ADIO to expand its San Francisco office to attract further US investment into Abu Dhabi’s health sector

Abu Dhabi is doubling down on its global health ambitions — and it's planting deeper roots in San Francisco to make it happen. The Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO) is beefing up its Bay Area presence, aiming to pull more U.S. investment into the emirate's burgeoning health sector. At the intersection of biotech, health tech, and venture capital, the move is about more than a physical footprint. It's a strategic handshake between two innovation powerhouses.

How does it work?

The San Francisco office isn't just a satellite — it's a bridge. ADIO will use it to connect American startups and investors with HELM, Abu Dhabi's Health, Endurance, Longevity and Medicine cluster. Unveiled in April 2025, HELM brings together economic planners, health authorities, and private capital to create a massive launchpad for next-gen healthcare ventures. Think of it as a "Living Lab" for health innovation — where companies can:

• Fast-track regulatory approvals with Abu Dhabi's agile framework
• Access digitally integrated clinical trials
• Plug into advanced genomics, AI, and population health infrastructure
• Collaborate with UAE-based institutions and hospitals
• Expand into both U.S. and MENA markets in one fell swoop

Startups like Insilico Medicine and Innovaccer have already taken the leap. ADIO wants more to follow.

Why does it matter?

The numbers speak for themselves. HELM is expected to pump $25.6 billion into Abu Dhabi's GDP, generate 30,000 jobs, and attract $11.5 billion in investment by 2045. It's riding the wave of a global healthcare market projected to hit $25.3 trillion by then. But beyond the stats, this is about co-creating the future of medicine.

As H.E. Mansoor Ibrahim Al Mansoori, Chairman of the Department of Health - Abu Dhabi, put it: "The future of health cannot be built in isolation; it must be co-created."

By welcoming U.S. innovators to test and scale in Abu Dhabi, the emirate is positioning itself as a real-world sandbox where healthcare ideas grow up fast.

The context

This announcement came during Abu Dhabi Global Health Week 2025, amid a high-level visit to San Francisco led by Al Mansoori himself. The goal? Forge stronger ties with the Bay Area's decision-makers, researchers, and investors — and spotlight the emirate's role in shaping global health.

H.E. Ahmed Jasim Al Zaabi, Chairman of ADDED, put it bluntly: "ADIO's office in San Francisco is more than a presence — it's a platform." A platform for market entry. For capital exchange. For two-way innovation flows. And perhaps most importantly, for positioning Abu Dhabi not just as a buyer of innovation — but as a builder of it.