigational medicines through the manufacturer's own program; we do not supply investigational medicines. Eligibility and paperwork depend on the regulator in the UAE, and Reserve Meds maps the specific pathway for each market it coordinates.
Do I need a prescription to access Stelara in the UAE through Reserve Meds?
Yes. Reserve Meds is not a pharmacy and does not prescribe. A valid prescription and clinical justification from your treating physician are required, and all clinical decisions remain with your physician.
How does Reserve Meds deliver Stelara to a patient in the UAE?
Medicines are supplied through a US-licensed pharmaceutical wholesale partner, and Reserve Meds coordinates delivery of Stelara to your treating physician or hospital pharmacy in the UAE, with appropriate handling for the product.
How long does it take, and what does Stelara in the UAE cost through Reserve Meds?
After a short intake, the clinical team responds within one business day with case-specific feasibility, an indicative timeline, and a formal written quote. Cost depends on the destination, the prescribed regimen, and the duration of therapy, and is confirmed in writing before anything proceeds.
How do I start a request for Stelara in the UAE?
Submit a 60-second intake through the Reserve Meds patient portal, or message our team on WhatsApp. We reply within one business day. On WhatsApp we usually reply the same day.