Weight Loss Medication in Dubai — How Your Doctor Chooses

Four licensed medicines treat weight in Dubai: tirzepatide, semaglutide at the obesity dose, semaglutide at the diabetes dose and liraglutide. Which one your GP offers depends on your bloods, BMI, other conditions and tolerance — never the brand you arrived asking for. Doctor-led programmes start from AED 2,999 per month, and some patients are told a GLP-1 is not the right answer.

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The options, and what each is actually for

Tirzepatide (Mounjaro)

Dual GIP / GLP-1 receptor agonist, weekly injection

Evidence: SURMOUNT-1: around 20% average total-body-weight reduction at 72 weeks on the highest tolerated dose.
When it is considered: Considered when the clinical target is substantial weight reduction, or where insulin resistance, prediabetes or type-2 diabetes sits alongside the weight.
What we tell you upfront: Gastrointestinal side effects are more likely in the first 4–6 weeks and the titration is slower for that reason.

Read the full Tirzepatide page →

Semaglutide 2.4 mg (Wegovy)

GLP-1 receptor agonist at the licensed obesity dose, weekly injection

Evidence: STEP-1: around 15% average total-body-weight reduction at 68 weeks, with the strongest cardiovascular outcome data in the class.
When it is considered: Considered when cardiovascular risk reduction matters as much as the weight itself, or where a patient prefers the option with the longest obesity-specific licence.
What we tell you upfront: Supply through the UAE chain moves; your doctor will tell you honestly if a switch is needed rather than leaving you mid-titration.

Read the full Semaglutide 2.4 mg page →

Semaglutide (Ozempic)

GLP-1 receptor agonist on the type-2 diabetes licence, weekly injection

Evidence: Roughly 10–12% average total-body-weight reduction at 1–2 mg weekly, alongside meaningful HbA1c improvement.
When it is considered: Considered where type-2 diabetes or metabolic syndrome is the primary clinical problem and weight reduction is a secondary aim.
What we tell you upfront: Prescribed on its diabetes licence. Using it purely for weight is off-label and your doctor will say so in writing before you decide.

Read the full Semaglutide page →

Liraglutide 3.0 mg (Saxenda)

GLP-1 receptor agonist, daily injection

Evidence: SCALE: around 5–8% average total-body-weight reduction at 56 weeks — less than the weekly agents.
When it is considered: Considered when a patient tolerates liraglutide better, wants a shorter-acting medicine, or needs a daily routine rather than a weekly one.
What we tell you upfront: A daily injection asks more of adherence, and average weight reduction is lower than semaglutide or tirzepatide.

Read the full Liraglutide 3.0 mg page →

Eligibility comes before any prescription

Medication is considered where BMI is 30 or above, or 27 and above with a weight-related condition such as prediabetes, hypertension, dyslipidaemia, PCOS or obstructive sleep apnoea. Before the first prescription your GP takes a full history, measures weight, BMI and waist, screens for the contraindications listed below, and reviews baseline bloods.

Pregnancy, breastfeeding or actively trying to conceive
Personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma, or MEN2
Previous pancreatitis
Active severe gastrointestinal disease or gastroparesis
Insulin or sulfonylurea therapy without a dose-adjustment plan

If any of these apply, the honest answer may be no. In that case your GP looks at what else is driving the weight — thyroid, cortisol, sleep, medication side effects, perimenopause — through the baseline metabolic bloods rather than pushing a prescription.

One programme price, whichever medicine you end up on

Three tiers, whichever medicine your GP selects: Foundation AED 2,999, Accelerate AED 3,499 and Complete Metabolic AED 3,999 per month. There is no separate price list per brand — your doctor confirms the tier before you commit.

Foundation, Accelerate and Complete Metabolic prices

Foundation

Semaglutide (Wegovy / Ozempic)

AED 2,999/month

Accelerate

Tirzepatide (Mounjaro)

AED 3,499/month

Complete Metabolic

Either molecule + nutrition programme

AED 3,999/month

Every tier includes prescription, monthly GP review, baseline + 3-monthly bloods, WhatsApp access and pharmacy delivery. Your GP confirms the right tier at consultation — Foundation AED 2,999, Accelerate AED 3,499, Complete Metabolic AED 3,999 per month.

Prescription from a named British GP (DHA-licensed) where clinically appropriate
Monthly GP review with dose titration
Baseline bloods, then repeat bloods every 3 months
Direct WhatsApp access to your care team
Cold-chain pharmacy delivery anywhere in Dubai, or in-clinic collection
No joining fee, no long-term contract

Full pricing breakdown →Home-visit pathway →Side effects, honestly →Am I eligible? →

Head-to-head comparisons, written by our GPs

Each page covers expected results, tolerance, dosing, switching and what is different about running the medicine in Dubai.

Mounjaro vs Wegovy →Mounjaro vs Ozempic →Wegovy vs Ozempic →Mounjaro vs Saxenda →Wegovy vs Saxenda →Ozempic vs Saxenda →All three compared →Injections vs tablets →Clinic vs home programme →GLP-1 vs bariatric surgery →

Frequently asked questions

Which weight-loss medication is best?

There is no single best medicine — there is a best fit. The choice depends on your BMI and waist, your bloods, whether prediabetes or type-2 diabetes is present, your cardiovascular risk, previous tolerance, whether a weekly or daily injection suits your routine, and current UAE availability. Your GP makes that recommendation after the assessment and baseline bloods, and explains the reasoning rather than handing you a menu.

Do you prescribe on request?

No. Aafiyah is a doctor-led medical weight-management service, not a prescription counter. Medication is prescribed only where it is clinically appropriate after a GP assessment, eligibility review and baseline bloods — and some patients are told plainly that a GLP-1 is not the right answer for them.

How much does the programme cost?

Three published tiers: Foundation (semaglutide) AED 2,999 per month, Accelerate (tirzepatide) AED 3,499 and Complete Metabolic AED 3,999. Which tier applies depends on the clinical plan and the dose agreed at consultation, and your doctor confirms the full figure before anything starts.

Who should not take a GLP-1?

GLP-1 receptor agonists are avoided in pregnancy and breastfeeding, in personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma or MEN2, in previous pancreatitis, and in active severe gastrointestinal disease. They also need care alongside insulin or sulfonylureas because of hypoglycaemia risk. Your GP screens for all of this at the eligibility review.

Can I switch medication part-way through?

Yes, and it is common. Switching happens for tolerance, for a plateau, or because of a supply change. Because the same named GP holds your case, a switch is a clinical decision with a fresh titration plan — not a restart of the whole programme.

Do I need bloods before starting?

Yes. Baseline bloods (HbA1c, fasting glucose, full lipids, thyroid, liver and kidney function, plus lipase) are taken before the first prescription and repeated every three months. They can be drawn at the clinic in Business Bay or at home anywhere in Dubai.

Weight loss care across Dubai

Consultations at our Business Bay clinic or by video call, with home follow-up care across every neighbourhood below.

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