Abu Dhabi has launched the Health, Endurance, Longevity, and Medicine (HELM) cluster—an initiative aimed at strengthening the emirate’s life sciences ecosystem and positioning it as a global hub for medical innovation, pharmaceuticals, and biotechnology.

The launch was approved by His Highness Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council.

The HELM cluster, led by the Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development (ADDED), the Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO), and the Department of Health—Abu Dhabi (DoH), was officially introduced during Abu Dhabi Global Health Week 2025.

The HELM cluster is envisioned as a comprehensive hub for the research, development, production, and commercialization of advanced biotechnology, innovative medicines, medical technologies, and digital health solutions.

It aims to boost pharmaceutical manufacturing, build an AI-driven life sciences ecosystem, attract leading global healthcare companies, and drive breakthroughs in preventive care, treatment effectiveness, and longevity.

Positioned to make Abu Dhabi a globally competitive life sciences center, the cluster will offer access to advanced technologies, world-class infrastructure, and progressive regulatory frameworks for both local and international stakeholders.

Al Nahyan reaffirmed the leadership’s strong support for medical innovation as a national priority, emphasizing the advancement of healthcare projects using biotechnology and AI to enhance quality of life.

His Excellency Mansoor Ibrahim Al Mansoori, Chairman of DoH, called the launch a “bold leap forward,” highlighting its focus on human potential and transformative healthcare solutions that extend far beyond infrastructure.

The HELM cluster is expected to add over $25.5 billion to Abu Dhabi’s GDP, attract more than $11 billion in investments, and create around 30,000 jobs by 2045, reinforcing the emirate’s status as a global hub for healthcare innovation and advancing its economic diversification agenda.

It marks the third strategic cluster launched by the Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO) to drive future-focused economic growth, following the rollout of the Smart and Autonomous Vehicle Industries (SAVI) cluster in 2023 and the AgriFood Growth and Water Abundance (AGWA) cluster in 2024.