Related: Cutting-edge wearable tech could slash preventable deaths, McKinsey health report finds
A Dubai start-up company is embracing new technology to help boost the UAE's fight against diabetes.
The GluCare Integrated Diabetes Centre promises to utilise patient data like never before to reduce risk and prolong the lives of those with the chronic condition.
The centre introduced a diabetes monitoring device, in the form of a wristband, to help compile a fuller picture of the care needs of each patient.
The McKinsey Global Institute, an international think tank, highlighted the importance of innovation in improving health care in a recent report.
The prevalence has gone up, the costs have gone up and people are getting diabetes at a younger age
“Doctors now need to be highly trained technicians to look at data and technology as a means to understand a patient’s needs,” said Ali Hashemi, co-founder and chairman of GluCare.
“In this context, we are using technology to gather information.
“If a patient regularly visits a doctor, they will be looking for any changes since their previous visit.
“This system allows us to constantly monitor patient health and look at any changes that occur.
“Having that information in advance allows a doctor to dedicate the appointment to coaching, education and advising the patient as to how they can improve their health.”
Digital therapeutics is a developing area of advanced health care, using computer programmes and machine learning to manage, treat or prevent disease or illness.
The GluCare system involves a wristband that collects a huge amount of biological data, including heart rate, respiratory rate, sleep patterns and skin temperature.
Other equipment in the GluCare kit for patients can monitor blood glucose and blood pressure.
More conventional means of gathering data, such as questionnaires on diet and general health, are also used.
That information is fed into a connected mobile app that can be viewed by the wearer and physician to monitor patient health in real time.
Coaches can offer feedback using messages relating to the changes seen on a remote dashboard where health information is displayed.
Machine learning algorithms look at the data to detect trends or red flags that could indicate early signs of ill heath such as hypertension or heart arrhythmias, as well as symptoms related to diabetes.
Product developers claim the band is up to 100 times more accurate than other wearable devices on the market.
By using different wavelengths of light emitted from the wristband into the body, more accurate biological data can be collected.
Dr Ihsan Almarzooqi, co-founder and managing director of the centre, said the technology would revolutionise diabetes care.
“The current mechanism of managing a diabetic with doctors having a quick chat every quarter and then sending the patient away with medication is not working,” he said.
“The prevalence has gone up, the costs have gone up and people are getting diabetes at a younger age.
“Movement data, heart and respiration rate and a lot of other information can improve care, but it is not something that is always asked during a doctor’s consultation.”
GluCare partnered with several health insurance providers with the potential to offer the service nationwide.
Challenges will include how to manage a huge amount of data as more patients sign up to the programme and to help coaches give real-time feedback to patients on their progress.
In a cohort of 100,000 patients, for example, a petabyte (a million gigabytes) of biological data could be extracted.
About 20 per cent of the UAE lives with diabetes, with about 40 per cent of UAE deaths from Covid-19 occurring in those with the condition, making it a serious risk factor.
Research into the effectiveness of similar home-monitoring devices, health data tracking and online medical appointments is under way at Dubai Health Authority.
A study on patients at the Dubai Diabetes Centre to find out how similar technologies could be absorbed into the health system is examining how change can save lives.
Under the current method of treatment, diabetics have home monitoring devices to check their blood sugar and blood pressure.
Data is stored in devices that can be viewed by an endocrinologist during medical appointments every two to three months.
During the DHA study, 40 patients were provided four home monitoring devices to check blood pressure, blood glucose, heart rate and a pulse oximeter to measure blood oxygen.
A pill box beeped to remind patients when to take their diabetes medication.
Failure to take prescribed medicine at the correct time resulted in an alert being sent to the centre.
The patient's mobile phone collected all relevant biodata for the duration of the study to improve clinical management of their condition.
A video call feature is also being tested during the study.
“This kind of real-time monitoring helps the patient stay on-track,” said Dr Hamed Farooqi, director of the Dubai Diabetes Centre.
“It ensures there is no time-gap in terms of physical consultation which means complications can be greatly reduced, which is important given the nature of the disease.”
South and West: From a Notebook
Joan Didion
Fourth Estate
The specs
Engine: 3.8-litre twin-turbo V8
Power: 611bhp
Torque: 620Nm
Transmission: seven-speed automatic
Price: upon application
On sale: now
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
If you go
The flights Etihad (www.etihad.com) and Spice Jet (www.spicejet.com) fly direct from Abu Dhabi and Dubai to Pune respectively from Dh1,000 return including taxes. Pune airport is 90 minutes away by road.
The hotels A stay at Atmantan Wellness Resort (www.atmantan.com) costs from Rs24,000 (Dh1,235) per night, including taxes, consultations, meals and a treatment package.
RESULT
Al Hilal 4 Persepolis 0
Khribin (31', 54', 89'), Al Shahrani 40'
Red card: Otayf (Al Hilal, 49')
Company Profile
Name: Thndr
Started: 2019
Co-founders: Ahmad Hammouda and Seif Amr
Sector: FinTech
Headquarters: Egypt
UAE base: Hub71, Abu Dhabi
Current number of staff: More than 150
Funds raised: $22 million
What are the main cyber security threats?
Cyber crime - This includes fraud, impersonation, scams and deepfake technology, tactics that are increasingly targeting infrastructure and exploiting human vulnerabilities.
Cyber terrorism - Social media platforms are used to spread radical ideologies, misinformation and disinformation, often with the aim of disrupting critical infrastructure such as power grids.
Cyber warfare - Shaped by geopolitical tension, hostile actors seek to infiltrate and compromise national infrastructure, using one country’s systems as a springboard to launch attacks on others.
Results
2pm: Maiden (TB) Dh60,000 (Dirt) 1,200m, Winner: Mouheeb, Tom Marquand (jockey), Nicholas Bachalard (trainer)
2.30pm: Handicap (TB) Dh68,000 (D) 1,200m, Winner: Honourable Justice, Royston Ffrench, Salem bin Ghadayer
3pm: Handicap (TB) Dh84,000 (D) 1,200m, Winner: Dahawi, Antonio Fresu, Musabah Al Muhairi
3.30pm: Conditions (TB) Dh100,000 (D) 1,200m, Winner: Dark Silver, Fernando Jara, Ahmad bin Harmash
4pm: Maiden (TB) Dh60,000 (D) 1,600m, Winner: Dark Of Night. Antonio Fresu, Al Muhairi.
4.30pm: Handicap (TB) Dh68,000 (D) 1,600m, Winner: Habah, Pat Dobbs, Doug Watson
GOLF’S RAHMBO
- 5 wins in 22 months as pro
- Three wins in past 10 starts
- 45 pro starts worldwide: 5 wins, 17 top 5s
- Ranked 551th in world on debut, now No 4 (was No 2 earlier this year)
- 5th player in last 30 years to win 3 European Tour and 2 PGA Tour titles before age 24 (Woods, Garcia, McIlroy, Spieth)
Farasan Boat: 128km Away from Anchorage
Director: Mowaffaq Alobaid
Stars: Abdulaziz Almadhi, Mohammed Al Akkasi, Ali Al Suhaibani
Rating: 4/5
Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026
1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years
If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.
2. E-invoicing in the UAE
Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption.
3. More tax audits
Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks.
4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime
Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.
5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit
There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.
6. Further transfer pricing enforcement
Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes.
7. Limited time periods for audits
Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion.
8. Pillar 2 implementation
Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.
9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services
Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations.
10. Substance and CbC reporting focus
Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity.
Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer
Should late investors consider cryptocurrencies?
Wealth managers recommend late investors to have a balanced portfolio that typically includes traditional assets such as cash, government and corporate bonds, equities, commodities and commercial property.
They do not usually recommend investing in Bitcoin or other cryptocurrencies due to the risk and volatility associated with them.
“It has produced eye-watering returns for some, whereas others have lost substantially as this has all depended purely on timing and when the buy-in was. If someone still has about 20 to 25 years until retirement, there isn’t any need to take such risks,” Rupert Connor of Abacus Financial Consultant says.
He adds that if a person is interested in owning a business or growing a property portfolio to increase their retirement income, this can be encouraged provided they keep in mind the overall risk profile of these assets.
5 of the most-popular Airbnb locations in Dubai
Bobby Grudziecki, chief operating officer of Frank Porter, identifies the five most popular areas in Dubai for those looking to make the most out of their properties and the rates owners can secure:
• Dubai Marina
The Marina and Jumeirah Beach Residence are popular locations, says Mr Grudziecki, due to their closeness to the beach, restaurants and hotels.
Frank Porter’s average Airbnb rent:
One bedroom: Dh482 to Dh739
Two bedroom: Dh627 to Dh960
Three bedroom: Dh721 to Dh1,104
• Downtown
Within walking distance of the Dubai Mall, Burj Khalifa and the famous fountains, this location combines business and leisure. “Sure it’s for tourists,” says Mr Grudziecki. “Though Downtown [still caters to business people] because it’s close to Dubai International Financial Centre."
Frank Porter’s average Airbnb rent:
One bedroom: Dh497 to Dh772
Two bedroom: Dh646 to Dh1,003
Three bedroom: Dh743 to Dh1,154
• City Walk
The rising star of the Dubai property market, this area is lined with pristine sidewalks, boutiques and cafes and close to the new entertainment venue Coca Cola Arena. “Downtown and Marina are pretty much the same prices,” Mr Grudziecki says, “but City Walk is higher.”
Frank Porter’s average Airbnb rent:
One bedroom: Dh524 to Dh809
Two bedroom: Dh682 to Dh1,052
Three bedroom: Dh784 to Dh1,210
• Jumeirah Lake Towers
Dubai Marina’s little brother JLT resides on the other side of Sheikh Zayed road but is still close enough to beachside outlets and attractions. The big selling point for Airbnb renters, however, is that “it’s cheaper than Dubai Marina”, Mr Grudziecki says.
Frank Porter’s average Airbnb rent:
One bedroom: Dh422 to Dh629
Two bedroom: Dh549 to Dh818
Three bedroom: Dh631 to Dh941
• Palm Jumeirah
Palm Jumeirah's proximity to luxury resorts is attractive, especially for big families, says Mr Grudziecki, as Airbnb renters can secure competitive rates on one of the world’s most famous tourist destinations.
Frank Porter’s average Airbnb rent:
One bedroom: Dh503 to Dh770
Two bedroom: Dh654 to Dh1,002
Three bedroom: Dh752 to Dh1,152
More from Rashmee Roshan Lall
MATCH INFO
Euro 2020 qualifier
Ukraine 2 (Yaremchuk 06', Yarmolenko 27')
Portugal 1 (Ronaldo 72' pen)
