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Smart-ring company Oura is expanding its presence in the UAE, making its first local hires while launching its first research initiative in Abu Dhabi as part of a broader partnership with the Abu Dhabi Department of Health.

The company has hired two scientists to support its research activities in the UAE. Both hold PhDs and have previous experience conducting research in the Middle East, according to Shyamal Patel, Oura’s Senior Vice President of Science.

Patel said Oura is also actively working to establish an office in Abu Dhabi, although the company has not disclosed the size of its planned local workforce or the level of investment it expects to make in the UAE.

Oura Launches First Abu Dhabi Health Research Project

Oura’s first UAE initiative is a 24-month pilot project examining whether data collected through its smart ring can help identify signs of spontaneous preterm birth at an early stage.

The project, known as the Cradle Project, is the first of three pilots included in Oura’s wider partnership with the Abu Dhabi Department of Health. The partnership was signed in May and focuses on applying wearable technology to preventive healthcare.

The study will target women with high-risk pregnancies and monitor indicators including heart rate, heart-rate variability, sleep and activity levels. Researchers will combine the wearable data with clinical and genomic information collected in Abu Dhabi.

The goal is to identify reliable indicators of preterm birth early enough to support timely medical intervention and care.

Oura Builds Local Research Partnerships

Oura has spent the months since signing its initial agreement with the Abu Dhabi Department of Health identifying clinical, research and technology partners across the emirate.

For the first study, Corniche Hospital and Mediclinic Airport Road will serve as clinical partners. Oura is also working with the Abu Dhabi Health Life Sciences Institute on a separate study it plans to launch.

Abu Dhabi-based healthcare company PureHealth has also joined the initiative as a technology and healthcare-system partner, according to Patel.

Study Could Include Hundreds of Preterm Birth Cases

Oura is still finalizing the study's sample size, but the company aims to capture data from hundreds of preterm births, which would require recruiting roughly two to three times as many women.

The study will be open to residents across the UAE rather than being limited to Emirati citizens.

Researchers will also incorporate genomic data to provide a broader view of individual health risks. According to Patel, combining genetic and physiological information with environmental factors could provide a more complete picture of each participant’s health.

The Oura ring will collect physiological and behavioral data, while genomic information will help researchers assess potential genetic risk factors.

Research to Begin in Coming Weeks

The study will operate under the Ministry of Health’s data-governance framework and trusted research environment.

Oura’s research team, which includes more than 50 doctors and PhD-level researchers, will oversee analysis of the wearable-device data.

The project is expected to begin in the coming weeks, with initial results anticipated in 2028.

Women’s Health Remains a Key Focus

Patel said Oura’s Abu Dhabi partnership initially focuses on women’s health, including preconception and perinatal care.

The next two pilot projects are therefore expected to continue exploring women’s health, with areas including pregnancy, fertility, cardiovascular health and metabolic health.

The UAE expansion comes only weeks after Oura postponed its planned Nasdaq IPO, originally scheduled for September 29, amid uncertainty in the public markets. The company has said it is profitable.

Abu Dhabi Strengthens Life Sciences Ambitions

Oura’s expansion supports Abu Dhabi’s broader strategy to attract international companies in healthcare and life sciences.

In April 2025, Abu Dhabi launched the Health, Endurance, Longevity and Medicine (HELM) cluster, led by the Department of Economic Development, the Abu Dhabi Investment Office and the Department of Health.

The cluster is designed to support research and development, manufacturing and commercialization across biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, medical technology and digital health.

The initiative is expected to attract more than AED 42 billion in investment, contribute AED 94 billion to Abu Dhabi’s GDP and create 30,000 jobs by 2045.

The Abu Dhabi Investment Office provides support to companies establishing operations within the cluster, while partners include the Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI) and Hub71, alongside new life sciences laboratories in Masdar City.