UAE GLP-1 use rises as Burjeel doctor says drugs deliver 50% to 60% of weight-loss plan

GLP-1 weight-loss medicines such as Mounjaro and Wegovy should be paired with structured lifestyle change, Dr Mohammad Fityan, group chief medical officer at Burjeel Holdings, told the Dubai International Pharma and Technologies conference on 26 August 2026.

The highest-stakes readers are COOs, CFOs and medical directors. Clinics in Dubai need a documented obesity pathway that covers prescribing, nutrition counselling, physical activity targets and follow-up. Insurers need rules for when treatment is reimbursed. Patients need to know that a prescription can become a recurring monthly cost if coverage is declined or conditional.

What the Dubai discussion changes for operators

Dr Fityan said the medicine accounts for 50% to 60% of the solution, with the remaining 40% to 50% dependent on the patient. The National reported that some insurers are linking reimbursement to daily activity targets, including 10,000 steps per day. That makes obesity care an operating model issue for UAE providers, rather than a single consultation issue.

"Lifestyle change is a must and I tell patients this from the beginning." Dr Mohammad Fityan, group chief medical officer, Burjeel Holdings

For Dubai providers, the regulator is the Dubai Health Authority (DHA). DHA has already stated that a DHA licence is mandatory for both facilities and professionals providing nutritionist or clinical dietician services in dietary and weight-management centres, according to a 2018 DHA circular. In Abu Dhabi and Al Ain, the regulator is the Department of Health Abu Dhabi (DOH). In Sharjah, Ajman, Ras Al Khaimah, Fujairah and Umm Al Quwain, the regulator is the Ministry of Health and Prevention (MOHAP).

The P&L issue is follow-up, not the pen

Cash prices vary by pharmacy, dose and service bundle. Public online pharmacy listings reviewed on 27 August 2026 showed Wegovy starting near AED 743 to AED 779, with higher-dose oral listings around AED 1,199 to AED 1,610. Mounjaro listings are less transparent because many UAE pharmacies require prescription review before showing full prices; one UAE provider page lists Mounjaro from AED 1,734. Operators should confirm current prices directly with licensed pharmacies because obesity medicines are prescription products and supply can change by dose.

The financial question for clinics is whether they can bill and defend the full care bundle. A medically credible programme needs the prescriber, licensed dietitian, follow-up nurse or coordinator, lab checks where clinically indicated, and escalation rules for adverse effects. For insurers such as Daman, Thiqa and Sukoon, coverage decisions can turn on diagnosis, comorbidities, policy tier and whether the treatment is for diabetes, obesity or both. Providers should check each member's benefits before starting therapy.

• Eligibility: common clinical thresholds include BMI of 30 kg/m2 or above, or BMI of 27 kg/m2 or above with a weight-related condition, based on Wegovy prescribing information and US Food and Drug Administration guidance for tirzepatide weight management.
• Duration: Wegovy trial data cited in prescribing material include 64-week and 68-week study periods, so clinics should plan beyond a one-month starter pack.
• Monitoring: clinics should document weight, BMI, waist measures where used, adverse effects, nutrition goals and activity data at each review.
• Regulatory fit: nutrition and dietetics delivery must match the licensing rules of DHA, DOH Abu Dhabi or MOHAP, depending on the emirate.

What clinics should do next

The operational risk is fragmented care. A patient may obtain a prescription, buy medicine through a pharmacy or digital platform, and skip dietetic review. That weakens outcomes and creates liability if side effects, undernutrition or drug interactions are missed. Medical directors should approve a protocol before marketing GLP-1 services. COOs should make sure appointments, reminders and dietitian capacity match expected monthly follow-up demand.

Patients should ask three questions before paying: whether the prescriber is licensed in the emirate, whether a licensed dietitian is part of the pathway, and whether their insurer covers the medicine, the consultation, or neither. Providers can point patients to the UAE Open Healthcare Directory to compare licensed nutrition and dietetics providers across Dubai, Abu Dhabi and the northern emirates.