Today's Edition
MUDHI ALOBTHANI (ABU DHABI)
As the UAE sharpens its focus on wellness and preventive care, experts highlight community engagement, awareness and accessible fitness as key to a healthier future. On World Health Day (April 7), they emphasised regular physical activity as a simple yet powerful way to boost wellbeing.
Dr Fawaz Jasim Mohammed, Consultant Physician at SEHA Al Dhafra Hospitals, said even a 30-minute walk “can significantly improve cardiovascular health, mood and overall wellbeing”.
In Abu Dhabi, maintaining an active lifestyle has become easier thanks to the facilities it has built - the running, walking and cycling tracks it has laid out - and the community activities it hosts regularly.
Dr Lamees Ebrahim Abuhlaiqa, a public health expert and lifestyle coach, said Abu Dhabi’s role as a global sports hub creates an environment where healthy living becomes part of daily life.
“Accessible sporting facilities and community events encourage people to stay active, reduce sedentary lifestyles, and support mental wellbeing,” Dr Abuhlaiqa said.
She added that large sporting events, such as the Open Masters Games, demonstrate that staying fit is possible at any age.
Dr Abuhlaiqa also stressed the impact of grassroots initiatives in encouraging people to adopt active lifestyles. Four years ago, she launched a women’s community initiative called “Run with Lamees”, a free group that encourages women of all ages to explore walking and running.
“I started it to encourage my neighbours to begin moving more,” she said. “Over time it grew, and similar initiatives started emerging, creating a noticeable shift in the culture of sports and wellbeing.”
Dr Mohammed said this proactive approach reflects a nationwide effort to help citizens and residents prevent disease before it begins, or address health risks before they become serious.
Screening programmes and early risk assessments, for example, can detect chronic conditions such as hypertension, diabetes and cancer at earlier stages.
“Early detection allows timely intervention and leads to better outcomes for patients, while reducing the long-term burden on the healthcare system,” he added.
Dr Maryam Jasem Al Ali, Division Chief of the Family Medicine Clinic at SEHA Al Dhafra Hospitals, agreed that the UAE is increasingly shifting from a reactive healthcare model to one focused on prevention and healthier lifestyles.
“Preventive care helps identify risk factors early and prevents complications before they occur,” she said. “This approach improves quality of life and helps build a society that is not just living longer, but living healthier and more independent lives.”
