Behavioral science lies at the heart of Healthy Living’s approach, enabling a deeper understanding of how people make decisions in real-world contexts, and translating those insights into practical and targeted interventions. This ensures that Healthy Living initiatives are grounded in evidence and relevant to the lived realities of Abu Dhabi’s population.

His Excellency Dr Ahmed AlKhazraji, Executive Director of Healthy Living at the Department of Health, said: “One-size-fits-all approaches rarely deliver lasting impact– they don’t reflect the different ways people live their lives or the unique realities they navigate every day. Meaningful and sustainable behavioral change starts with listening – understanding the choices people face, and the environments that shape those choices. At Healthy Living, our focus is on translating these insights into action – designing policies, systems, and environments that respond directly to people’s needs.

“Through our collaboration with BSG, we are better able to understand communities’ needs and identify gaps in services they need. This approach helps inform what we design and deliver, ensuring interventions are targeted, effective, and focused on where they can achieve the greatest and most lasting impact for generations to come.”

Rasha Attar, Director of BSG at the Office of Development Affairs, said: “Since its inception, Healthy Living recognized the value of behavioral science in policy and has taken an evidence-led approach to shaping its initiatives. This collaboration is helping to build locally grounded insights that inform decision-making, support healthier outcomes across Abu Dhabi, and contribute to the growing international evidence base for behavioral science in policy”.

BSG’s work supported the development of Nutri-Mark, a front-of-pack nutrition grading label launched by the Abu Dhabi Quality and Conformity Council in collaboration with the Abu Dhabi Public Health Centre. The system classifies packaged food products from Grade A (highest nutritional value) to Grade E (lowest), enabling consumers to compare items within the same category and make more informed choices.

A key milestone in the collaboration has been the evaluation of front-of-package nutrition labels using BSG’s simulated online supermarket. The study, which engaged 2,733 UAE residents, found that product placement and clear labelling significantly influenced purchasing behavior, particularly staple items such as bread, where healthier options were more frequently selected.

Complementary research involving 4,000 UAE residents further demonstrated that nutritional labelling improves consumer understanding, increases the intention to choose healthier options, and generates positive sentiment. At the same time, the findings highlighted persistent misconceptions around dietary balance, reinforcing the importance of continued public awareness and education efforts.

This need is further reinforced by research conducted by BSG and Healthy Living, which assessed the impact of calorie labelling and food promotion on consumer choices in a simulated food environment involving 5,002 UAE residents. The study found that calorie labels, when combined with additional nutritional information, can significantly reduce the number of calories ordered. On average, participants selected approximately 114 fewer calories per meal, and 94 per cent supported the implementation of calorie labelling on menus.

Healthy Living, in partnership with the BSG, will continue to apply behavioral science to inform policy, strengthen research, and deliver targeted interventions that drive system-level change, shaping environments, expanding access, and making healthier choices easier and more natural in everyday life, while generating insights to support and inform similar initiatives across the UAE.

Dubai, United Arab Emirates, May 2026: In a city defined by fast-paced lifestyles and high performance, more Dubai residents are no longer waiting to get sick before taking action. Instead, there is a growing shift towards preventative, personalised healthcare, focused on understanding the body early and addressing issues before they escalate.

From chronic fatigue and hormonal imbalance to skin concerns and low immunity, many of today’s most common health concerns are driven by lifestyle, stress, and underlying imbalances rather than acute illness. Traditional, reactive models often address symptoms at a later stage, something an increasing number of patients are now moving away from in favour of more preventative, insight-led care.

According to research conducted by independent research firm Censuswide in 2025, 92% of UAE residents now consider taking control of their health a top personal priority. For many, this reflects something deeper than a lifestyle trend. It speaks to a growing awareness that the body rarely announces its imbalances loudly, and that waiting for symptoms to appear is no longer a strategy that sits comfortably with how people in the city choose to live.

At the centre of this shift is Sequoia Clinic, a Dubai-based wellness and longevity clinic reflecting a broader evolution in how healthcare is approached in the region. Positioned between clinical medicine and premium wellness, the clinic offers a more considered model of care built around prevention, personalisation, and long-term outcomes.

Central to this is the Sequoia Assessment, a two-part consultation designed to move beyond traditional, transactional healthcare. Combining in-depth clinical evaluation with advanced diagnostics, the process builds a clear, personalised picture of each patient before treatment begins.

The first consultation explores medical history, lifestyle, sleep, nutrition, and physical activity, forming the foundation for targeted testing. This may include both conventional laboratory analysis and more advanced assessments such as hormone profiling, gut health analysis, and genetic and epigenetic testing. Once results are available, a second consultation translates this data into clear, actionable guidance, with customised recommendations across lifestyle, nutrition, and stress, alongside a tailored treatment plan.

“Across the region, we are seeing a clear shift away from reactive healthcare,” says Anna Wibage, CEO of Sequoia Clinic. “Patients want to understand what is happening in their body, why it is happening, and how to address it in a way that is sustainable over time.”

Supporting this model is an integrated approach that combines in-clinic care with flexible at-home services. Designed for time-poor, high-performance individuals, the clinic offers IV therapy, intramuscular injections, personalised facials, and teleconsultations at home, providing a discreet and convenient way to access care without compromising on quality.

This holistic philosophy also extends to aesthetic treatments, where skin concerns are assessed in the context of internal health, reflecting a growing shift towards results that are not only visible, but supported from within.

As Dubai continues to evolve as a global hub for high-performance living, this shift towards preventative, personalised healthcare is becoming increasingly relevant. For many residents, health is no longer something to manage reactively, but something to optimise continuously.

With its focus on depth, data, and long-term outcomes, Sequoia Clinic represents a new direction in how healthcare is experienced in the region, one that prioritises understanding before treatment, and prevention over reaction.For further information or to arrange a visit, please contact Sequoia Clinic via WhatsApp on 050 464 8513 or by landline on 04 267 4497. Full details are available at sequoiaclinic.ae