Abu Dhabi partners with Eli Lilly, Oura and Whoop in healthcare overhaul

Mubadala Bio, part of the Abu Dhabi sovereign wealth fund, signed an agreement with US drugmaker Eli Lilly to package and distribute GLP-1 medications locally. The UAE was the second country to register Lilly’s weight-loss pill Foundayo in April and an early market for Mounjaro.

The Department of Health also launched studies with two wearable brands. Boston-based Whoop will investigate whether continuous monitoring and coaching can improve health markers such as cholesterol in adults with obesity and hypertension, conditions common in the Gulf. Oura began Project Cradle, a two-year pilot to see if its smart ring can detect early signs of spontaneous preterm birth in high-risk pregnancies, using Abu Dhabi’s clinical and genomic records.

Analysis

Why This Matters

The push signals a strategic shift in Gulf healthcare spending from treatment to prevention, potentially reducing long-term costs linked to obesity and chronic disease.
If successful, the wearable studies could generate large-scale evidence for clinical use of consumer health devices, influencing adoption worldwide.
The GLP-1 packaging deal positions Abu Dhabi as a regional hub for next-generation weight-loss drugs, a fast-growing pharmaceutical market.

Background

Abu Dhabi has been investing in healthcare infrastructure and research as part of its economic diversification plan. GLP-1 drugs like Mounjaro and Foundayo have become blockbusters for treating type 2 diabetes and obesity, while devices such as smart rings and fitness trackers are increasingly used in clinical research, though rigorous evidence for preventive outcomes is still emerging.

Key Perspectives

Mubadala Bio: Aims to build local pharmaceutical manufacturing and distribution capacity, reducing reliance on imports and capturing value from high-demand drugs. Eli Lilly: Gains an early partner in a wealthy, fast-growing Middle Eastern market for its weight-loss portfolio, with regulatory momentum already established. Whoop and Oura: Access to a defined population and integrated health data infrastructure to validate their devices' clinical utility, a step toward reimbursement and wider medical adoption. Critics/Skeptics: Preventive health programs require sustained investment and behavior change; wearable data can be noisy and privacy concerns remain, especially with genomic data sharing.

What to Watch

The timeline and volume of GLP-1 drug packaging and distribution in the UAE.
Results from Whoop’s obesity and hypertension study, expected to report on biomarker changes.
Oura’s Project Cradle interim findings on preterm birth prediction accuracy.
Whether Abu Dhabi expands the model to other health conditions or device categories.

Checked

10 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 7 supported.

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SupportedAbu Dhabi is partnering with Eli Lilly, Oura and Whoop as part of a healthcare overhaul.Semafor: “Abu Dhabi is betting big on GLP-1 drugs and wearables as it seeks to retool its healthcare system for preventive care. Mubadala Bio signed a deal with US drugmaker Eli Lilly during the Future Health Summit in the UAE capital this week to package and distribute GLP-1 drugs locally. The Department of Health also launched research projects with two of the hottest wearables brands, Whoop and Oura.”
SupportedAbu Dhabi is betting on GLP-1 drugs and wearables to shift toward preventive care.Semafor: “Abu Dhabi is betting big on GLP-1 drugs and wearables as it seeks to retool its healthcare system for preventive care.”
Partly supportedThe Department of Health announced the Eli Lilly deal and wearable projects at the Future Health Summit this week.Semafor: “Mubadala Bio signed a deal with US drugmaker Eli Lilly during the Future Health Summit in the UAE capital this week [...] The Department of Health also launched research projects with two of the hottest wearables brands, Whoop and Oura.”
Not in the sourcesMubadala Bio is part of the Abu Dhabi sovereign wealth fund.
SupportedMubadala Bio agreed with Eli Lilly to package and distribute GLP-1 drugs locally.Semafor: “Mubadala Bio signed a deal with US drugmaker Eli Lilly during the Future Health Summit in the UAE capital this week to package and distribute GLP-1 drugs locally.”
SupportedThe UAE was the second country to register Lilly’s weight-loss pill Foundayo in April and an early market for Mounjaro.Semafor: “In April, the UAE became the second country to register Lilly’s weight-loss pill Foundayo, and was an early market for Mounjaro.”
SupportedThe Department of Health launched research projects with Whoop and Oura.Semafor: “The Department of Health also launched research projects with two of the hottest wearables brands, Whoop and Oura.”
SupportedBoston-based Whoop will study whether continuous monitoring and coaching can improve markers such as cholesterol in adults with obesity and hypertension.Semafor: “Boston-based Whoop will study whether continuous monitoring and coaching can improve markers like cholesterol in adults with obesity and hypertension”
SupportedObesity and hypertension are common conditions in the Gulf.Semafor: “adults with obesity and hypertension, both persistent public health challenges in the Gulf.”
Partly supportedOura began Project Cradle, a two-year pilot to see whether its ring can detect early signs of spontaneous preterm birth in high-risk pregnancies, using Abu Dhabi’s clinical and genomic records.Semafor: “Oura launched Project Cradle, a two-year pilot to see if its ring can flag spontaneous preterm birth in high-risk pregnancies, and will rely on Abu Dhabi’s clinical and genomic records, too.”