Abu Dhabi, UAE, 18 April 2025 – Abu Dhabi Global Health Week (ADGHW) has announced the winners of its highly anticipated Smart Health Hackathon. Held from 5 – 6 April 2025, the innovation sprint brought together talented entrepreneurs, university teams, health-tech professionals, and inventors in the UAE capital to develop pioneering solutions to critical health and well-being challenges – live, and in real-time - before an esteemed panel of industry leaders.

Participants competed across two categories: 'Smart Living' and 'The Gym of Tomorrow', showcasing their transformative ideas through live demos and pitches. The Smart Living track challenged innovators to design proactive, tech-enabled solutions that empower individuals to monitor, predict, and manage their physical and mental health using tools like artificial intelligence (AI), wearable devices, and predictive analytics. The Gym of Tomorrow focused on reimagining fitness through immersive, personalised experiences – leveraging technologies such as Virtual Reality (VR), gamification, and real-time data to boost motivation and support long-term wellness.

Winning teams were selected based on creativity, feasibility, real-world applicability, and the potential for positive global impact. Reinforcing Abu Dhabi's commitment to empowering innovation and digital transformation in healthcare, participants received immediate feedback from experts across healthcare, investment, and technology. The winners of the ADGHW Smart Health Hackathon include:

Dr. Asma Al Mannaei, Executive Director of the Health Life Sciences Sector at the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi (DoH), said: 'The Smart Health Hackathon is one of several initiatives that are integral to our broader vision of building one of the world's most intelligent, trusted, and efficient healthcare systems—driven by patient-centred solutions and our commitment to excellence. These winners exemplify the creativity and forward-thinking mindset needed to redefine the future of global health. We are incredibly proud to support these promising innovators, not only through financial rewards, but also through mentorship, incubation support, and pilot opportunities to help bring their concepts to life. Initiatives like this are not just about solving today's challenges—they're about developing talent and nurturing the next generation of health innovation.'

In addition to a financial prize, winners will gain access to seed funding opportunities, incubation programmes, and potential pilot testing, significantly enhancing their path to commercial viability. They will also benefit from exclusive introductions to healthcare providers, investors, and health manufacturing firms within Abu Dhabi's rapidly growing life sciences ecosystem.

The competition attracted over 100 applications, including submissions from start-ups and students representing 11 different universities across the UAE. All applicants underwent a rigorous screening and matchmaking filtration process to ensure each team was equipped with the necessary skills to develop impactful solutions. Following two rounds of selection, 45 participants were chosen and organised into 16 multidisciplinary teams.

The Smart Health Hackathon reinforces Abu Dhabi's strategic vision to lead in healthcare digitisation, innovation, and patient-centred care. DoH's commitment to transformative innovation, cutting-edge research, and collaborative ecosystems is unlocking new frontiers in prevention, and personalised care. Backed by a proven track record of excellence, robust data infrastructure, and forward-looking policy frameworks, the emirate continues to establish itself as a global catalyst for sustainable healthcare transformation.

ADGHW is a major government initiative from DoH and serves as a platform for innovation and collaboration under the theme 'Towards Longevity: Redefining Health and Well-being.'  It places a strong emphasis on community-driven health and well-being, with a proactive approach centred around preventive, personalised, and holistic care. 

Four core themes guided discussions and initiatives: Longevity and Precision Health; Health System Resilience & Sustainability; Digital Health & AI; and Investment in Life Sciences. By convening diverse stakeholders from around the world, ADGHW is a community without borders that seeks to advance the future of health and well-being.