Mounjaro, Ozempic and Wegovy are prescription-only medicines in the UAE, so a licensed pharmacy can only dispense them against a prescription from a doctor licensed by the DHA, DoH or the Ministry of Health. In early 2026, Ozempic cost around AED 740 for lower-dose pens and Mounjaro more than AED 1,700. Dubai’s basic insurance plan excludes weight-control medicines entirely.
These GLP-1 drugs were designed for type 2 diabetes, and their use for weight loss has grown faster than the rules around it. The result is a market where a clinic consultation, a pharmacy price and an insurance decision can all point in different directions.
This guide covers who can prescribe them and on what criteria, what they cost, when insurance pays, how to travel with the pens, and the counterfeit and “peptide” products the regulator has been acting against. It is general information, not medical advice: whether a GLP-1 medicine is right for you is a decision for a licensed doctor.
Are Mounjaro, Ozempic and Wegovy Legal in the UAE?
Yes, but only with a prescription. The UAE Ministry of Health and Prevention has reiterated that GLP-1 drugs are prescription medications to be used only under medical supervision, with physicians expected to follow clinical protocols such as those of the American Diabetes Association and the European Association for the Study of Obesity.
The three brand names are often used interchangeably online, but they are different products with different purposes.
| Brand | Active ingredient | Main purpose | UAE status to note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ozempic | Semaglutide, weekly injection | Type 2 diabetes | Weight-loss demand caused shortages for diabetic patients in 2023 and 2024 |
| Wegovy (injection) | Semaglutide, weekly injection | Weight management | Launched in the UAE as the weight-management semaglutide |
| Wegovy (oral) | Semaglutide, daily tablet | Weight management and cardiovascular risk reduction | Approved by the Emirates Drug Establishment on 1 June 2026 |
| Mounjaro | Tirzepatide, weekly injection | Type 2 diabetes; widely prescribed for weight management | Sold in UAE pharmacies at a higher price than semaglutide |
The Emirates Drug Establishment announced on 1 June 2026 that it had approved oral Wegovy for long-term weight management in adults with obesity, or with overweight plus weight-related conditions. It said the UAE was the second country in the world to authorize it.
The Ozempic shortage is why the diabetes and weight-loss versions are kept apart. In 2024 its manufacturer urged UAE users taking Ozempic for weight loss to switch to Wegovy, because people with diabetes were struggling to get their medicine.
Who Can Prescribe GLP-1 Medicines, and on What Criteria
Any doctor licensed in the emirate where they practice can prescribe a GLP-1 medicine, whether they are a family physician, an internist or an endocrinologist. The pharmacy checks that the prescription is valid, not whether you “look” like you need the drug.
The clinical criteria are what vary. An endocrinologist quoted in 2025 described the approved indications that the clinic prescribes within as type 2 diabetes, or obesity at a Body Mass Index of 30 or higher, or 27 or higher with weight-related conditions.
Can I get Ozempic or Mounjaro in the UAE without being diabetic?
Yes, if a licensed doctor judges it clinically appropriate and prescribes it. Wegovy is the semaglutide product approved for weight management, while Ozempic is a diabetes medicine, so doctors treating weight alone generally prescribe Wegovy or Mounjaro rather than Ozempic. What you cannot do is buy any of them without a prescription.
Expect the doctor to record your weight, BMI and medical history before prescribing, and to review you before each dose increase. Clinics advertising a GLP-1 “package” without an assessment are a warning sign, not a shortcut.
What the Abu Dhabi Thiqa rules show about prescribing standards
The most detailed official criteria published in the UAE come from Abu Dhabi. The Department of Health’s Thiqa reimbursement policy for obesity medications, effective 11 June 2025, sets when the Thiqa program pays for GLP-1 agonists and similar drugs.
| BMI | Condition for Thiqa to cover the medication |
|---|---|
| 30.0 to 34.9 | At least one listed complication, such as hypertension, heart disease, fatty liver disease, severe sleep apnea (AHI above 30) or severe dyslipidemia |
| 35.0 to 39.9 | At least one listed complication, with a wider list that includes sleep apnea at any severity and severely reduced quality of life |
| 40.0 or above | No complication required |
The policy applies only to adults and only to prescriptions from a DoH-certified obesity-management primary care or internal medicine physician, or a specialist trained in obesity management. Patients start with a one-month trial and must maintain more than 5% weight loss from their baseline.
It also sets activity targets, such as 150 minutes of moderate exercise a week or 10,000 steps a day, tracked through the Sehatna app and the Malaffi health record. Thiqa covers UAE nationals in Abu Dhabi, so most expatriates will never use this policy. It is still the clearest public statement of what a regulator treats as appropriate prescribing.
How Much GLP-1 Medicines Cost in the UAE
Medicine prices in UAE pharmacies are set by the federal authorities and published as a public price list in UAE dirhams, so the pharmacy price for a given pen should not vary much between outlets. The doctor’s fees and any clinic program are where the total cost diverges.
| Medicine | Reported pharmacy price, February 2026 |
|---|---|
| Ozempic, lower-dose pens | Around AED 740 |
| Ozempic, higher doses | Over AED 1,100 |
| Mounjaro | Often above AED 1,700 |
| Wegovy | No reliable figure published |
These are the figures reported by Gulf News in February 2026. We could not retrieve a current official price list from the Emirates Drug Establishment, so ask the pharmacy for the price of your exact strength before you start.
Add consultation and follow-up fees on top. A doctor who titrates the dose will usually want to see you every few weeks at the start, and each visit is billed separately unless it is part of a package.
Does Health Insurance Cover Mounjaro or Wegovy?
For weight loss, usually not. For diabetes, the medicine is treated like any other chronic-disease prescription under your policy.
Dubai’s mandatory basic plan is explicit. The DHA Essential Benefits Plan table of benefits (Policy Directive 01/2021) excludes “surgical and non-surgical treatment for obesity (including morbid obesity), and any other weight control programs, services, or supplies”, and separately excludes “pharmacological weight reduction regimens”.
| Your situation | Likely insurance position |
|---|---|
| Dubai Essential Benefits Plan, prescribed for weight loss | Excluded |
| Enhanced or employer plan, prescribed for weight loss | Depends on the policy wording. Many copy the basic-plan exclusion; some cover it with pre-approval. |
| Any plan, prescribed for type 2 diabetes | Normally covered as a chronic-condition medicine, subject to formulary, co-pay and pre-approval |
| Thiqa (UAE nationals, Abu Dhabi) | Covered only if the DoH criteria above are met and maintained |
Before you start, ask your insurer in writing whether the specific drug is covered for your diagnosis and whether pre-approval is needed. If a claim is refused, the health insurance claim appeal guide covers the escalation route, and the rules on pre-existing conditions explain how an existing diabetes diagnosis is treated on a new policy.
What actually happens at the pharmacy
With an insured prescription, the pharmacy submits it for approval electronically and tells you whether it went through before handing over the pen. A rejection at the counter usually reads as “not covered” or “pre-approval required”.
You can still buy the medicine at the full price with the same prescription. What you should not do is ask a doctor to write a diabetes diagnosis you do not have to get it covered, because that is a false claim.
Getting a Prescription Through Telehealth
GLP-1 medicines are not narcotic or psychotropic drugs, so they are not caught by the ban on prescribing controlled medication remotely. A doctor working for a licensed telehealth facility can prescribe them after a video consultation.
The rules on who may offer that consultation, and from where, are set out in our guide to what telemedicine is allowed to do in the UAE. The practical test is simple: the prescription must come from a UAE-licensed doctor and be dispensed by a licensed pharmacy.
Bringing Your Own Pens Into the UAE
If you already take a GLP-1 medicine and are moving to or visiting the UAE, carry it in its original packaging with a copy of your prescription or a doctor’s letter showing your name, the drug and the dose. The pens need cold storage, so pack them in hand luggage with a cool pack rather than in the hold.
The quantity limits and the permit system for medicines carried for personal use are covered in our guide to bringing medication into the UAE. For the wider classification rules, see prescription-only and controlled medication in the UAE.
Counterfeits, “Peptides” and Social Media Sellers
The regulator is actively pursuing unlicensed sellers. In July 2026, the Emirates Drug Establishment reported 71 sources marketing or selling unapproved peptide weight-loss products, including 14 registered establishments, and referred 14 social media influencers for breaching the rules on promoting medicines.
It singled out retatrutide, a weight-loss injection popular online, stating that it “remains under clinical investigation and has not been approved” for marketing or medical use in the UAE. Anything sold as retatrutide in the UAE is, by definition, unregistered.
- Buy only from a licensed pharmacy or an authorized healthcare facility, against a prescription.
- Refuse “no prescription needed” offers, whether on Instagram, Telegram or a website. A genuine UAE pharmacy cannot dispense these drugs without one.
- Be wary of vials and powders. The approved products are pre-filled pens or, for oral Wegovy, tablets.
- Check the packaging: a UAE pack carries the registered product details, and a price far below the pharmacy price is a red flag.
If you were sold a fake product or lost money to an online seller, our guide to common UAE scams and how to report them explains where to file.
Before You Start: A Short Checklist
GLP-1 treatment is usually long-term, and many people regain weight after stopping. That makes the cost and the supply question as important as the first prescription.
- Get a proper assessment from a licensed doctor, including your BMI and any weight-related conditions.
- Ask which product is being prescribed and for which indication: diabetes or weight management.
- Get your insurer’s answer on coverage in writing before the first fill.
- Price the full course, including the higher maintenance doses and the follow-up visits, not just the starting pen.
- Buy only from a licensed pharmacy, and keep the pens refrigerated.
FAQ
Do I need a prescription for Mounjaro in Dubai?
Yes. Mounjaro, Ozempic and Wegovy are prescription-only in the UAE, and a licensed pharmacy cannot dispense them without a prescription from a DHA, DoH or MOHAP licensed doctor. Anyone selling them without a prescription is operating outside the law.
How much is Ozempic in the UAE?
Gulf News reported in February 2026 that lower-dose Ozempic pens cost around AED 740 and higher doses more than AED 1,100. Consultation and follow-up fees are extra, and the price you pay depends on the strength prescribed.
How much does Mounjaro cost in the UAE?
It was often priced above AED 1,700 in early 2026, making it more expensive than Ozempic. Check the price of your exact strength with the pharmacy, since doses rise over the first months of treatment.
Does insurance cover weight-loss injections in Dubai?
Not on the basic plan. The DHA Essential Benefits Plan excludes obesity treatment, weight control programs and pharmacological weight reduction. Enhanced plans vary, so ask your insurer in writing before starting.
Will my insurance pay for Ozempic if I have type 2 diabetes?
Usually yes, as a chronic-disease medication, subject to your policy’s formulary, co-payment and any pre-approval. Coverage is tied to the diagnosis, which is why the same drug can be covered for one patient and refused for another.
Is oral Wegovy available in the UAE?
The Emirates Drug Establishment approved the daily oral form of Wegovy on 1 June 2026 for long-term weight management in adults with obesity, or overweight with weight-related conditions. Availability in pharmacies can lag behind approval, so check with your doctor or pharmacist.
Can I get a GLP-1 prescription online in the UAE?
Yes, from a UAE-licensed doctor working through a licensed telehealth provider, because these are not controlled medicines. Prescriptions from unlicensed apps, overseas websites or social media sellers are not valid for dispensing in the UAE.
Can I bring my Mounjaro or Ozempic pens when I travel to the UAE?
Yes, for personal use, in the original packaging with your prescription or a doctor’s letter. Keep them in hand luggage with a cool pack, and check the personal-use quantity rules before you travel.
Is retatrutide legal in the UAE?
No. The Emirates Drug Establishment has stated that retatrutide remains under clinical investigation and is not approved for marketing or medical use in the UAE. Products sold under that name online are unregistered.
What BMI do you need for weight-loss injections in the UAE?
There is no single national threshold for a private prescription; the doctor decides. Doctors commonly work to a BMI of 30, or 27 with weight-related conditions, and Abu Dhabi’s Thiqa program only pays at a BMI of 30 or more with listed complications, or 40 or more without.
Official Sources
- Emirates Drug Establishment, approval of oral Wegovy (semaglutide), 1 June 2026
- Department of Health Abu Dhabi, Thiqa reimbursement policy for obesity medications (DoH/Policy/TRP-OMM/HPS/V1/2025)
- Dubai Health Authority, Policy Directive 01/2021, updated table of benefits for the Essential Benefits Plan (exclusions 8 and 9)
- Emirates Drug Establishment, national drug regulator
Information current as of September 2026. Prices are reported figures, not an official price list. Verify with your doctor, pharmacist and insurer before starting treatment.
This guide is for informational purposes only and is not medical advice. UAE regulations and fees are subject to change. Always verify current requirements with the relevant official authority before proceeding with any application or transaction.
