UAE Nutrition Survey 2024 Reveals High Sodium Intake and Rising NCD Risks

UAE’s latest nutrition survey spotlights high sodium intake and mounting NCD risks

The Ministry of Health and Prevention (MoHAP) has released population findings from its National Health and Nutrition Survey spanning 2024 to 2025, a system-wide snapshot of diet patterns and non-communicable disease (NCD) risks across the United Arab Emirates. “This data provides a clear, evidence-based picture of population trends and reinforces the importance of prevention, early intervention, and long-term planning,” Minister of Health and Prevention H.E. Ahmed Ali Al-Sayegh said via a formal statement.

“The goal of this survey is to help guide resources toward priority areas and translate data into targeted strategies that strengthen preventive care, support families, and enhance quality of life for all residents of the UAE.” The findings feed into the UAE’s broader health and development agenda, including national NCD strategies and the country’s long-term vision for a high‑income, high‑human‑development state.[3]

Survey design and coverage

• Fieldwork scope: 20,000 households nationwide and 2,000 workers in work accommodations, covering all seven emirates and both Emirati and expatriate residents.
• Population focus: Residents aged 0-69 years, with specific analyses for adults (18-69) and children (age‑banded groups).
• Objective: Identify dietary exposures and NCD risk factors to inform prevention, early detection, and service planning, while tracking progress against national health targets.

Key indicators at a glance

Risk factors and public‑health implications

• Sodium exposure: The adult share exceeding recommended limits suggests a sustained driver of hypertension; many international guidelines target less than 2 grams of sodium per day (about 5 grams of salt) to reduce cardiovascular risk.
• Dietary fat patterns: The high proportion surpassing fat recommendations and the 54.2% with high cholesterol signal a need for sustained lipid management, food reformulation efforts and stronger primary‑care management of dyslipidemia.
• Free sugars: With more than a quarter of adults reporting daily intake of sugar‑sweetened beverages, weight and metabolic risk reduction will depend on pricing, availability, and product composition shifts, alongside public‑awareness campaigns.
• Childhood obesity: Rates above global benchmarks point to the importance of school and family environments, food marketing exposure, and access to healthier options, making child‑focused policies a clear priority for decision‑makers.

Policy timeline and tax architecture

The survey arrives as the UAE overhauls how it uses fiscal policy to influence diets, updating excise rules that first came into force in 2019.

• 2019: Introduction of excise taxes on beverages-100% on energy drinks and 50% on drinks with added sugar.
• January 1, 2026: Implementation of a new tiered volumetric excise tax for sugar‑sweetened beverages, replacing the prior 50% model, under Cabinet Decision No. 197 of 2025 as administered by the Federal Tax Authority.[FTA]

The new approach taxes beverages by actual sugar and/or sweetener content per serving. This design is widely used to motivate reformulation: the higher the sugar concentration, the higher the tax. It also narrows the gap between cheaper high‑sugar products and lower‑sugar alternatives, increasing the likelihood of both product reformulation and a gradual shift in purchasing patterns.

“These findings are part of an integrated national public health framework, supporting non‑communicable disease prevention, improved nutrition outcomes, maternal and child health, and expanded access to quality healthcare,” he said. “Looking ahead, these will guide the development of innovative health programs, expanded preventive screening, and clear health messaging aimed at empowering individuals to make healthier daily choices.”

Where excess salt and fat are coming from

Further policy targeting hinges on identifying top contributors in the national diet and aligning regulation with the UAE’s broader food‑security and trade policies. “The government is analysing consumption patterns to understand whether more salt intake comes from bakery products, fast food or packaged foods so we can decide which to prioritise for regulation,” MoHAP Health Promotion Department Director Dr Nouf Khamis Al Ali told Gulf News.

• Product categories under review: Processed staples (e.g., breads), quick‑service meals, and packaged foods.
• Levers available: Reformulation targets for salt and fat; portion‑size standards; public‑procurement standards for schools, hospitals, and public‑sector canteens; placement and marketing rules, particularly those affecting children.
• System alignment: Coordinating with food manufacturers, importers, and retailers to sequence targets, timelines, and compliance checks, while ensuring regulations remain workable for small and medium‑sized enterprises.

From data to delivery: system actions under way

MoHAP officials frame the survey as an implementation tool for health, fiscal and education authorities rather than a standalone research exercise.

• National reformulation programme: Government‑led effort to reduce salt, sugar, and fat across common dietary categories, with tiered beverage taxation as a complementary incentive.
• Preventive screening: Elevated prevalence of high cholesterol and hypertension underscores the need for accessible risk assessment and referral pathways within primary care, including workplace‑based screening for high‑risk groups.
• Nutrition standards: Opportunities include setting sodium and saturated‑fat targets in commonly consumed foods and deploying clear front‑of‑pack nutrition information to aid consumer choices.
• Child health settings: School food standards, restrictions on high‑sugar beverage availability, and supportive physical‑activity environments help curb early‑life obesity trajectories.

Equity and access considerations

For policymakers, the survey raises distributional questions as much as clinical ones: who bears the cost of new taxes and who benefits most from prevention.

• Affordability: Taxes can be paired with pricing and procurement strategies that make lower‑sugar and lower‑sodium options competitively priced across all neighborhoods, including lower‑income areas and worker accommodations.
• Workforce and outreach: Multilingual health messaging and culturally appropriate campaigns improve reach among diverse resident populations, including workers in shared accommodations.
• Monitoring gaps: Regular, transparent reporting on price, product composition, and purchasing trends helps ensure that high‑risk groups benefit from policy changes and that fiscal measures do not unintentionally widen health inequalities.

How impact will be measured

The survey provides a 2024-2025 baseline against which regulators, finance officials and health planners will track the effect of the new tax regime and accompanying reforms.