Abu Dhabi has unveiled the Health, Endurance, Longevity, and Medicine (HELM) cluster — a landmark life sciences initiative announced at Abu Dhabi Global Health Week that projects $25.6 billion (AED 94bn) in GDP growth, $11.5 billion (AED 42bn) in investments, and 30,000 high-value healthcare jobs by 2045.
What Is the Abu Dhabi HELM Cluster?
The HELM cluster is Abu Dhabi's integrated platform for the research, development, manufacturing, and commercialisation of advanced health and life sciences solutions. It operates under joint governance of the Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development, the Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO), and the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi.
The cluster spans five key sectors: biotechnology, MedTech, AI diagnostics, pharmaceuticals, and precision medicine — fields the emirate sees as central to its long-term economic diversification strategy.
Economic Impact: $25.6bn GDP and 30,000 Jobs by 2045
HELM's projections are ambitious. By 2045, the cluster aims to add $25.6 billion (AED 94bn) to Abu Dhabi's GDP and attract $11.5 billion (AED 42bn) in new investments. The 30,000 specialist roles it targets will span research, clinical development, pharmaceutical manufacturing, and digital health.
Ahmed Jasim Al Zaabi, Chairman of the Department of Economic Development, said: "The HELM cluster provides stakeholders access to novel technologies alongside state-of-the-art infrastructure and modern rules to position Abu Dhabi as a leading healthcare solutions provider at the international level."
Why Abu Dhabi Is Well-Placed for Life Sciences
Global healthcare is projected to reach $25.3 trillion (AED 93tn) by 2045, driven by rising chronic disease burdens and ageing populations. Abu Dhabi positions HELM to capture a meaningful share of that growth.
Officials highlighted the emirate's strengths: a national genomics programme, multicultural talent, and solid existing infrastructure. Mansoor Ibrahim Al Mansoori, Chairman of the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi, framed HELM as more than economic infrastructure: "It invests in people and in innovative, life-saving solutions that benefit humanity."
Building on SAVI and AGWA
HELM is the third in Abu Dhabi's series of strategic economic clusters. It follows the Smart and Autonomous Vehicle Industries (SAVI) cluster launched in 2023 and the AgriFood Growth and Water Abundance (AGWA) cluster in 2024 — both of which demonstrated Abu Dhabi's ability to attract specialist industry investment at scale.
With HELM, Abu Dhabi moves beyond conventional economic diversification to shape the global healthcare landscape — positioning itself as the region's premier destination for health tech companies seeking to penetrate international markets.
