Roughly 20 percent of participants in a nationwide blood pressure screening drive were found to have hypertension, with more than 40 percent of them completely unaware of their condition, according to new data from the UAE’s Ministry of Health and Prevention (MoHAP).
The ministry announced the figures after a record-setting campaign that tested over 110,000 people—far surpassing its target of 70,000—across all emirates. The scope of the operation cast light on a hidden health issue affecting thousands of residents.
Out of those already receiving treatment, nearly 29 percent still fell short of achieving adequate blood pressure control, signalling gaps in follow-up care and consistent monitoring.
At an event in Dubai attended by senior health officials and experts, Dr Nada Hasan Al Marzouqi, Director of Public Health and Prevention at MoHAP, described the campaign as evidence of the UAE’s readiness to shift from crisis response to prevention strategies, in line with the “We the UAE 2031” healthcare vision.
“Public health is a shared responsibility and a collective national commitment involving federal, local, private, and community stakeholders,” Dr Al Marzouqi said. She also noted that data from the campaign would feed into the “Nabdak” initiative—an institutional framework aimed at sustaining regular heart-health checkups nationwide.
Dr Buthaina Bin Belaila, Head of the Non-Communicable Disease and Mental Health Department at MoHAP, shared further details: 21 percent of participants were classified as hypertensive; over 40 percent of those had never known they had high blood pressure; and 29 percent of treated patients remained uncontrolled.
She also outlined how the campaign incorporated nutritional guidance, lifestyle counseling, and coordinated follow-up care through partnerships with both public and private health institutions across the UAE.
Since 2017, the UAE has aligned with the global “May Measurement Month” initiative by the International Society of Hypertension—turning it into a locally sustained platform for awareness, preventive care, and expansion of non-communicable disease services.
The press event included expert panels on lessons learned, screening logistics, and plans for integrating the campaign’s outcomes into long-term national health policy.
