Daijiworld Media Network - Dubai
Dubai, Nov 14: The number of adults living with diabetes in the UAE could increase from the current 1.3 million to 1.9 million by 2050 if existing trends continue, the Ministry of Health and Prevention has warned.
Figures released by the ministry on Saturday to mark World Diabetes Day showed that approximately one in five adults in the country is living with diabetes, which costs the national economy an estimated Dh9 billion annually.
The projected rise to 1.9 million cases by 2050 represents an increase of around 46 per cent from current levels. However, the ministry stressed that this outcome is not inevitable, highlighting the potential benefits of expanding prevention programmes and promoting healthier lifestyles.
According to estimates cited by the ministry, strengthening preventive measures over the next 15 years could save approximately 32,000 lives, add 221,000 years of healthy life to the population and prevent around Dh20 billion in economic losses.
These benefits could be achieved through increased physical activity, improved care for people living with diabetes and policies that make healthier choices more accessible.
The UAE is implementing an updated National Diabetes and Obesity Control Plan for 2026–2030, aimed at shifting the healthcare system's focus from treating diseases after diagnosis to preventing them and identifying risk factors at an early stage.
The plan prioritises early detection, preventive healthcare and continuity of care, while exploring the use of advanced technologies to predict the risk of metabolic disorders.
Such technologies could help healthcare providers identify individuals at greater risk of developing diabetes, allowing timely intervention and potentially reducing disease-related complications.
The ministry is also working to strengthen and standardise preventive screening programmes across the country, building on existing initiatives such as Abu Dhabi's IFHAS programme and the Etmenan screening programme offered by Emirates Health Services.
Efforts are underway to expand access to regular health assessments, with the long-term objective of introducing mandatory preventive screening linked to health insurance requirements.
The ministry emphasised the importance of regular health screenings, particularly for individuals at increased risk of developing diabetes. It also underlined the need to raise public awareness about risk factors and lifestyle changes that can prevent or delay the onset of Type 2 diabetes.
As part of its national strategy, the UAE is strengthening programmes to improve diabetes management and reduce complications through early diagnosis, regular medical follow-up and sustained preventive care.
The ministry is also developing initiatives targeting women with a history of gestational diabetes, promoting healthy lifestyle clinics and encouraging early detection of metabolic disorders associated with diabetes and obesity.
Additional measures will focus on improving awareness of Type 1 diabetes, particularly among children, and expanding screening for individuals at higher risk.
Marking World Diabetes Day on November 14, the ministry reaffirmed its commitment to reducing the health and economic burden of diabetes through a proactive healthcare approach focused on prevention, early intervention and improved quality of life.