GLP-1 consultations surge 60% at Valeo Health as UAE weight management shifts toward continuous care

Access to GLP-1 medications in the UAE is no longer the hard part. Increasingly, the question is what happens once a patient actually starts treatment. That shift in focus has driven a 60% increase in consultations at Valeo Health between 2025 and 2026, as more patients seek a medically supervised path through what can be a complex and highly individual treatment journey.

The timing reflects a market in motion. UAE doctors and pharmacists have reported rising demand for GLP-1 medications including Ozempic, Wegovy, and Mounjaro. And in June 2026, the approval and launch of oral Wegovy broadened the options available to eligible patients still further. But appetite for these therapies has also brought fresh scrutiny from clinicians about what responsible use actually looks like, particularly in a region where self-medication and informal sourcing remain concerns.

How does it work?

Valeo Health's model is built around the idea that GLP-1 care should start before the first dose and continue well after the prescription is written. Every patient begins with a blood test. A doctor reviews the results alongside the patient's medical history before an online consultation takes place, and treatment is only prescribed where it is medically appropriate.

From there, care continues through the Valeo Health app. Patients can log symptoms such as nausea, fatigue, and headaches, and share those updates directly with their clinical team. This creates an ongoing feedback loop, allowing treatment to be monitored and adjusted over time rather than left to run unsupervised between appointments.

The platform also connects with wearable devices, pulling in sleep, step count, and workout data alongside weight and dosage information. That gives both patients and doctors a fuller picture of how treatment is progressing and how lifestyle factors may be shaping outcomes. Medication is delivered directly to the patient's home, bringing testing, medical oversight, monitoring, lifestyle data, and delivery into one continuous experience.

• Initial blood testing and doctor-reviewed medical history
• Online consultation and medically appropriate prescribing
• In-app symptom tracking with direct clinical feedback
• Wearable integration for sleep, activity, and weight data
• Home delivery of prescribed medication

Why does it matter?

GLP-1 therapies are effective, but they are not without complexity. Side effects vary. Dosing needs to be titrated carefully. And patients who stop treatment without proper guidance often regain weight. A prescription alone does not address any of that.

Suhan Kapoori, Director of Obesity at Valeo Health, put it plainly: "The conversation around GLP-1s in the UAE is evolving. It is no longer simply about whether people can access these medications; it is about how they are supported once they begin treatment." He added that the 60% consultation increase reflects growing demand for weight management that is medically guided from start to finish, not just at the point of prescribing.

That demand matters because the consequences of poorly supervised GLP-1 use are real. Patients who self-administer without clinical oversight may miss warning signs, mismanage side effects, or use medications that are not appropriate for their specific health profile. A model that keeps clinicians involved throughout the treatment journey addresses those risks directly.

The context

The UAE's broader health agenda makes this kind of connected care model particularly relevant. Both the UAE's national health strategy and Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 have identified non-communicable diseases, including obesity, as priorities for long-term intervention. GLP-1 therapies represent a significant clinical tool in that effort, but only if they are used well.

Valeo Health's approach reflects where the weight management conversation is heading across the GCC: away from a medication-first model and toward sustained, data-informed care that supports patients across the full treatment arc. The programme is available across the UAE. More information is at feelvaleo.com/en-ae.