WHOOP, the human performance company, and Mubadala Investment Company, the Abu Dhabi-based sovereign investor, have announced a partnership to advance proactive health, performance science, and preventative healthcare innovation in the UAE, anchored by a $75 million investment from Mubadala in WHOOP.
The announcement was made at the Make it in the Emirates (MIITE) Forum 2026 and aligns with the UAE’s national agenda to build knowledge-driven industries, attract global innovation, and position Abu Dhabi as a destination for international companies seeking to establish regional operations.
WHOOP to open UAE office and launch research initiative
As part of the partnership, WHOOP will establish a dedicated office in the UAE, expand its Advanced Labs offering, introduce full Arabic localisation across its digital platform, and launch the WHOOP–Mubadala Health Research Initiative.
The initiative will support collaboration with UAE institutions to conduct longitudinal studies in cardiovascular health, sleep science, recovery, and behavioural performance.
“Our journey in the UAE began in 2017, when we partnered with Expo 2020 Dubai to support worker wellness at scale. Since then, we have seen strong engagement and meaningful growth across the region. Our partnership with Mubadala reflects a shared ambition to build one of the world’s most advanced ecosystems for preventative health, performance science, and research-led innovation,” Will Ahmed, Founder and CEO of WHOOP said in a statement.
UAE to become first international market for WHOOP advanced labs
The expansion of WHOOP Advanced Labs in the UAE will make the country the first international market to replicate the full US biomarker experience, enabling data-driven preventative health models at scale and strengthening precision diagnostics capabilities within the national ecosystem.
The collaboration integrates performance science, longitudinal research, biomarker testing, and localised digital health access, strengthening the UAE’s healthcare value chain – from diagnostics and genomics to prevention, behavioural optimisation, and population-scale resilience.
“Attracting leading global companies to establish and grow in Abu Dhabi is central to how we build future-focused sectors and strengthen the UAE’s economic competitiveness. Through our partnership with WHOOP, we are bringing advanced health technology, research capabilities, and international expertise into the local ecosystem. This supports long-term knowledge creation, enables innovation, and helps develop industries that contribute to health resilience, talent development, and economic diversification,” Ali Eid AlMheiri, Executive Director, Diversified Assets, UAE Investments Platform at Mubadala added.
The partnership reflects the continued expansion of Mubadala’s life sciences and healthcare strategy into proactive, data-enabled health systems. The UAE and broader GCC have emerged as markets for performance and preventative health technologies, supported by digital adoption, growing wellness awareness, and a national focus on quality of life and healthcare innovation.
Beyond healthcare delivery, the partnership is intended to build intellectual capital, advance research infrastructure, and create capabilities that support productivity and societal well-being.
WHOOP’s presence in the UAE dates to 2017, when it supported Expo 2020 Dubai’s Worker Wellness Programme. This new phase of collaboration builds on that foundation, establishing a platform that embeds performance science within the UAE’s health, innovation, and economic development priorities.
