UAE obesity intervention report projects US$51B economic gain by 2031

UAE—The UAE has launched a comprehensive report, in collaboration with the Ministry of Economy and Tourism, outlining the wide-ranging benefits of addressing obesity across health, economic, social, and educational outcomes, in alignment with the We the UAE 2031 vision.

The launch event brought together senior policymakers and healthcare stakeholders, highlighting the role of evidence-based planning in shaping national health strategies.

H.E. Dr Maria Hanif Al Qassim, Assistant Undersecretary for Policies and Economic Studies, emphasized that obesity extends beyond health impacts to broader socioeconomic consequences.

She noted that data-driven insights from the report can strengthen coordination between government agencies, insurers, employers, and the wider health sector, while reinforcing the UAE’s commitment to positioning health as a pillar of national development.

Health and economic value of early intervention

The report, titled “Beneath the Surface: The Hidden Socioeconomic Impacts of Weight Loss”, highlights significant opportunities for the UAE to unlock both health and economic value through earlier and more effective obesity interventions.

It estimates that improved interventions could help over 1.2 million adults transition out of obesity by 2031.

In economic terms, these measures could contribute up to US$51 billion to the national GDP by 2031 and reduce healthcare expenditure by about US$1.5 billion.

The analysis further projects a 15-percentage-point decline in obesity prevalence under an accelerated intervention scenario, alongside an increase in GDP growth by 1.5 percentage points above baseline forecasts.

By 2031, the UAE economy could reach an estimated $790 billion, underscoring the link between public health and long-term economic resilience policy planning goals.

Industry leaders emphasize system-wide impact

Fadi Fara, CEO of Whiteshield, said the report demonstrates the full scale of benefits associated with weight loss and obesity treatment, extending beyond health improvements to include economic and workforce gains.

He added that effective obesity policies serve as both health and economic strategies, especially as treatment innovation accelerates globally.

Meanwhile, Leena Aziz, Senior Director, Corporate and Government Affairs, Gulf at Eli Lilly, described obesity as a chronic disease that affects productivity, economic resilience, and national development.

She emphasized the importance of prevention, early intervention, and improved access to care, while calling for stronger collaboration across healthcare systems to reduce stigma and improve patient outcomes.

Workforce, Education, and Demographic Gains

The report further outlines broader societal impacts, projecting that accelerated interventions could enable around 75,000 additional births by 2031, including 24,000 Emirati births.

It also estimates more than 17,000 additional workforce entrants, including over 9,000 Emirati women, supporting labour participation.

In education, findings suggest over 2,000 additional bachelor’s degree enrollments and a 1.4 per cent reduction in university dropout rates.

Individuals previously living with obesity could gain up to five additional productive working days per year, while annual incomes may rise by up to US$772, reinforcing the links among health, education, productivity, and economic growth across national development priorities.