Will Ahmed, founder and CEO of the US-based health wearable firm WHOOP, disclosed that the company’s membership base in the Gulf region has expanded by 85 percent over the past year. Speaking at the Abu Dhabi Future Health Summit, Ahmed noted that this growth represents a 15-fold increase over the previous three years, according to Khaleej Times. These figures mark the first public disclosure since Abu Dhabi investors Mubadala and 2PointZero Group participated in a $575 million Series G funding round, which valued the company at $10.1 billion.
Ahmed attributed the regional expansion to a mutual goal between WHOOP and Abu Dhabi authorities to shift medical care from reactive to proactive models. He stated that the local leadership’s emphasis on proactive health allows the company to streamline operations and align its technology with regional goals. The CEO emphasized that reducing bureaucratic hurdles enables the integration of continuous monitoring into daily health management.
The partnership with Mubadala, which includes a $75 million investment announced in May, is set to deepen with the launch of the WHOOP–Mubadala Health Research Initiative. Khaleej Times reported that this structured program will conduct long-term studies on heart health, sleep, and recovery in collaboration with leading UAE institutions. The investment also funds a dedicated UAE office and the full Arabic localization of the WHOOP platform, aiming to drive measurable health outcomes and advance longevity research in the emirate.
The company’s wearable device tracks physiological signals continuously, including heart rate variability, blood pressure, and sleep patterns. Recent updates include AFib detection, which received clearance from the US Food and Drug Administration, and a longevity feature that tracks biological ageing. Ahmed illustrated the utility of these tools by describing a case where a device flagged an abnormal heart rate in a healthy 50-year-old man, leading to the discovery of a blocked coronary artery.
Founded in 2012 and headquartered in Boston, WHOOP has secured roughly $1 billion in total capital across all funding rounds. Ahmed indicated that the company is building toward becoming a standalone business, suggesting a potential future public listing without specifying a timeline. The Abu Dhabi Future Health Summit, held under the patronage of the Abu Dhabi Crown Prince, continues with sessions focused on cancer care, digital health, and healthy living.