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Burjeel Hospital Abu Dhabi has entered a partnership with ARPI Inc. of South Korea to explore the clinical validation and pilot implementation of ECG Buddy, an AI-powered ECG interpretation and clinical decision-support solution, Burjeel Holdings announced on Tuesday. The memorandum of understanding was signed on the sidelines of the Abu Dhabi Future Health Summit 2026. The collaboration will evaluate the technology’s ability to aid early detection of cardiovascular risks and support more informed clinical decisions. Burjeel Holdings described the initiative as reinforcing its Burjeel 2.0 strategy, which emphasises clinical excellence and evidence-based innovation across its operations.
ARPI Inc. developed ECG Buddy as a certified medical device that analyses a single electrocardiogram to deliver 11 arrhythmia classifications along with multiple digital biomarker risk scores for conditions such as STEMI, hyperkalemia, heart failure and left ventricular dysfunction, according to the company’s product information. The system has gained adoption in more than 120 hospitals across South Korea, where it functions as a daily clinical tool. A separate validation study conducted through the Mayo Clinic Platform and published in npj Digital Medicine found the underlying model outperformed initial troponin testing for acute myocardial infarction detection in a large U.S. dataset.
The UAE artificial intelligence in cardiology market generated revenue of $11.5 million in 2025 and is projected to reach $111.4 million by 2033, expanding at a compound annual growth rate of 32.8 percent, Grand View Research figures show. This growth trajectory reflects broader regional demand for tools that improve diagnostic speed and accuracy amid rising prevalence of diabetes, hypertension and other cardiovascular risk factors. Burjeel Holdings’ latest agreement forms part of its wider push to integrate advanced technologies that complement physician decision-making rather than replace clinical judgment.
ECG Buddy Clinic, a related ARPI product focused on outpatient screening, holds Class III certification from South Korea’s Ministry of Food and Drug Safety and can estimate left ventricular ejection fraction while screening for coronary artery disease, paroxysmal atrial fibrillation, left ventricular hypertrophy and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, the developer stated. The hospital group’s pilot will assess how such capabilities perform within Burjeel’s existing cardiovascular programme, which already includes advanced imaging and interventional services. Integration of the AI tool is expected to begin with structured clinical evaluation before any broader rollout.
Burjeel 2.0, the group’s ongoing transformation programme, seeks to align operations for improved clinical outcomes, patient experience and financial performance while expanding access to care, according to recent Burjeel Holdings updates. The platform has consolidated several affordable-care brands under unified leadership and continues to invest in specialised services across Abu Dhabi and other emirates. Tuesday’s announcement at the health summit underscores the group’s interest in cross-border technology collaborations to address unmet needs in cardiac diagnostics.
The partnership arrives as other AI-driven cardiac initiatives gain traction in the UAE, including pilots for arrhythmia screening within national health programmes, separate industry reports indicate. Burjeel Hospital Abu Dhabi has previously introduced AI-enhanced catheterisation laboratories to support complex interventions while reducing radiation exposure. Further details on the ECG Buddy pilot timeline and specific performance metrics will emerge from the validation phase now under way.
