Women’s Health In The UAE: It’s Better Than We Think
By: Anushree Rai
Tags: Womens Health, United Arab Emirates, Reproductive Health, Breastfeeding, Contraception

We know the United Arab Emirates (UAE) as the land of oil and sand but now it can also be known as a country moving towards progressive women’s health care. It is not uncommon to associate the UAE with practices that are more traditional and sometimes referred to as archaic. Compared to other neighboring countries like Saudi Arabia, who have limited funding and inefficient utilization of resources that affect their utility and availability of women’s health care, the UAE is much better at prioritizing proper women’s health.

The UAE certainly has the potential to become a leading example for other countries in the Middle East when it comes to progressive healthcare. Countries like Saudi Arabia have quite a gendered health system, which becomes a huge barrier to women when accessing health services. This is not the case for the UAE as their interest lies in prioritizing women and women’s health as much as they can, which is why I am pursuing this topic and why we should all familiarize ourselves with it. I researched the services and resources available to women in the UAE. What I found was positively informative. Women’s health is prioritized so women can be equipped and empowered to address their health needs. This tells us that a lot of the stereotypes we have about the Middle East are old and that the Middle East is changing as their society evolves. While being such a young country (only 48 years) compared to its neighbors, it has managed to set the bar for crucial health conversations and services.

Access to contraception such as condoms and birth control pills are openly available to married and unmarried women. Condoms can be purchased at grocery stores of all sizes and gas stations and birth control is available over the counter. I found it interesting that the morning after pill was not available and learned that it was banned as it is seen as a form of abortion in the UAE. In accordance with Islamic traditions (the UAE is an Islamic country with a ruling monarchy), abortion is illegal and can be viewed as a criminal offense unless there is documented and verified evident by a doctor that the pregnancy will endanger a mother’s life or there is documented or verified evidence by a doctor that the baby will be born with fatal deformities. Unmarried pregnant women cannot get an abortion in the country and need to exit the country for the procedure. This is still much better when compared to Saudi Arabia. Their gender health system limits access to contraception and is influenced by their husbands. Additionally, they can not have any procedures done unless they are given permission by their male guardians. This leaves no room for a woman’s autonomy in her own health requirements.

Having a baby in the UAE is pretty simple and straightforward. The UAE has one of the best healthcare infrastructures in the world. From private maternity facilities to top-class birthing clinics, pregnancy and maternal care is a top priority. The midwifery sector is also thriving giving pregnant women more options and control over their delivery plans. This is not the case in other countries. In Saudi Arabia, there have been many cases where a woman’s medical care was compromised because of gendered segregation laws and male guardianship. An example of this was a case where a university student delivered a patient’s baby in the campus dressing room after the attending female physician refused her transfer without a male guardian’s permission. This can heavily impact health outcomes for women.

Breastfeeding has also become a movement in the UAE. Once new moms return to work, they get two 30 min breastfeeding breaks until their child is 18 months. Laws were set in place to encourage women to keep breastfeeding and stay away from formula for their infant is 18 months old. Additionally, most outdoor and public spaces have designated feeding rooms or enclosures for mothers seeking privacy when breastfeeding. It is a very positive and empowering movement for new mothers which the government takes very seriously. This is much better than in other countries. In Saudi Arabia, education and literacy on women’s health during pregnancy is limited, including breastfeeding. Many don’t have the knowledge and tend to rely on friends and relatives for pregnancy-related information rather than their own primary health care provider. This may lead to inaccurate information and impact best practices.

This research shows us that the United Arab Emirates has become a great example for women’s healthcare and services when compared to its neighbors. Prioritizing women’s reproductive health is crucial because equality is crucial. Women should not suffer poor health outcomes due to the lack of self-efficacy and subpar health services given to them. When women are empowered to prioritize their health and wellness, they will not only become mentally and physically stronger but also become advocates for better health and access for everyone. This is the movement we need in the Middle East and UAE is equipped to lead by example.

My name is Anushree Rai and I am a passionate MPH graduate. I was born and raised in the UAE. I chose to highlight reproductive healthcare in the UAE because I believe it is exemplary of the progress that is being made towards women’s health