More people in the UAE are prioritising mental health over physical care, marking a remarkable shift in attitudes to well-being, an international survey has found.
At least 11,800 people were included in the assessment of 13 international markets including the US, UK and Europe.
Vitality and well-being across physical, mental, financial, family and work dimensions related to the way people accessed care were examined, as part of the 2025 Cigna Healthcare International Health Study.
For the first time, people responding in the UAE to an in-depth questionnaire in May 2025 said they valued their mental health over physical health.
The number of UAE residents reporting strong mental health rose seven points year-on-year, to 64 per cent of those asked, 21 points above the global average.
Men reported the highest levels (68 per cent) followed by 55 per cent of women.
Leah Cotterill, chief executive of Cigna Healthcare Middle East, said there are key reasons why the UAE now bucks the global trend of physical health first, mental health second.
“We’re seeing clear evidence that national investment in mental health access, preventive care and digital innovation are delivering measurable outcomes,” she said.
“For the first time, mental well-being has overtaken physical health as the UAE’s top focus.
“We interpret these findings as part of a wider and profound cultural shift, where health is no longer defined merely as the absence of illness, but as the presence of balance, vitality and emotional resilience.
“This transformation has been shaped by national dialogue, progressive workplace initiatives and reduced stigma.”
Obstacles to providing care
Prejudice, taboos, as well as religious and cultural beliefs, have affected efforts by some countries to deliver critical mental healthcare services.
Underinvestment or overpriced care costs due to a shortage of mental health professionals have also been blamed for some national health systems falling short in providing life-saving psychological support.
The refining of national regulations has boosted availability of appropriate mental health support in the UAE.
While the Federal Mental Health Law and Dubai’s Dh105 million Mental Health Framework have underscored a commitment to building a healthier, more resilient population, community programmes like Abu Dhabi’s Parent-Friendly Label, which promotes flexible work arrangements, continue to embed well-being within daily life.
Dr Shahana Kasim, a psychiatrist at NMC Specialty Hospital, Abu Dhabi, said mental health is “an important determinant of the economic progress of the nation”.
“Untreated mental illness affects a person’s functioning in all spheres of their life, including occupational functioning,” she said.
“This results in loss of productivity for the company, ultimately becoming a barrier to the development and progress of the country as well.”
A common barrier preventing vulnerable people receiving adequate care is poor mental health literacy, with Dr Kasim saying that mental health conditions are still considered as a sign of weakness by some.
“Misconceptions about mental health, mental illness and its treatment remains prevalent in the community,” she said.
“Conditions such as depression and anxiety are frequently misunderstood and unfairly stigmatised.
“Some believe that experiencing mental health issues is a sign of weak faith or spiritual failure, leading them to feel guilty or ashamed, particularly when facing issues like depression.
“Fear of judgment is another common barrier. However, these results can be considered a landmark in mental health literacy in the country.”
Of those aged 25-44 asked in the survey about their physical health, 46 per cent said they ate a balanced healthy diet, 52 per cent enjoyed regular quality sleep but fewer than half (46 per cent) exercised regularly.
Generally, younger people were more likely to focus on their mental well-being, according to Dr Shaju George, a psychiatrist at International Modern Hospital in Dubai.
“There is no health without mental health,” she said.
“Younger generations across the globe, especially the ones from UAE, talk a lot about mental health issues – they don’t consider it a taboo subject any more. They do seek help and do not show any shame to acknowledge that fact.”
The UAE switch in health priorities reflects trends in the global agenda. A recent UN declaration formally placed mental health on an equal footing with chronic diseases like cancer and cardio vascular disease.
The document has yet to receive final approval by the UN General Assembly, but it signals a global shift towards mental illness being treated by everyday primary health clinics, rather than specialist centres.
Treatments offered locally by government health authorities could open up access to mental health care for a further 150 million people by 2030, the UN estimates.
“With insurance companies covering mental health as part of their policies, more residents have the means to access mental health care, which is a positive shift,” said Dr Sneha John, a psychologist at Medcare Camali Clinic.
“Post pandemic, I have seen an increase in individuals seeking help for stress, anxiety, and emotional challenges, often reflecting a cultural shift towards valuing mental health as a critical component of holistic wellness.”
According to the World Health Organisation, more than a billion people are living with a mental health issue, but fewer than seven per cent are estimated to receive effective treatment, with service waiting times lasting months.
Dr Roberta Fedele, a clinical psychologist, at the BPS Clinic in Dubai said there had been a significant change in attitudes since 2010.
“The UAE has witnessed a significant shift in the perception of mental health, which has increasingly become a priority for many people,” she said.
“One of the main reasons for this change is the rapid growth of mental health and well-being centres, as well as the publication of numerous articles, research studies, and surveys.
“Additionally, several prominent public figures in the region have helped break the stigma by openly sharing their personal struggles and experiences.”
Dr Fedele said the most common mental health concerns she treated included adjustment issues related to relocation, anxiety and depression, as well as previously undiagnosed conditions such as adult ADHD.
“Relationship difficulties are also frequently reported, while among minors, neurodivergent conditions – including those on the autism spectrum – are quite common, along with learning difficulties and emotional and behavioural challenges.
“Unlike previous generations, millennials are more informed and aware of issues such as politics, climate change and financial realities – and they have not neglected mental health and well-being either.”
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pocketsLearn more about Qasr Al Hosn
In 2013, The National’s History Project went beyond the walls to see what life was like living in Abu Dhabi’s fabled fort:
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Result
Tottenhan Hotspur 2 Roma 3
Tottenham: Winks 87′, Janssen 90 1′
Roma 3
D Perotti 13′ (pen), C Under 70′, M Tumminello 90 2″
Tamkeen’s offering
- Option 1: 70% in year 1, 50% in year 2, 30% in year 3
- Option 2: 50% across three years
- Option 3: 30% across five years
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Other must-tries
Tomato and walnut salad
A lesson in simple, seasonal eating. Wedges of tomato, chunks of cucumber, thinly sliced red onion, coriander or parsley leaves, and perhaps some fresh dill are drizzled with a crushed walnut and garlic dressing. Do consider yourself warned: if you eat this salad in Georgia during the summer months, the tomatoes will be so ripe and flavourful that every tomato you eat from that day forth will taste lacklustre in comparison.
Badrijani nigvzit
A delicious vegetarian snack or starter. It consists of thinly sliced, fried then cooled aubergine smothered with a thick and creamy walnut sauce and folded or rolled. Take note, even though it seems like you should be able to pick these morsels up with your hands, they’re not as durable as they look. A knife and fork is the way to go.
Pkhali
This healthy little dish (a nice antidote to the khachapuri) is usually made with steamed then chopped cabbage, spinach, beetroot or green beans, combined with walnuts, garlic and herbs to make a vegetable pâté or paste. The mix is then often formed into rounds, chilled in the fridge and topped with pomegranate seeds before being served.
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cyl turbo
Power: 201hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 320Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 6-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 8.7L/100km
Price: Dh133,900
On sale: now
World record transfers
1. Kylian Mbappe – to Real Madrid in 2017/18 – €180 million (Dh770.4m – if a deal goes through)
2. Paul Pogba – to Manchester United in 2016/17 – €105m
3. Gareth Bale – to Real Madrid in 2013/14 – €101m
4. Cristiano Ronaldo – to Real Madrid in 2009/10 – €94m
5. Gonzalo Higuain – to Juventus in 2016/17 – €90m
6. Neymar – to Barcelona in 2013/14 – €88.2m
7. Romelu Lukaku – to Manchester United in 2017/18 – €84.7m
8. Luis Suarez – to Barcelona in 2014/15 – €81.72m
9. Angel di Maria – to Manchester United in 2014/15 – €75m
10. James Rodriguez – to Real Madrid in 2014/15 – €75m
Company Profile
Name: Thndr
Started: 2019
Co-founders: Ahmad Hammouda and Seif Amr
Sector: FinTech
Headquarters: Egypt
UAE base: Hub71, Abu Dhabi
Current number of staff: More than 150
Funds raised: $22 million
The Sand Castle
Director: Matty Brown
Stars: Nadine Labaki, Ziad Bakri, Zain Al Rafeea, Riman Al Rafeea
Rating: 2.5/5
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Silent Hill f
Publisher: Konami
Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC
Rating: 4.5/5
Specs
Engine: Electric motor generating 54.2kWh (Cooper SE and Aceman SE), 64.6kW (Countryman All4 SE)
Power: 218hp (Cooper and Aceman), 313hp (Countryman)
Torque: 330Nm (Cooper and Aceman), 494Nm (Countryman)
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh158,000 (Cooper), Dh168,000 (Aceman), Dh190,000 (Countryman)
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Name: Mamo
Year it started: 2019 Founders: Imad Gharazeddine, Asim Janjua
Based: Dubai, UAE
Number of employees: 28
Sector: Financial services
Investment: $9.5m
Funding stage: Pre-Series A Investors: Global Ventures, GFC, 4DX Ventures, AlRajhi Partners, Olive Tree Capital, and prominent Silicon Valley investors.
More coverage from the Future ForumWhat can victims do?
Always use only regulated platforms
Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion
Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)
Report to local authorities
Warn others to prevent further harm
Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence
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Diriyah%20project%20at%20a%20glance
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First Person
Richard Flanagan
Chatto & Windus
Singham Again
Director: Rohit Shetty
Stars: Ajay Devgn, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Ranveer Singh, Akshay Kumar, Tiger Shroff, Deepika Padukone
Rating: 3/5
GOLF’S RAHMBO
– 5 wins in 22 months as pro
– Three wins in past 10 starts
– 45 pro starts worldwide: 5 wins, 17 top 5s
– Ranked 551th in world on debut, now No 4 (was No 2 earlier this year)
– 5th player in last 30 years to win 3 European Tour and 2 PGA Tour titles before age 24 (Woods, Garcia, McIlroy, Spieth)