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Guide 7 of 9 · Stage: Do it safely

Choosing a doctor, clinic or programme for a GLP-1 in the UAE

Hospital clinics, telehealth apps, home-care services, pharmacies and aesthetic clinics now all offer GLP-1 medicines. Here is how they work, what they charge for, the rules they must follow, and how to tell a careful one from a risky one.

GLP Guidebook teamUpdated 12 Oct 202613 min read21 sourcesWritten from published sources
The short answer

Choose the doctor first and the programme second. A good provider names a doctor licensed by the DHA, DoH or MOHAP, sees you live on video or in person, orders tests, and tells you the full monthly cost at your top dose before you pay. The medicine itself has a fixed national price, so compare the fees around it. Be wary of plans that sell the medicine before a doctor has seen you, promise kilos, or advertise on social media.

Key facts

Who prescribes
A UAE-licensed doctor; in Abu Dhabi, one certified in obesity management for weight1,2
Online visits
Allowed from licensed facilities. In Abu Dhabi, a live audio or video call before any prescription3,4
What you pay for
  • Doctor visits and tests
  • Coaching, an app or a wearable, in many programmes
  • The medicine, at the fixed national price: usually the biggest cost5,22
Under watch
In July 2026 the regulator acted against 71 sellers, 14 of them registered facilities, and referred 14 influencers to the authorities6
On this page
  1. Why have so many providers appeared?
  2. What kinds of provider are there?
  3. How does a typical programme run?
  4. What should each part look like?
  5. How do they charge?
  6. What are the rules in the UAE?
  7. Checklist before you sign up
  8. Red flags with a programme
  9. Questions people ask
We don't name, rank or price providers. UAE law bans advertising medical products without the regulator's approval, and we take no money from any provider.7 This guide describes the common kinds of provider and the rules they work under, so you can check any of them yourself.

Why have so many providers appeared?

The UAE gets new weight-loss medicines early, demand is high, and telehealth is well set up. Clinics, apps and home-care services moved in to offer the doctor, tests and coaching around them.

  • Aug 2022Mounjaro became available in the UAE, the second country after the US to approve it.8
  • Sep 2025Over 1,600 people had signed up through virtual healthcare platforms in recent months, a newspaper reported.9
  • Apr 2026Foundayo, a daily weight-loss tablet, was approved, second in the world after the US.10
  • Jun 2026The Wegovy pill launched here first outside the US. One home-care service said it was dispensing a prescription for it about every 17 minutes.11,12
  • Jul 2026The drug regulator acted against 71 sources selling unapproved weight-loss products, and a Sharjah court fined people for selling Mounjaro on social media.6,13

What kinds of provider are there?

Six main kinds. They differ in who the doctor is, how much support you get between visits, and whether the medicine is part of the price.

None of these is automatically safer. A careful app can be better than a careless clinic. What matters is whether the parts in the next sections are done properly.

1Your own doctor or specialist

A family doctor, internist or endocrinologist you see in a clinic or hospital, in person or online, paying per visit.

Usually included
The consultation and reviews. Tests are separate. You buy the medicine at a pharmacy with your prescription.
Suits
Most people, and anyone with diabetes, heart or kidney problems, or other medicines to manage.
Watch
Little support between visits. In Abu Dhabi, check the doctor is certified in obesity management if the medicine is for weight.2
2Hospital obesity or diabetes clinic

A team inside a hospital: endocrinologists, dietitians and sometimes weight-loss surgeons.

Usually included
Specialist and dietitian visits and tests.
Suits
People with a higher BMI or several health problems, or who are weighing medicine against surgery.
Watch
Whether you pay per visit or for a package, and what your insurance covers. For weight, usually nothing.14
3Telehealth or home-care programme

An online service: a video consultation, home blood tests, then app tracking and coaching. The medicine is delivered by a licensed pharmacy.

Usually included
Doctor access, tests, a coach and an app; some add a wearable. The medicine is often extra.
Suits
People who want regular coaching, or who find clinic visits hard to fit in.
Watch
Who the doctor is and which authority licenses them, and whether you pay before anyone has seen you.
4Government or insurer programme

Abu Dhabi runs a Thiqa obesity programme for UAE nationals, and a Personalised Weight Management Programme that covers Foundayo for eligible adults.15,16

Usually included
Certified doctors, set check-ups and, if you qualify, the medicine paid for.
Suits
People who meet the criteria and are happy to log activity on a wearable.
Watch
Strict rules: in the Thiqa programme you must keep more than 5% weight loss and meet an activity target, or cover stops.15
5Pharmacy with delivery

Licensed pharmacy chains that dispense against a prescription you upload, and deliver.23

Usually included
The medicine, delivered cold, sometimes a pharmacist consultation.
Suits
People who already have a prescription.
Watch
A pharmacy that doesn't ask for a prescription. In a 2026 study, most pharmacies asked for Ozempic for weight loss didn't ask for one.17
6Aesthetic, slimming or wellness clinic

Clinics that sell injection programmes, sometimes next to body treatments.

Usually included
Consultation, injections and other services in one package price.
Suits
Hard to say. These medicines treat a medical condition, not a cosmetic one.
Watch
The doctor's licence and specialty, the medicine's share of the price, and cosmetic framing. Some registered facilities were among those the regulator acted against in July 2026.6

You'll also see coaching-only services, such as gym and nutrition apps that build plans around the medicine. They don't prescribe. They can work well alongside your own doctor.

How does a typical programme run?

Most follow the same steps. The ones to slow down at are the first two: the eligibility check and the doctor's consultation.

1
Eligibility checkOften a short online form with your height and weight. A form is not a consultation.
2
Doctor's consultationLive on video or in person, with your history, medicines and measurements.
3
Blood testsBefore the first dose. Some programmes do them at home.
4
Prescription and medicineDelivered cold by a licensed pharmacy, or bought by you at the same fixed price.
5
Check-ins and dose stepsA coach or app in between; the doctor at each dose change.
6
Review, then carry on or stopIs it working, is it safe, and what's the plan for stopping?

The usual order. In Abu Dhabi, steps 2 and 4 must follow the telemedicine standard: a live call, and the prescription recorded in your medical file.3

What should each part look like?

Six parts, each with what good looks like and the warning sign to watch for.

1The doctor

  • No doctor's name or licenceYou can't tell who will prescribe, or which authority licenses them.
    The doctor gives their name, specialty and licence (DHA, DoH or MOHAP) at the start. In Abu Dhabi, a doctor certified in obesity management decides when to start a medicine for weight.2
  • It isn't clear how the doctor will see youOnly a form that a doctor "will review".
    A live audio or video call at least, and an in-person visit if the doctor is unsure or needs to examine you.3

2Tests

  • No tests, or a huge package sold up frontTests chosen before a doctor has seen you.
    The doctor picks the tests for you before the first dose, such as HbA1c (average blood sugar) if diabetes is possible. Guide 6 lists what a consultation should cover.

3The medicine

  • Doses sold before you're seenA plan with a set number of doses and a dose path, bought before the consultation.
    The doctor decides the medicine and each dose step after seeing you, and can slow down or stop if side effects are hard to live with.
  • A cheaper pen, or a vialMedicine prices are fixed nationally, so a much cheaper pen is a warning sign. Vials and "peptides" are not approved products.22,6
    An approved pen or tablet from a licensed pharmacy, at the official price, against your prescription.5

4Diet, coaching, the app and any wearable

  • Supplements and "detox" products in the bundleExtras with no medical reason, sold alongside the medicine.
    A qualified dietitian, with advice on protein and strength exercise to protect muscle. Both the Dubai and Abu Dhabi guidance put lifestyle changes first, with medicine added on top.4,2
  • Data you can't controlAn app or wearable that shares your data with no clear terms.
    Clear terms on who sees your data. In the Thiqa programme, activity is tracked through a wearable linked to the official Sahatna app.15

5Follow-ups

  • Only a coach after the first visitNo doctor review as the dose goes up.
    A doctor sees you as the dose goes up, and reviews you at about 6 months. Abu Dhabi's standard says to continue only if you've lost at least 5% of your starting weight.2

6Refunds, stopping and records

  • Terms that are short, missing or one-sidedNo refund terms on the pages you read, or no money back if you stop for side effects.
    Written terms before you pay: a full refund if the doctor says no, what you get back if you stop, and how to cancel.
  • No word on stoppingNo plan for what happens when you stop.
    A plan for stopping (see Guide 9), and your prescription and records when you ask. In Abu Dhabi, online prescriptions must go into your medical record.3

How do they charge?

In five main ways. The medicine has the same fixed price everywhere, so the differences are in the fees around it.22

We don't publish any provider's prices. Below is how the fees are usually built.

Pay per visitClinics, hospitals and your own doctor. You pay each consultation; tests and medicine are separate. Nothing to cancel.
Monthly programme fee, medicine extraDoctor access, coaching and an app for a monthly fee. You pay for the medicine on top.
Prepaid packageSeveral months paid up front. Longer packages cost less per month, but you're tied in.
Insurer or government programmePaid for if you meet strict criteria, such as Abu Dhabi's Thiqa obesity programme.15
Package with other treatmentsAesthetic and wellness clinics, where injections sit next to other services in one price.

Extras sold on top. Many programmes charge separately for some of these:

  • blood-test panels
  • a smart scale or a wearable
  • a continuous glucose monitor (CGM), a small sensor worn on the arm that reads your sugar all day
  • extra doctor consultations
Ask one question before you pay: "What will I pay each month, all in, once I'm on my full dose?" That means fee, medicine, tests and extras together. Mounjaro costs AED 1,734 a pen at every dose, but a Wegovy pen rises from AED 743.50 at the start to AED 1,712 at 2.4 mg, on Abu Dhabi's official drug list from 2 October 2026.5 See Guide 6's price list, then put your numbers into the GLP-1 cost calculator.

Budget in years, not months: Guide 9 explains what happens to your weight when you stop. Most insurance won't pay for weight loss, so plan to pay yourself.14,18

What are the rules in the UAE?

Every provider works under federal rules on medicines and advertising, plus the rules of the emirate that licenses it.

GLP-1 medicines are prescription-only, to be used under medical supervision.1 Doctors and facilities are licensed by the DHA in Dubai, the DoH in Abu Dhabi, or the Ministry of Health and Prevention in the Northern Emirates. Guide 6 sets out each emirate's rules.

Online visits
  • Dubai's obesity guideline covers DHA-licensed doctors and facilities giving care by telehealth; it excludes emergencies and controlled medicines.4
  • In Abu Dhabi, the prescriber must work for a DoH-licensed facility and have a real-time audio or video call with you before prescribing.3
  • If the doctor is unsure, or an examination is needed, they must see you in person first.3
Who starts the medicine
  • In Abu Dhabi, a doctor certified in obesity management decides when to start a medicine for weight.2
  • For insurance cover of diabetes medicines through Daman, the prescriber must be in internal medicine, endocrinology, family medicine or cardiology.19
Advertising
  • Under the 2024 medicines law, medical products may not be advertised by any means without the regulator's approval, with fines of up to AED 1 million.7
  • Prescription-only medicines may not be advertised to the public, and influencers need a licence from the Media Council.20
  • The Media Council has taken legal action against an account promoting a product with unverified medical claims.21
Enforcement
  • In July 2026, the Emirates Drug Establishment acted against 71 sources selling unapproved weight-loss products, 14 of them registered facilities, and referred 14 influencers to the National Media Office.6
  • A Sharjah court fined two people AED 10,000 each for selling Mounjaro through social media without a licence.13

Checklist before you sign up

Tick as you go. Any box you can't tick is a question to ask before you pay.

Before you pay

At the first consultation

Once you're in

For questions to ask the doctor about the medicine itself, use Guide 6's question list or the doctor-visit tool.

Red flags with a programme

These come up with programmes and packages in particular. Guide 6 lists the red flags with any clinic or app, such as "no prescription needed".

  • Its own results, with no sourceClaims like "kilos lost every week", with no study behind them.
    Quotes trial results with the trial's name, length and dose, and says results vary. See Guide 2.
  • Influencer promotionMedicines pushed by social media accounts. The regulator has referred influencers to the authorities.
    Gives information, not adverts. Medical products may not be advertised without the regulator's approval.6,7
  • Pay first, see a doctor laterA package with doses already in it, bought before anyone has assessed you.
    You pay for the consultation. The medicine comes only if it's prescribed.
  • Wedding or beauty packagesInjections sold as part of a makeover or next to cosmetic treatments.
    Prescribes only if you meet medical criteria: for weight, a BMI of 30, or 27 with a weight-related condition in Dubai's guideline.4

Already signed up and worried? Ask for a copy of your prescription and your records, and take them to another licensed doctor for a second opinion before the next dose step. If you think a product is fake, stop using it and tell your doctor or pharmacist. Guide 5 explains how to report it.

Questions people ask

Before you sign up

Do I need a programme, or just a doctor?

You need a doctor. A programme adds coaching and an app, which some people find helpful. Lifestyle changes go alongside the medicine, so diet and exercise support matters.4 You can get that from a dietitian your own doctor works with.

Is an online programme as safe as a clinic?

It can be. Online prescribing is allowed from licensed facilities, and in Abu Dhabi only after a live audio or video call.3 What matters more is a named, licensed doctor, proper tests and follow-up.

Should the medicine be included in the price?

It's simpler, but it ties you to their supply. The medicine costs the same at every licensed pharmacy, so a prescription you can fill anywhere keeps you free to switch.22

Will my insurance pay for a programme?

For weight loss, usually not: Dubai's basic plan excludes weight-control programmes and medicines.14 In Abu Dhabi, the Thiqa obesity programme covers eligible UAE nationals.15 Ask your insurer in writing.

Once you're in

Can I switch doctors or programmes?

Yes. Ask for your prescription and records, and check your package's cancellation terms first.

What should happen at my 6-month review?

The doctor checks your weight, side effects and tests. Abu Dhabi's standard says to continue beyond 6 months only if you've lost at least 5% of your starting weight.2

What if the doctor says a GLP-1 isn't right for me?

That's the consultation working. Ask what to do instead; Guide 3 covers the other options. If you paid for a package, check the refund terms.

Before you move on

  • Choose the doctor first, the programme second.
  • Get the all-in monthly cost at your full dose, in writing.
  • Read the refund terms before you pay.
  • Ignore promises of kilos, and anything sold through influencers.
Getting a prescriptionShould I consider a GLP-1?Stopping and the long term
Was this guide easy to understand?

Sources

  1. Department of Health – Abu Dhabi. Circular 48/2026, 16 March 2026, relaying an alert on fake GLP-1 products ("GLP-1 receptor agonists … are prescription-only medicines and should only be used under medical supervision"; unregistered products sold online and on social media; report to [email protected]). Summarised, not reproduced. doh.gov.ae
  2. 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 30 or more with a weight-related comorbidity, or over 40; "The obesity certified physician determines the initiation time of pharmacological treatment"; continue beyond 6 months only with at least 5% weight loss; Asian origin and BMI over 23). Checked 12 October 2026. doh.gov.ae
  3. Department of Health – Abu Dhabi. Standard on Tele-Medicine, DOH/SA/TLM/0.9/2020, effective 16 September 2020 (DoH-licensed facility; "The physician must have real-time audio/video communication with the patient before issuing the prescription"; prescription recorded in the medical record; refer for a face-to-face visit in cases of uncertainty). doh.gov.ae
  4. Dubai Health Authority. Clinical Guidelines for Virtual Management of Obesity, DHA/HRS/HPSD/CG-53, issue 2, effective 21 April 2024 (applies to DHA-licensed physicians and facilities providing telehealth; excludes emergencies and controlled medicines; drug therapy at BMI over 30, or 27 to 29.9 with comorbidities, after a comprehensive lifestyle intervention without at least 5% loss at 3 to 6 months; bariatric surgery at BMI 40 or more, or 35 to 39.9 with a serious comorbidity; Asian waist cut-offs). PDF
  5. 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)
  6. Gulf News. UAE weight-loss drug crackdown: 71 sources, 14 influencers face action (Emirates Drug Establishment action against sellers of unapproved peptides, 14 of them registered facilities; 14 influencers referred to the National Media Office; retatrutide "remains under clinical investigation"). 25 July 2026. gulfnews.com
  7. Pinsent Masons. UAE pharmaceutical law: 10 things businesses should know (Federal Decree-Law No. 38 of 2024, in force 2 January 2025; medical products may not be advertised by any means without approval; fines up to AED 1 million). 17 February 2025. pinsentmasons.com
  8. Gulf News. Mounjaro injection for type 2 diabetes, weight management now available ("UAE is the second country after the USA to have this medication approved"). 31 August 2022. gulfnews.com
  9. Khaleej Times. Doctors warn of risks of weight-loss drugs (GLP-1) ("Over 1,600 people signed up through virtual healthcare platforms in recent months"). 19 September 2025. khaleejtimes.com
  10. The National. UAE approves weight-loss pill Foundayo (orforglipron), the second country after the US, with availability expected the following month. 5 April 2026. thenationalnews.com
  11. Novo Nordisk press release via BioSpace. Wegovy pill launches in the UAE ("first country outside the United States to make the Wegovy pill available"). 3 June 2026. biospace.com
  12. Khaleej Times. Wegovy weight-loss pill: cost in UAE pharmacies ("Starting price: Dh779"; a home-care provider said it was "dispensing a prescription approximately every 17 minutes"). 10 June 2026. khaleejtimes.com
  13. Gulf News. Dh10,000 fine for selling Mounjaro injections without a licence in Sharjah (Sharjah Misdemeanours Court; selling medicines without a licence and practising pharmacy without authorisation). 31 July 2026. gulfnews.com
  14. Cigna. Essential Benefits Plan (Dubai Health Authority basic plan), table of benefits: medicines "As per DHA formulary", maximum AED 2,500 a year with 30% co-insurance; exclusions 8 ("Surgical and non-surgical treatment for obesity (including morbid obesity), and any other weight control programs, services, or supplies") and 9 ("pharmacological weight reduction regimens"). Checked 12 October 2026. PDF
  15. Department of Health – Abu Dhabi. Thiqa reimbursement policy for obesity medications, DoH/Policy/TRP-OMM/HPS/V1/2025, effective 11 June 2025 (adults 18+; BMI bands and listed complications; certified prescribers; more than 5% weight loss plus "75 min vigorous exercise per week", "150 min moderate exercise per week" or "10,000 steps per day on average", tracked through the Sahatna app; 1-month trial, up to 3 months' supply at a time, review at 4 months). Checked 12 October 2026. doh.gov.ae
  16. 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). 24 April 2026. doh.gov.ae
  17. Simulated-patient study of 153 community pharmacies in Dubai and the Northern Emirates asked for Ozempic for weight loss without a prescription ("only a minority (26.8%) requested a prescription"). Pharmacy Practice, 2026. Ajman University
  18. Gulf News. Anti-obesity drugs Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro: are they getting cheaper? (Ozempic lower-dose pens "around Dh740"; Mounjaro pens "often above Dh1,700"; GLP-1s "remain largely out-of-pocket expenses, with limited insurance coverage typically restricted to diabetes or specific metabolic conditions"). 7 February 2026. gulfnews.com
  19. 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 (table of GLP-1 brands and approved uses; diabetes cover needs HbA1c 6.5% or more, cardiovascular disease or risk factors, and at least 6 months on metformin or other agents; prior approval; first supply one month; prescribers in internal medicine, endocrinology, family medicine or cardiology; obesity medicines covered only within the Thiqa obesity programme). Checked 12 October 2026. PDF
  20. CMS. Expert guide to advertising of medicines and medical devices: United Arab Emirates (prescription-only medicines may not be advertised to the public; online adverts need prior approval; influencers need a Media Council licence). 8 May 2024. cms.law
  21. Storyboard18. UAE Media Council takes legal action over misleading medical ad on social media (fines for false content of AED 5,000 to AED 150,000). 12 September 2025. storyboard18.com
  22. Mondaq (law firm analysis). Pricing of pharmaceutical products in the United Arab Emirates (prices fixed at registration by a Ministry committee, with "fixed margins for the distributors and pharmacies"). 29 September 2016; older than the 2025 medicines law. mondaq.com
  23. Product pages of three national pharmacy chains, which state that these medicines are dispensed only against a valid prescription. Checked 12 October 2026. Not linked: we don't link to sellers.

Last checked 12 Oct 2026 · Rules re-checked every 3 months · Next full review due Jan 2027 · Report an error

How this guide was made. Written by the GLP Guidebook team from the sources above: standards from the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi and the Dubai Health Authority, insurance documents, legal analyses of the UAE's medicines law and named news reports. It's general information, not medical advice. Talk to a qualified doctor before starting, stopping or changing any medicine. In a medical emergency, call 998 for an ambulance, or 999. How we write