The Department of Health – Abu Dhabi (DoH), the regulator of the health sector in the emirate, and Eight Sleep, the global leader in sleep technology, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to study how AI-powered sleep technology could provide a new approach to managing conditions like sleep apnea.
The partnership will begin with a first-of-its-kind clinical study in Abu Dhabi that enables the connection of real-world data from Eight Sleep’s technology with Abu Dhabi’s population health data. The initial study will focus on sleep apnea, one of the most widespread and underdiagnosed sleep-related conditions globally. It will examine how smart bed technology, including real-time adjustments to body position, may help improve how the condition is managed.
During the 12-week study, Eight Sleep’s technology will capture continuous sleep and physiological signals such as heart rate, breathing rate, movement, apnea events, and positional data. Uniquely, once launched, this feature will be connected into Abu Dhabi’s intelligent health system, allowing researchers to analyse these signals alongside participants real-time health data, including relevant clinical, genomic and lifestyle data, to identify patterns that may inform future treatment pathways and clinical research.
The study will be conducted by Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City (SSMC), an Abu Dhabi medical research hospital part of the PureHealth Group, and will operate with built-in oversight, governance, and data protection protocols.
H.E. Dr. Noura Khamis Al Ghaithi, Undersecretary of the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi, said: “Quality sleep is one of the strongest foundations of long-term health, yet common sleep disorders like sleep apnea can significantly undermine it, raising the risk of serious health conditions when left unmanaged.
Our collaboration with Eight Sleep reflects Abu Dhabi’s commitment to the future of health: using data, research, and innovation to predict risk, intervene earlier, and improve outcomes. By generating real-world evidence from consumer sleep technology and integrating it with Abu Dhabi’s intelligent health system, we can help to inform personalised care pathways for people with sleep apnea and other related disorders affecting sleep.”
The findings are expected to contribute to the evidence base for how consumer health technology can be responsibly integrated into clinical care and preventive health models. The research will also help evaluate how continuous sleep monitoring can complement existing clinical assessments and support future healthcare planning across the emirate.
“Sleep is one of the most powerful signals of human health, yet it has historically been undermeasured and underutilised in medicine,” said Matteo Franceschetti, Co-founder and CEO of Eight Sleep. “This partnership with the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi is an important step toward making sleep a core pillar of preventive care. By combining Eight Sleep’s continuous sleep data with Abu Dhabi’s world-class health intelligence infrastructure, we can help generate the clinical evidence needed to personalise interventions, support earlier action, and improve health outcomes over time.”
Dr. Marwan Al Kaabi, Chief Executive Officer, Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City, said, “Clinical research plays a critical role in transforming promising innovations into evidence that can improve patient care. Through this collaboration, Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City is helping evaluate how emerging technologies can be rigorously assessed within real-world clinical settings to generate insights that inform future models of care. As an academic medical centre, we are committed to advancing research that supports more personalised, preventive and data-driven healthcare, creating lasting value for patients, clinicians and the wider health system.”
Advancing sleep apnea detection and intervention through intelligent sleep technology
Affecting nearly one billion people globally, sleep apnea is a complex condition associated with increased risks of hypertension, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease and cognitive decline. Symptoms often develop gradually and vary from night to night, so continuous monitoring has the potential to support earlier detection, more personalised interventions, and improved long-term management.
While the initial study focuses on sleep apnea, DoH and Eight Sleep plan to study how sleep, temperature regulation, and recovery affect other areas of health, such as menopause and cancer care. The findings are expected to help show how everyday consumer health devices can be used safely and responsibly within clinical care and prevention.
The collaboration reinforces Abu Dhabi’s continued investment in clinical research, health intelligence and responsible adoption of emerging technologies. By generating evidence within real-world care settings, the DOH continues to evaluate new approaches that can strengthen preventive health and improve long-term patient outcomes.
Eight Sleep is the company that pioneered sleep fitness, bringing together technology, physiology, and data to unlock deeper sleep and better health. Its products are trusted by professional athletes, business leaders, and health-conscious consumers around the world. Eight Sleep has been recognized as one of Fast Company’s Most Innovative Companies in 2019, 2022, 2023, and 2026, and has twice been named to TIME’s Best Inventions. Its products are available in more than 35 countries at eightsleep.com.
