Most UAE residents take right amount of sleep

Of those polled in The National’s survey, the overwhelming majority said they sleep for seven hours a night, which experts say is the right amount needed to lead a happy, productive life.

ABU DHABI // Most residents are getting the perfect amount of sleep each night.

The majority of survey respondents say they are getting about seven hours a night, which experts prescribe as the right amount needed for a happy, productive life.

“I love to sleep, and spend up to 14 hours sleeping on some days,” says Akhil Arya, 34, an Indian engineer in Abu Dhabi. “On average I sleep more than eight hours.

“I have to work in shifts and after a night shift one needs to rest for at least eight hours.”

Bell Staves, 23, works as a cashier in Abu Dhabi. Her schedule means she is not as healthy as she would like.

“I have to work in shifts and my eating as well as sleeping habits are affected,” Ms Staves says. “On a good day I get eight hours of sleep but on some days I have to make do with three.”

It is the same for John Darryl Mullick, 39, an Indian chef.

“Working in shifts plays havoc with my schedule,” he says. “On some days I only get two hours of sleep while on others I manage six hours.”

Lara Al Barazi of YouGov says sleep “might be one of the reasons residents of the UAE are one of the happiest people on the globe”.

Experts recommend seven to nine hours a night for healthy adults, while several studies have also found that seven hours, not eight, is the optimal amount.