Abu Dhabi Opens Strategic Life Sciences Corridor to California Through Biocom Partnership

24 Jun, 2026:

The Department of Health – Abu Dhabi (DoH), the regulator of the healthcare sector in Abu Dhabi, and Biocom California, one of the world's largest life sciences associations representing more than 1,800 biotechnology, pharmaceutical and medical technology organisations, have announced a strategic partnership that will create a formal gateway between Abu Dhabi and California's life sciences ecosystems. The collaboration will strengthen connectivity between innovators, researchers, investors and entrepreneurs across both markets, creating new opportunities to accelerate the development, validation and scaling of next-generation health solutions.

Both parties will exchange expertise on life sciences ecosystem and cluster development, including industry best practices, sector policy insights and lessons learned, helping strengthen innovation environments and accelerate the growth of high-value life sciences activities in both regions. The partnership connects California's globally renowned life sciences community with Abu Dhabi’s Health, Endurance, Longevity and Medicine (HELM) Cluster, creating opportunities for companies to build, test and scale innovations across both markets.

Through Biocom California, US-based biotechnology, pharmaceutical and medical technology leaders will be provided access to Abu Dhabi's intelligent life sciences ecosystem and living lab model, where discovery, validation and real-world implementation happen within a single environment.

H.E. Dr. Noura Khamis Al Ghaithi, Undersecretary of the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi, said: “The most successful life sciences ecosystems are those that can connect talent, research, investment and implementation across borders. Through this partnership with Biocom California, we are creating a direct bridge between Abu Dhabi’s intelligent life sciences ecosystem and one of the world’s leading centres of life sciences innovation. For innovators, researchers, and investors, this creates new opportunities to access Abu Dhabi's living lab for intelligent life sciences, where scientific discoveries can be translated into real-world impact faster and at scale.”

The collaboration will also support joint events, delegations and industry engagements, alongside initiatives focused on workforce development. Capacity building is a key pillar of the partnership, reflecting a shared commitment to developing the talent, expertise and specialised capabilities required to support the continued growth of the life sciences sector.

Joe Panetta, President Emeritus of Biocom said: " Biocom is honored to be partnering with the Department of Health - Abu Dhabi under this important MOU. Abu Dhabi life science ecosystem is strategically focused and well supported for the creation of promising new and innovative life science therapies. Biocom reaches out actively to develop a network of partnerships in established and growing life science ecosystems around the world. Under this MOU we look forward to cooperating jointly in events, providing opportunities to find partners for companies in both California and Abu Dhabi and connecting Abu Dhabi to our other partners.”

The announcement forms part of Abu Dhabi's participation at BIO International Convention 2026, where the emirate is showcasing its intelligent life sciences ecosystem and partnerships across genomics, gene editing, AI-enabled health innovation, advanced therapeutics and rare disease.

Representing the breadth of Abu Dhabi's health, investment and innovation ecosystem, DoH's high-level delegation to the United States includes stakeholders from Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO), M42, Hub71, New York University Abu Dhabi, Masdar City, Khalifa University, KEZAD, Hub71, PureHealth, Mubadala Bio, Arcera and Institute for Healthier Living Abu Dhabi.

A key enabler of the emirates intelligent life sciences ecosystem is Abu Dhabi Investment Office’s (ADIO) Health, Endurance, Longevity and Medicine (HELM) Cluster, which connects research, investment, commercialisation and healthcare implementation within a single ecosystem. By bringing together innovators, investors, industry and healthcare stakeholders, HELM helps translate scientific discovery into real-world impact more efficiently and at greater scale.