HELM cluster is expected to contribute more than Dh94 billion to Abu Dhabi’s GDP
A new well-being cluster Health, Endurance, Longevity, and Medicine (HELM) which is being spearheaded by the Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development (ADDED), Abu Dhabi Investment Office, and the Department of Health Abu Dhabi, will create approximately 30,000 new jobs by 2045.
The cluster is projected to contribute more than Dh94 billion to Abu Dhabi’s GDP and attract investments exceeding Dh 42 billion, officials said in a statement.
The cluster, which has been approved by Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council, aims to cement the emirate’s position as a pioneering hub for medical innovation, pharmaceutical industries, and biotechnology.
Sheikh Khaled has said that investing in medical innovation remains a national priority and continues receiving full leadership support.
Abu Dhabi launched the HELM cluster during Global Health Week 2025, and it will serve as an integrated platform for the research, development, manufacturing, and commercialisation of biotechnology, as well as the development of new medicines, MedTech, and digital health solutions.
This initiative is setting the stage for significant medical advancements in preventative care, drug effectiveness, and longevity by growing pharmaceutical manufacturing, creating an AI healthcare hub, boosting innovation, and attracting top global healthcare companies in areas like advanced technology and genomics, ADDED said in a statement.
Ahmed Jasim Al Zaabi, Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development, said, “The Abu Dhabi HELM will provide global and local stakeholders with a wide range of solutions, including access to cutting-edge technologies, world-class infrastructure and progressive regulatory frameworks.”
Al Zaabi said that by creating such a hub, Abu Dhabi will remain at the forefront of “developing breakthrough technologies that will benefit humanity.”
“This is where innovation meets impact,” said Mansoor Ibrahim Al Mansoori, Chairman of the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi. He added, “We are not just investing in infrastructure; we’re investing in human potential, breakthroughs that will redefine longevity, and solutions that will reach far beyond our borders.”
The cluster is the third in a series of economic clusters launched by ADIO to accelerate the emirate’s economic diversification.
It follows the launch of the Smart and Autonomous Vehicle Industries (SAVI) cluster in 2023, which is advancing the commercialisation of future mobility platforms, such as electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft and the AgriFood Growth and Water Abundance (AGWA) cluster in 2024, which is tackling global food security and water sustainability challenges.
Badr Al-Olama, Director General of the Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO), said,“The HELM cluster is a game-changer for the life sciences industry. This cluster is built to remove barriers, accelerate breakthroughs and create a seamless path from discovery to global impact.”
He added, “With world-class infrastructure, AI-driven research, and progressive regulations, it offers biotech and life sciences companies a competitive advantage unlike anywhere else. More than an investment in healthcare, our cluster partners are investing in the future, providing innovators with the resources, partnerships and support they need to redefine medicine.”
Source: gulfnews