A new Abu Dhabi study will combine wearable measurements with clinical and genomic data to investigate whether premature labour can be anticipated
Women with elevated-risk pregnancies in Abu Dhabi will take part in a study investigating whether a smart ring can identify physiological changes that precede premature birth, potentially giving clinical teams more time to respond.
Project CRADLE, launched by the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi (DoH) and wearable technology company Oura, is a 24-month pilot examining early warning signs of spontaneous preterm labour. The initiative was announced at the Abu Dhabi Future Health Summit, taking place at ADNEC from 20–22 October.
Participants will wear an Oura Ring from early pregnancy through delivery. Researchers will combine continuous measurements, including heart rate, sleep and activity, with clinical and genomic information to investigate whether changes in an individual woman’s physiology can provide a reliable signal before labour begins.
Corniche Hospital and Mediclinic Airport Road will participate in the pilot, which is expected to begin in the coming weeks.
Earlier clinical intervention
Premature birth, defined as birth before 37 weeks of pregnancy, affects around one in ten births worldwide. Babies born prematurely can face respiratory difficulties and other complications, alongside longer-term developmental challenges.
The study will investigate both the presence of an early physiological signal and whether it could provide enough warning to inform care. This could include allowing time for treatments to support a baby’s development or arranging transfer to specialist neonatal services.
Continuous monitoring offers a different perspective from measurements taken during individual appointments. Following changes over time could help researchers distinguish a woman’s usual physiological patterns from changes associated with approaching labour.
However, the project is an exploratory study. Its purpose is to establish whether wearable measurements can support prediction and guide timely intervention; the technology has yet to demonstrate that capability through this programme.
Evidence for preventive care
The research is the first live initiative under a longer-term partnership between DoH and Oura announced in May 2026, exploring the contribution of continuous wearable data to preventive health.
For Abu Dhabi, the programme also connects its investment in health data with a specific maternal care question. “Women’s health and fertility are at the heart of Abu Dhabi’s health priorities,” says Dr Noura Khamis Al Ghaithi, Undersecretary of DoH.
The immediate task is to build evidence that can distinguish useful early warning signs from normal changes during pregnancy. Establishing that distinction will be central to determining whether continuous monitoring can become a practical addition to maternity care.
Have some thoughts on the topic? Share them with the community here