What BMI do I need for weight-loss injections in the UAE?
Usually a BMI of 30 or more, or 27 to 29.9 with a weight-related condition, under Dubai's 2024 obesity guideline and the EU labels for Wegovy (semaglutide) and Mounjaro (tirzepatide). Abu Dhabi is stricter: its 2025 standard starts GLP‑1 medicines at a BMI of 30 with a related condition, or over 40.
- Meeting a BMI threshold doesn't mean a medicine will be prescribed. A doctor also weighs your health, other treatments and risks.1
What are Dubai's and the labels' thresholds?
Dubai's 2024 obesity guideline says drug therapy can be considered at a BMI over 30, or 27 to 29.9 with a related condition, after lifestyle change hasn't brought 5% weight loss in 3 to 6 months.2
The EU labels for Wegovy and Mounjaro use the same figures: a BMI of 30 or more, or 27 or more with a condition such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol or sleep apnoea.3,4 As an example, a person 170 cm (5 ft 7 in) tall weighing 87 kg (192 lb) has a BMI of 30.1, by our arithmetic. BMI is weight in kilograms divided by height in metres squared.
Why is Abu Dhabi different?
Abu Dhabi's February 2025 standard starts GLP‑1 medicines at a BMI of at least 30 with one or more weight-related conditions, or over 40, so a BMI of 27 to 29.9 doesn't meet it.1
Thiqa's obesity programme uses similar bands: 30 to 34.9 with a listed condition, 35 to 39.9 with one from a longer list, and 40 or more on its own.5 Daman's guideline uses a BMI of 40 or more, or 30 or more with related conditions, after lifestyle measures have failed.6 Who can prescribe is in Who can prescribe Mounjaro in Abu Dhabi?
Do lower South Asian cut-offs apply in the UAE?
Not for prescribing. The thresholds above use standard BMI figures, though both health authorities note extra risk at lower BMI for people of Asian origin.1,2
Abu Dhabi's standard says people of Asian origin may carry risk at a BMI over 23.1 Dubai's guideline treats a waist over 80 cm (31.5 in) in Asian women and over 90 cm (35.4 in) in Asian men as abnormal.2 How to measure both, and what they mean, is in Guide 1: Do I have obesity?
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Related questions
Sources
- Department of Health – Abu Dhabi. Standard for Non-Surgical Management of Obesity, DOH/ST/HPS/Non-Surgical-MO/V1/2025, February 2025 (GLP-1 starting criteria: BMI of at least 30 with one or more weight-related comorbidities, or BMI over 40; continue beyond 6 months only with at least 5% weight loss; "The obesity certified physician determines the initiation time of pharmacological treatment"; the physician "has training in obesity management and certification approved by DoH"; people of Asian origin may carry risk at BMI over 23). doh.gov.ae (PDF)
- Dubai Health Authority. Clinical Guidelines for Virtual Management of Obesity, DHA/HRS/HPSD/CG-53, issue 2, effective 21 Apr 2024 (applies to DHA-licensed physicians and facilities providing telehealth; drug therapy "can be considered for those with a BMI > 30 kg/m2, or a BMI of 27 to 29.9 kg/m2 with comorbidities" who have not lost at least 5% at 3 to 6 months of lifestyle change; Asian waist cut-offs over 80 cm for women and over 90 cm for men). dha.gov.ae (PDF)
- European Medicines Agency. Wegovy (semaglutide) product information (SmPC sections 4.1, 4.2, 4.8 and 6.3: weight management at BMI ≥ 30, or ≥ 27 with a weight-related condition; 7.2 mg dose step after 2.4 mg; in the 68-week STEP 1–4 trials nausea in 43.9% vs 16.1% on placebo; gallstones common; acute pancreatitis uncommon; FlexTouch 6 weeks after first use, below 30°C or in a fridge). EU label; UAE label text not checked. ema.europa.eu (PDF)
- European Medicines Agency. Mounjaro (tirzepatide) product information (SmPC sections 4.1, 4.8 and 6.3: weight management at BMI ≥ 30, or ≥ 27 with a weight-related condition; nausea and diarrhoea very common; gallstones and acute pancreatitis uncommon; KwikPen after first use 30 days in a fridge or below 30 ºC). EU label; UAE label text not checked. ema.europa.eu (PDF)
- Department of Health – Abu Dhabi. Thiqa reimbursement policy for obesity medications, DoH/Policy/TRP-OMM/HPS/V1/2025, published and effective 11 Jun 2025 (adults 18+; BMI rules in 3.2.2; prescribers in 3.2.3; more than 5% weight loss plus an activity target in 3.2.4; 1-month trial, up to 3 months' supply, check at 4 months in 3.3–3.4; cover continues even if BMI reaches 24.9 or below, 3.5.1.1). doh.gov.ae (PDF)
- Daman (National Health Insurance Company). Glucagon-like Peptide-1 (GLP-1) Receptor Agonist adjudication guideline, V5, effective 15 Jan 2023, revised 19 Apr 2026 (diabetes criteria including HbA1c ≥ 6.5% and 6 months of other treatment; first request limited to 1 month; eligible prescribers Internal Medicine, Endocrinology, Family Medicine, Cardiologist; obesity medicines "not covered for members who are not enrolled in the Thiqa Obesity Program"; Table 1 lists the brands and dose steps). damaninsurance.ae (PDF)
Last checked 12 Oct 2026 · Next review due 12 Oct 2027 · Report an error
How this answer was made. Written by the GLP Guidebook team from the sources above, all checked on 12 Oct 2026. It's general information, not medical advice, and religious questions are for a scholar you trust. Talk to a UAE-licensed doctor or pharmacist before starting, stopping or changing any medicine. How we write