UAE’s MoHAP launches National Survey for Health and Nutrition 2024

UAE's Ministry of Health and Prevention (MoHAP) has officially initiated the fieldwork for the National Survey for Health and Nutrition 2024-2025. Conducted in collaboration with the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Centre, local health authorities, and statistical centres - the survey aims to gather comprehensive health and nutrition data to inform national policies and support the UAE's development goals for 2030.

How will it work?

The National Health Survey is designed to achieve four primary objectives: collecting reliable data on the UAE's health status, refreshing the population health database, and measuring health performance indicators. The survey will cover various health indicators, including socio-economic factors, household health expenditures, noncommunicable diseases, biophysical data, healthcare service utilization, and air pollution indicators.

Simultaneously, the National Nutrition Survey focuses on mapping out three strategic goals: gathering nutritional data, enhancing food-related health planning policies, and updating the national food database. It will investigate six crucial areas: micronutrient deficiencies, dietary habits, child growth metrics, urinary iodine and sodium levels, anemia in pregnant women, and daily salt consumption.

Dr. Alia Zaid Harbi, Director of the Statistics and Research Centre at MoHAP, noted that the questionnaires — approved by the World Health Organization and national health authorities — are available in four languages: Arabic, English, Hindi, and Urdu. They are designed to streamline both the collection and analysis of data. The survey aims to reach 10,000 families and 2,000 workers, including adults, children, and women — including pregnant women.

Why does it matter?

HE Dr. Hussain Abdul Rahman Al Rand, Assistant Undersecretary for the Public Health Sector at MoHAP, emphasized that health surveys are globally recognized tools endorsed by the World Health Organization. These surveys are essential for shaping health sector plans, enhancing public health, improving health service levels, and ultimately boosting the UAE's competitiveness as a global health model.

"Driven by the nation's end goal of achieving global leadership and boosting the UAE's competitiveness as a worldwide health model, we are committed to building a robust database to refine planning and develop mechanisms that elevate health sector performance to the highest international standards," Al Rand stated.

HE Mohamed Hassan, Executive Director of the Statistics and Data Science Sector at the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Centre, highlighted the role of official statistical information in supporting the UAE's development journey. "The survey results will support the development of the national health system and improve the level of services provided in the UAE," he said.

Dr. Abdullah Al-Naqbi, Acting Executive Director of the Supportive Health Services Sector at Emirates Health Services, emphasized that the campaign aligns with the "We the UAE Vision 2031" and Sustainable Development 2030 goals. "This initiative represents a significant step towards a brighter and more advanced health future for the UAE," he stated.

The context

The press event announcing the National Survey was held in cooperation with Emirates Health Services, Department of Health Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi Public Health Centre, and Dubai Data and Statistics- Digital Dubai.

Khalid Al Jallaf, Director of the Research, Studies and Data Analysis Department at the Dubai Health Authority, stressed the importance of these surveys in enhancing and modernizing the UAE's healthcare systems. "The UAE's healthcare system is undergoing significant transformations, and the National Health and Nutrition Survey 2024-2025 will further these transformations and support the nation's commitment to health sustainability," he noted.