Nyxoah Taps UAE Hospital to Pioneer Advanced Sleep Apnea Therapy

ABU DHABI, UAE – February 18, 2026 – In a significant move to expand advanced medical technology into the Middle East, Belgian med-tech firm Nyxoah has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City (SSMC), one of the UAE's largest and most advanced hospitals. The partnership is set to establish SSMC as a regional center of excellence for Nyxoah’s Genio® system, an innovative implantable nerve stimulation therapy for Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA), a condition with high prevalence in the region.

This collaboration aims to accelerate access to the breakthrough treatment for patients across the Middle East, positioning Abu Dhabi as a hub for both high-volume clinical programs and professional medical training in next-generation sleep medicine.

A Strategic Gateway to a High-Growth Market

The partnership represents a calculated strategic entry for Nyxoah into the booming Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) healthcare market, which is projected to reach an expenditure of $159 billion by 2029. By selecting SSMC, Nyxoah is aligning with a premier institution at the heart of the region's healthcare transformation. SSMC is not only a flagship complex care hospital but also a joint venture with the renowned U.S.-based Mayo Clinic and a key subsidiary of PureHealth, the largest integrated healthcare network in the Middle East.

PureHealth's immense scale, evidenced by its AED 25.8 billion revenue in 2024 and strategic acquisitions of major healthcare groups in the UK and UAE, provides a powerful platform for deploying new medical technologies. The choice of partner underscores a strategy focused on embedding innovation within established, high-credibility ecosystems. The Middle East's high prevalence of OSA, often linked to lifestyle and genetic factors, presents a substantial and underserved patient population, making the region a priority for market expansion.

“Given the high prevalence of Obstructive Sleep Apnea in the Middle East, this initiative supports our vision to offer new treatment options to patients in the region,” commented Olivier Taelman, Chief Executive Officer of Nyxoah. He noted the partnership reflects a strategy of working with leading institutions to “build sustainable clinical programs, support physician education, and contribute to the advancement of care for patients living with obstructive sleep apnea.”

Innovating Beyond Sleep: The Link to Chronic Disease

At the core of the collaboration is Nyxoah’s Genio® system, a hypoglossal neurostimulation therapy designed to be patient-centered. The device stands out with its leadless, battery-free design, requiring only a small implant under the chin. Critically, it has secured CE mark approval for treating patients with Complete Concentric Collapse (CCC), a specific pattern of airway collapse during sleep that often disqualifies patients from competitor therapies, thereby broadening the eligible patient pool.

Beyond just treating a sleep disorder, the partnership aims to delve deeper into one of modern medicine’s most pressing challenges: the link between sleep and chronic disease. The MoU includes plans for clinical research collaboration to explore the impact of effective OSA management on chronic and metabolic conditions like Type 2 Diabetes. Scientific evidence has firmly established that the intermittent oxygen deprivation and fragmented sleep caused by OSA can contribute to systemic inflammation, insulin resistance, and hypertension.

With non-communicable diseases (NCDs) accounting for a significant portion of healthcare costs in the GCC, this research could be pivotal. If treating OSA with the Genio system demonstrates a measurable improvement in comorbidities, it could reposition sleep apnea therapy from a quality-of-life treatment to an essential component of chronic disease management. This aligns perfectly with the overarching mission of SSMC’s parent company, PureHealth, which is focused on advancing the science of longevity.

Abu Dhabi's Ascent as a Global Med-Tech Hub

The Nyxoah-SSMC agreement is more than a corporate partnership; it is a testament to Abu Dhabi's successful strategy to become a global hub for life sciences and medical innovation, a key pillar of its Economic Vision 2030. By attracting cutting-edge technologies like the Genio system, the emirate reinforces its commitment to providing world-class, specialized healthcare.

A central component of the MoU is the establishment of SSMC as a regional training hub. The facility will develop programs to educate surgeons, sleep physicians, and other healthcare professionals from across the Middle East on the implantation and management of the Genio therapy. This 'teach the teacher' model is crucial for ensuring high standards of care and fostering a self-sustaining ecosystem of expertise, reducing the region's reliance on external medical training.

Dr. Marwan Al Kaabi, Chief Executive Officer of Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City, affirmed this vision. “At Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City, we are committed to advancing specialized, high-quality care through clinical excellence, education, and research,” he stated. “Our collaboration with Nyxoah supports our efforts to further develop expertise in innovative sleep apnea therapies and to serve as a regional reference center for training and scientific exchange.”

The Future of Sleep Apnea Treatment

Obstructive Sleep Apnea affects millions worldwide, causing repeated breathing interruptions during sleep that can lead to severe daytime fatigue and long-term cardiovascular complications. The long-standing gold standard for treatment, Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP), involves wearing a mask connected to a machine during sleep. While effective, adherence is a major challenge for many patients who find it cumbersome or uncomfortable.

Hypoglossal nerve stimulation (HGNS) represents a significant leap forward for this population. By stimulating the nerve that controls tongue movement, these implanted devices keep the airway open during sleep without the need for external equipment. The Genio system, with its unique leadless design and broader patient indications, represents the continuing evolution of this technology.

The launch of this program at SSMC promises to bring this advanced therapeutic option to patients in the Middle East who have struggled with conventional treatments. As the high-volume implant program gets underway and the regional training center begins its work, this partnership is poised to not only improve sleep for countless individuals but also elevate the standard of care for a complex and often overlooked condition.