Abu Dhabi's Department of Health has unveiled a new approach to tackling noncommunicable disease that targets the environments people live in, rather than blaming individual habits. Dr Ahmed AlKhazraji, Executive Director of Healthy Living at the department, says that of 23 modifiable drivers of health, 19 sit entirely outside the healthcare sector. "The environments shape behaviours which shape health," he said.
Noncommunicable diseases account for 75 per cent of deaths worldwide, roughly 40 million people a year. Under the new rules, restaurants must display calorie counts on menus from the first quarter of 2027, with each menu section required to flag at least one clearly labelled healthy option. Supermarkets face a parallel mandate to cut sugar, salt and fat in products by up to 20 per cent annually over four years, with the first compliance deadline set for January 1, 2027.
Schools will be required to provide a minimum of 210 minutes of physical activity a week, and deep-fried food will be banned from canteens. Workplaces must ensure 70 per cent of food and drink options meet health standards. Weight-loss medication will also be covered through insurance, conditional on patients following lifestyle programmes.
A parallel initiative, the Degayeg programme, aims to give 67 per cent of residents access to fitness facilities by the end of this year, rising to full coverage by the end of 2027; it is currently expanding from 10 to 20 residential districts across the emirate.