Increase in young workers leads to overall diabetes decrease in Dubai


Nick Webster
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DUBAI // Rapid population growth and a high percentage of young working men in Dubai have been cited as factors behind a survey showing decreasing prevalence of diabetes in the emirate.

Released on Wednesday, the Dubai Health Survey 2014 questioned 5,000 residents and revealed a drop in diabetes numbers to 11.6 per cent, compared with 13.23 per cent of a similar survey number in 2009.

Numbers of expatriates diagnosed with diabetes also decreased from 6 per cent in 2009 to 4.16 per cent in 2014.

The overall Dubai figure is lower than the national rate of 14.6 per cent. The International Diabetes Federation this week said there were just over one million diabetics in the country, an increase of 35 per cent from 2014.

Dr Fatheya Al Awadi, chair of DHA Diabetes Committee and head of the Endocrinology department at Dubai Hospital, said diabetes is decreasing due to the increasing child birth rate over the death rate in Dubai.

Annual population growth has averaged 7.7 per cent and is considered among the highest population growth in the world, with about 64 per cent of Dubai’s population under 35, so at lower risk from the disease.

“While data is showing that there is a decrease in the prevalence of diabetes, as the population ages they might move from low risk to high risk, which is why there is a need to put in place preventive programmes,” she said.

“The majority of expats who come to the UAE are working young males who are at a low risk of diabetes.”

The survey found that the prevalence of diagnosed diabetes among residents of Dubai - 11.6 per cent - is slightly higher than the Mena prevalence, which is 10.7 per cent.

Results showed the majority of those with diabetes are aged 60 to 69 (53.8 per cent), followed by those aged 50 to 65 (30.22 per cent).

Prevalence naturally decreases significantly among younger people, and the survey found 15.38 per cent of those aged 40 to 50 were diabetic; 3.57 per cent of 30 to 40-year-olds were; and just 1.04 per cent of 20 to 30-year-olds are diabetic.

DHA is considering opening an extra specialist diabetes treatment centre to help cope with anticipated demand for future services.

The World Health Organisation estimates that 415 million people worldwide were diagnosed with diabetes in 2015 and this number is expected to increase to 642 million in 2040.

Humaid Al Qatami, chairman of the board and director general of DHA, said: “Diabetes has become a threat not only to the UAE or GCC countries but the world.

“DHA is aware of the significance if this issue, which is why it has launched a number of awareness campaigns, public health policies and programmes.”

nwebster@thenational.ae

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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Key facilities
  • Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
  • Premier League-standard football pitch
  • 400m Olympic running track
  • NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
  • 600-seat auditorium
  • Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
  • An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
  • Specialist robotics and science laboratories
  • AR and VR-enabled learning centres
  • Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Company profile

Company: Eighty6 

Date started: October 2021 

Founders: Abdul Kader Saadi and Anwar Nusseibeh 

Based: Dubai, UAE 

Sector: Hospitality 

Size: 25 employees 

Funding stage: Pre-series A 

Investment: $1 million 

Investors: Seed funding, angel investors  

The studios taking part (so far)
  1. Punch
  2. Vogue Fitness 
  3. Sweat
  4. Bodytree Studio
  5. The Hot House
  6. The Room
  7. Inspire Sports (Ladies Only)
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La Liga: 2016/17
Spanish Super Cup: 2017
Uefa Champions League: 2015/16, 2016/17, 2017/18
Uefa Super Cup: 2016, 2017
Fifa Club World Cup: 2016, 2017

Milestones on the road to union

1970

October 26: Bahrain withdraws from a proposal to create a federation of nine with the seven Trucial States and Qatar. 

December: Ahmed Al Suwaidi visits New York to discuss potential UN membership.

1971

March 1:  Alex Douglas Hume, Conservative foreign secretary confirms that Britain will leave the Gulf and “strongly supports” the creation of a Union of Arab Emirates.

July 12: Historic meeting at which Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid make a binding agreement to create what will become the UAE.

July 18: It is announced that the UAE will be formed from six emirates, with a proposed constitution signed. RAK is not yet part of the agreement.

August 6:  The fifth anniversary of Sheikh Zayed becoming Ruler of Abu Dhabi, with official celebrations deferred until later in the year.

August 15: Bahrain becomes independent.

September 3: Qatar becomes independent.

November 23-25: Meeting with Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid and senior British officials to fix December 2 as date of creation of the UAE.

November 29:  At 5.30pm Iranian forces seize the Greater and Lesser Tunbs by force.

November 30: Despite  a power sharing agreement, Tehran takes full control of Abu Musa. 

November 31: UK officials visit all six participating Emirates to formally end the Trucial States treaties

December 2: 11am, Dubai. New Supreme Council formally elects Sheikh Zayed as President. Treaty of Friendship signed with the UK. 11.30am. Flag raising ceremony at Union House and Al Manhal Palace in Abu Dhabi witnessed by Sheikh Khalifa, then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.

December 6: Arab League formally admits the UAE. The first British Ambassador presents his credentials to Sheikh Zayed.

December 9: UAE joins the United Nations.

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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Real estate tokenisation project

Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.

The initiative focuses on converting real estate assets into digital tokens recorded on blockchain technology and helps in streamlining the process of buying, selling and investing, the Dubai Land Department said.

Dubai’s real estate tokenisation market is projected to reach Dh60 billion ($16.33 billion) by 2033, representing 7 per cent of the emirate’s total property transactions, according to the DLD.

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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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

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Labour dispute

The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.


- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law 

The 12 Syrian entities delisted by UK 

Ministry of Interior
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General Intelligence Directorate
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General Organisation of Radio and TV
Al Watan newspaper
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Sama TV

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Teams

Pakistan: Sarfraz Ahmed (captain), Mohammad Hafeez, Sahibzada Farhan, Babar Azam, Shoaib Malik, Asif Ali, Shadab Khan, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Usman Khan Shanwari, Hasan Ali, Imad Wasim, Faheem Ashraf.

New Zealand: Kane Williamson (captain), Corey Anderson, Mark Chapman, Lockie Ferguson, Colin de Grandhomme, Adam Milne, Colin Munro, Ajaz Patel, Glenn Phillips, Seth Rance, Tim Seifert, Ish Sodhi, Tim Southee, Ross Taylor.

The burning issue

The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE. 

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Read part two: how climate change drove the race for an alternative