While efficacy in China was 79%, UAE has announced a higher efficacy of 86% for BBIBP-CorV.
Sinopharm says that the variance in data is down to procedural differences and that both values are indeed correct in their own right. Though this does seem slightly confusing.
It’s worth noting, however, that age, health condition, genetics and cultural background can all change a vaccine’s efficacy. The divergence in these variables between the Chinese and Arabian populations may well be another factor to consider.