Wegovy pill vs Foundayo: how do the two weight-loss tablets compare in the UAE?
Separate trials, side effects, the morning rules, official prices and cover, and what a doctor weighs.
Written for the United Arab Emirates. Other country versions are coming.
Both are daily weight-loss tablets approved in the UAE in 2026, but no trial has compared them directly. In separate trials, people lost 13.6% on the Wegovy pill over 64 weeks and 12.4% on Foundayo’s top dose over 72 weeks. Both often cause nausea. The Wegovy pill needs an empty stomach; Foundayo doesn’t.
Wegovy pill vs Foundayo at a glance
| At a glance | Wegovy pill | Foundayo |
|---|---|---|
| Medicine and maker | Semaglutide, by Novo Nordisk1 | Orforglipron, by Eli Lilly2 |
| Approved in the UAE for | Long-term weight management in adults with obesity, or overweight with a weight-related condition; also to lower heart risk in adults with heart disease. Approved June 20263,4 | Weight management in adults with obesity, or overweight with a weight-related condition. Approved April 20265,6 |
| How you take it | One tablet a day on an empty stomach, with a sip of water (up to 120 ml), then 30 minutes with no food, drink or other tablets1 | One tablet a day at any time, with no food or water rules2 |
| Dose steps | 1.5 mg, then 4 mg, 9 mg and 25 mg, at least a month on each1 | 0.8 mg, then 2.5 mg and 5.5 mg; then 9, 14.5 or 17.2 mg if needed, at least 30 days on each2 |
| Main trial: weight, and the harm beside it | OASIS 4, 64 weeks: −13.6% on 25 mg vs −2.2% on dummy tablets. Nausea in 47 in 100 vs 19 in 1001 | ATTAIN-1, 72 weeks: −12.4% on the top dose vs −0.9% on dummy tablets. Stomach side effects in its weight trials: 69 in 100 vs 36 in 1002 |
| Most common side effects | Very common (more than 1 in 10) on the UK label: nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, constipation, stomach pain, indigestion, headache, tiredness1 | Very common (more than 1 in 10) on the UK label: nausea, constipation, diarrhoea, vomiting, indigestion, stomach pain2 |
| Official price, a month and a year | AED 779 (1.5 or 4 mg), 1,199 (9 mg) or 1,610 (25 mg) for 30 tablets. At 25 mg: about AED 1,628 a month, AED 19,535 a year7 | AED 773 (0.8 or 2.5 mg), 1,115 (5.5 mg), 1,412 (9 mg) or 1,599 (14.5 or 17.2 mg) for 30 tablets. At 17.2 mg: about AED 1,617 a month, AED 19,401 a year7 |
| Cover in the UAE | Dubai’s basic plan excludes weight-loss medicines; Daman covers obesity medicines only inside the Thiqa obesity programme8,9 | The same, but Abu Dhabi also covers Foundayo for adults in its Personalised Weight Management Programme8,10 |
A month is 364÷12 days and a year 364 days, as in our cost calculator; our arithmetic. Prices from Abu Dhabi’s official drug list, effective 2 Oct 2026. Not a ranking.
Key takeaways
- No trial has compared the Wegovy pill with Foundayo for weight; their own trials gave 13.6% over 64 weeks and 12.4% over 72 weeks.1,2
- Stomach side effects were common with both: nausea hit 47 in 100 people on the Wegovy pill, and stomach effects 69 in 100 on Foundayo’s top dose.1,2
- The Wegovy pill must be taken on an empty stomach with a 30-minute wait, while Foundayo can be taken at any time.1,2
- At the top doses, 30 tablets cost AED 1,610 for the Wegovy pill and AED 1,599 for Foundayo on Abu Dhabi’s official list.7
On this page
- At a glance
- What are the Wegovy pill and Foundayo?
- Which one led to more weight loss in trials?
- Has any trial put the two medicines head to head?
- How do the side effects compare?
- How do you take each one?
- What does each one cost in the UAE?
- Which one? What does a doctor weigh?
- Questions people ask
- How we researched this
What are the Wegovy pill and Foundayo?
Both are once-a-day weight-loss tablets approved in the UAE in 2026. They contain different medicines from different makers.3,5
- GLP‑1 medicines are prescription-only in the UAE and should only be used under medical supervision.11
- Label facts here come from the UK labels, named each time. We could not find the UAE leaflets online, so check the leaflet in your own pack.
- Prices are official prices to the public. We name no pharmacy or clinic and rank nothing by price.
- Every risk is in Guide 5: Side effects and risks. Nothing here promises a result.
The medicine is what works in your body; the brand is the name on the box. Paracetamol is a medicine, and Panadol is one brand of it.
- Wegovy pill contains semaglutide, the same medicine as Wegovy and Ozempic injections and Rybelsus tablets. Novo Nordisk makes it.1,9
- Foundayo contains orforglipron, a newer medicine made by Eli Lilly, the maker of Mounjaro. It is not tirzepatide.2,5
Both act like GLP‑1, a hormone your gut releases after you eat. They work on the parts of the brain that control appetite, so you eat less, and help the body release insulin when blood sugar is high.1,2
The Emirates Drug Establishment, the UAE’s drug regulator, approved Foundayo in April 2026 and the Wegovy pill on 1 June 2026. In both cases the UAE was second after the US.5,3 Novo Nordisk says the pill is also approved here to lower the risk of heart attack and stroke in adults with heart disease and obesity or overweight.4
Which one led to more weight loss in trials?
No trial has compared these two tablets directly. In separate trials, people lost 13.6% on the Wegovy pill and 12.4% on Foundayo’s top dose.1,2
How these trials work:
- People are split into groups at random.
- One group takes the medicine; the other takes a dummy tablet (a placebo) that looks the same.
- Everyone gets the same advice on diet and activity.
- The gap between the groups is what the medicine added.
For someone who starts at 100 kg (220 lb), 13.6% is about 14 kg (30 lb) and 12.4% about 12 kg (27 lb). These are averages: some people lose much more, some very little.1,2
- Wegovy pill: 76 in 100 people lost at least 5% of their weight, against 31 in 100 on dummy tablets. Put the other way, about 24 in 100 on the pill did not.1
- Foundayo top dose: 77 in 100 lost at least 5%, against 22 in 100 on dummy tablets. About 23 in 100 on Foundayo did not.2
Lower Foundayo doses gave less: 7.8% at the dose that matches the 5.5 mg tablet, and 9.3% at the one that matches 9 mg.2
Has any trial put the two medicines head to head?
One trial, ACHIEVE-3, compared Foundayo’s medicine with semaglutide tablets, but at Rybelsus diabetes doses, not the Wegovy pill’s 25 mg.2,12
It followed 1,698 adults with type 2 diabetes for 52 weeks. Everyone also took metformin. Both groups knew which medicine they had, and Lilly, Foundayo’s maker, ran it.2,12
- Blood sugar: HbA1c, a measure of average blood sugar over 2 to 3 months, fell 2.2 points on the top orforglipron dose and 1.4 points on semaglutide 14 mg.2
- Weight: 9.2% on the top orforglipron dose, against 5.3% on semaglutide 14 mg.2
- Harms: in Foundayo’s diabetes trials against a dummy tablet, stomach side effects hit 43 to 59 in 100 people on Foundayo, depending on dose, against 26 in 100.2
So the trial tells you about people with diabetes on lower semaglutide doses. It does not show how Foundayo compares with the Wegovy pill for weight.
How do the side effects compare?
They are the same kind: mostly nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea and constipation, worst while the dose goes up. Both UK labels list them as very common.1,2
- Wegovy pill (OASIS 4): nausea in 47 in 100 people, against 19 in 100 on dummy tablets; vomiting in 31 in 100, against 6 in 100. Stomach effects made 3 in 100 stop for good.1
- Foundayo (weight trials): stomach side effects in 60 to 69 in 100, depending on dose, against 36 in 100 on dummy tablets. They made 4 to 7 in 100 stop, against under 1 in 100.2
- Hair loss: 6.4 in 100 on the Wegovy pill against 2.0 on dummy tablets; 3.7 in 100 on Foundayo against 1.8.1,2
- Gallstones: 2.5 in 100 on the Wegovy pill against 1 in 100; 1.3 in 100 on Foundayo against 0.6.1,2
- Stomach effects are very common (more than 1 in 10) on both UK labels.1,2
- Dehydration from vomiting or diarrhoea can harm the kidneys, both labels warn.1,2
- Pancreatitis (a swollen, inflamed pancreas) is uncommon, 1 in 100 to 1 in 1,000, on both UK labels. Gallstones are common, 1 in 10 to 1 in 100.1,2
- Low blood sugar is more likely if you also take insulin or a sulphonylurea.1,2
- Not in pregnancy. Stop the Wegovy pill at least 2 months, and Foundayo at least 3 weeks, before a planned pregnancy.1,2
How do you take each one?
The Wegovy pill has strict morning rules; Foundayo has none about food or water. That is the biggest day-to-day difference.1,2
- Wegovy pill: after at least 8 hours without food, swallow it whole with up to half a glass of water. Wait at least 30 minutes before eating, drinking or taking other tablets.1
- Foundayo: once a day at any time, swallowed whole, with or without food.2
- Missed dose: skip a missed Wegovy pill and take the next one the following day. For Foundayo, restart as soon as you can. Never take two tablets in a day.1,2
- The contraceptive pill: Foundayo may make it work less well. The label advises a non-oral method or condoms for 30 days after starting and after each dose rise. The Wegovy tablets label found no relevant effect.2,1
- Storage: neither UK label sets a temperature limit. Keep the Wegovy pill in its blister and Foundayo in its pack, away from light.1,2
The timing rules matter during fasting. Our post on GLP‑1s in Ramadan covers Suhoor and Iftar.
The cost calculator uses the same official Abu Dhabi prices, dose by dose, for the months you choose.
What does each one cost in the UAE?
Prices are fixed nationally. At the top doses, 30 tablets cost AED 1,610 for the Wegovy pill and AED 1,599 for Foundayo.7
- Wegovy pill: AED 779 for 30 tablets of 1.5 or 4 mg, AED 1,199 at 9 mg and AED 1,610 at 25 mg.7
- Foundayo: AED 773 for 30 tablets of 0.8 or 2.5 mg, AED 1,115 at 5.5 mg, AED 1,412 at 9 mg and AED 1,599 at 14.5 or 17.2 mg.7
A year at the top dose comes to about AED 19,535 for the Wegovy pill and AED 19,401 for Foundayo, by our arithmetic. Doctor visits and tests are extra.7
Most people pay themselves. Dubai’s basic plan excludes weight-loss medicines, and Daman covers them only inside the Thiqa obesity programme.8,9 Abu Dhabi also covers Foundayo for adults eligible for its Personalised Weight Management Programme.10 More in GLP‑1 prices in the UAE.
Which one? What does a doctor weigh?
A doctor decides, and these pages don’t recommend either. In Abu Dhabi, the obesity-certified doctor decides when to start a medicine.14
Things a doctor may weigh:
- Your routine: whether you can keep the Wegovy pill’s empty-stomach rules every morning.1
- Heart disease: in the UAE the Wegovy pill is also approved to lower heart risk.4
- Other medicines: some raise Foundayo levels, so its top dose is 9 mg with them; the pill’s 30-minute wait affects other tablets.2,1
- Contraception and pregnancy plans, because of the differences above.2,1
- Who pays: for example, whether you are eligible for an Abu Dhabi programme.10,9
The rules on who can be considered differ by emirate. Abu Dhabi’s standard starts at BMI 30 with a weight-related condition, or over 40.14 Dubai’s guideline allows BMI over 30, or 27 to 29.9 with a condition, after lifestyle changes alone haven’t worked.15 See Guide 6 for prescriptions.
Questions people ask
Does Foundayo work as well as the Wegovy pill?
Nobody knows yet: no trial has compared them for weight. In separate trials, people lost 12.4% on Foundayo’s top dose and 13.6% on the Wegovy pill.2,1
Can I take Foundayo with food?
Yes. The UK label says to take it once a day at any time, without food or water restrictions.2
Is Foundayo a Mounjaro pill?
No. Lilly makes both, but Foundayo contains orforglipron and Mounjaro contains tirzepatide.2,5
Can I switch from the Wegovy pill to Foundayo?
Neither UK label gives instructions for moving between these two tablets. A change of medicine is a decision for your doctor.1,2
Do the weight-loss pills need a fridge?
No. Neither UK label sets a special storage temperature; keep them in their packs, away from light.1,2
How we researched this
On 14 Oct 2026 we read the UK labels for Wegovy tablets and Foundayo, including the OASIS 4, ATTAIN-1 and ACHIEVE-3 tables, and the ACHIEVE-3 trial registration. UAE approvals come from dated UAE news reports and Novo Nordisk’s release; cover rules from Daman, the Dubai basic plan and Abu Dhabi’s health department.
Prices are the official “package price to public” on Abu Dhabi’s drug list, effective 2 October 2026, never a seller’s price. Monthly and yearly figures are our arithmetic, done the same way as our cost calculator.
Before you move on
- No trial has compared the two tablets for weight.
- Separate trials: 13.6% on the Wegovy pill, 12.4% on Foundayo’s top dose.
- The Wegovy pill needs an empty stomach; Foundayo doesn’t.
- Prices are fixed; a doctor decides which medicine fits.
More from the UAE blog
The monthly UAE update
An independent guide to GLP‑1 medicines. We don't sell medicines, take drug-company money or earn clinic commissions. Once a month: UAE approvals, official price changes, insurance rules and safety alerts. How we write
Sources
- Novo Nordisk. Wegovy tablets (oral semaglutide): UK summary of product characteristics, electronic Medicines Compendium, last updated 16 June 2026, sections 4.1, 4.2, 4.5, 4.6, 4.8, 5.1 (OASIS 4, Table 2), 5.2 (absolute bioavailability about 1–2%) and 6.4. UK label: the UAE leaflet is not published online. medicines.org.uk
- Eli Lilly. Foundayo (orforglipron) film-coated tablets: UK summary of product characteristics, electronic Medicines Compendium, last updated 14 August 2026, sections 4.1, 4.2, 4.5, 4.6, 4.8, 5.1 (Table 2 tablet and capsule doses; ATTAIN-1, Table 3; ACHIEVE-3, Table 7), 5.2 and 6.4. UK label: the UAE leaflet is not published online. medicines.org.uk
- Khaleej Times. UAE approves Wegovy pill for weight loss, cardiovascular risk reduction (approved by the Emirates Drug Establishment for “long-term weight management in adults with obesity or overweight linked to weight-related medical conditions”). 1 June 2026. khaleejtimes.com
- Novo Nordisk. Wegovy pill launches in the UAE (launch 3 June 2026; “the first country outside the United States to make the Wegovy pill available”; also approved to reduce the risk of major heart events in adults with heart disease and obesity or overweight). Company press release, via BioSpace. biospace.com
- The National. UAE-approved daily weight loss pill to be made available next month (orforglipron, sold as Foundayo, authorised by the Emirates Drug Establishment; the second country after the US). 4 April 2026. thenationalnews.com
- Khaleej Times. New obesity pill approved in UAE: who can get it, availability, prescription explained (BMI 30 or more, or above 27 with a related condition). 17 April 2026. khaleejtimes.com
- Department of Health – Abu Dhabi. Shafafiya drug price list (Drugs.xlsx), released 26 September 2026, effective 2 October 2026: official “Package Price to Public” for each pack named here, each listed as a prescription-only medicine (“POM”). Downloaded and checked 12 October 2026. shafafiyaportal.doh.gov.ae (XLSX)
- Cigna. Essential Benefits Plan (Dubai Health Authority basic plan), table of benefits: exclusion 9 includes “pharmacological weight reduction regimens”; medicines “As per DHA formulary” with a maximum benefit of AED 2,500. cigna-me.com (PDF)
- Daman (National Health Insurance Company). Adjudication guideline: Glucagon-like Peptide-1 (GLP‑1) Receptor Agonist, version 5, effective 15 January 2023, revised 19 April 2026: section 3.1.2 (obesity medicines covered under Thiqa for patients enrolled in the Thiqa obesity programme); section 3.3 (obesity medicines “not covered for members who are not enrolled in the Thiqa Obesity Program”); Table 1 (Saxenda/Fitura and Wegovy for obesity; Rybelsus and Ozempic for type 2 diabetes). damaninsurance.ae (PDF)
- Department of Health – Abu Dhabi. Abu Dhabi expands access to innovative daily oral obesity treatment (Foundayo “covered for adults eligible for the Personalised Weight Management Programme”). News release, 24 April 2026. doh.gov.ae
- Department of Health – Abu Dhabi. Circular 48/2026, 16 March 2026: alert on counterfeit weight-loss products that falsely claim to contain GLP‑1 medicines, relaying an Australian (TGA) advisory; GLP‑1 medicines “are prescription-only medicines and should only be used under medical supervision”; the products are not registered with the Emirates Drug Establishment but are sold online and on social media; products bought online may be fake, contain undisclosed ingredients or give no medical benefit; report to [email protected]. Summarised, not reproduced, as the circular asks. doh.gov.ae (PDF)
- ClinicalTrials.gov. NCT06045221, ACHIEVE-3: orforglipron compared with oral semaglutide in adults with type 2 diabetes on metformin. Lead sponsor: Eli Lilly and Company. Checked 14 October 2026. clinicaltrials.gov
- Department of Digital Ajman. Handling emergencies: 999 police, 998 ambulance, 997 civil defence; Ministry of Health and Prevention hotline 80011111 for fake or harmful medicines. Checked 12 October 2026. ajman.ae
- Department of Health – Abu Dhabi. Standard for Non-Surgical Management of Obesity, DOH/ST/HPS/Non-Surgical-MO/V1/2025, February 2025: section 3.4.2 (GLP‑1 medicines from BMI 30 with a weight-related condition, or over 40; “Continue beyond 6 months only if the patient has lost at least 5% of their initial body weight”; “The obesity certified physician determines the initiation time of pharmacological treatment”). doh.gov.ae (PDF)
- Dubai Health Authority. Clinical Guidelines for Virtual Management of Obesity, DHA/HRS/HPSD/CG-53, issue 2, effective 21 April 2024 (medicines can be considered at BMI over 30, or 27 to 29.9 with a condition, after lifestyle changes alone have not worked). dha.gov.ae (PDF)
Last checked 14 Oct 2026 · Next review due 14 Apr 2027 · Report an error
How this page was made. Written by the GLP Guidebook team from the sources above. It's general information, not medical advice. Talk to a qualified doctor or pharmacist before starting, stopping or changing any medicine. How we write