The UAE declared the Year of the Family — a nationwide commitment to strengthening the social fabric of the nation by investing in the health, happiness, and stability of its families. This was not merely a symbolic gesture. It was a deliberate policy direction, reinforced by government-led initiatives and private sector partnerships, all oriented toward a single goal: ensuring that every family in the UAE has access to the tools, the knowledge, and the care they need to thrive.
At HealthHub Clinics by Al-Futtaim, we believe that healthcare is not just about treating illness. It is about building a culture of prevention, education, and proactive wellbeing — one family at a time. Our One Family initiative is a direct response to the aspirations of the Year of the Family, offering a comprehensive health screening programme designed to serve every member of your household, from the youngest child to the oldest grandparent.
In this article, we explore the full scope of what the Year of the Family means for healthcare in the UAE, why preventive family health is one of the most powerful investments a household can make, and how HealthHub Clinics is leading the way in delivering meaningful, community-rooted wellness for families across Dubai.
The UAE’s Year of the Family initiative is built on four foundational pillars: strengthening family bonds, promoting wellbeing and social stability, enhancing healthcare access, and supporting child development. These are not isolated themes — they are deeply interconnected. When families are healthy, communities are stable. When communities are stable, nations flourish.
The UAE’s leadership has long recognised that health is a social determinant. Access to quality preventive healthcare, maternal services, mental health support, and paediatric care does not just improve individual lives — it shapes the long-term trajectory of a nation’s human capital. The Year of the Family formalises this understanding and creates a platform for healthcare providers, employers, schools, and community organisations to align their efforts.
Key priorities identified under the Year of the Family health agenda include:
For HealthHub Clinics, the Year of the Family is not just an external mandate — it is an affirmation of the values we have always stood for. It is an opportunity to serve more families, reach more communities, and deliver the kind of holistic, personalised care that transforms health outcomes across generations.
Did You Know? According to the UAE Ministry of Health and Prevention, non-communicable diseases (NCDs) including diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and obesity are responsible for more than 70% of deaths in the country. Regular family health screenings are among the most effective tools for early detection and prevention of these conditions. |
There is a compelling case — backed by decades of global health research — for prioritising prevention over treatment. The logic is straightforward: catching a health issue early, before symptoms appear and before a condition progresses, is almost always safer, less invasive, and significantly less costly than treating an advanced condition.
For families, this principle takes on added urgency. Unlike individuals, families share risk factors. Genetic predispositions to conditions like diabetes, hypertension, and certain cancers can be inherited across generations. Shared dietary habits, activity levels, and stress environments mean that what affects one family member often has implications for others. A family-wide screening approach acknowledges this interconnectedness and allows healthcare professionals to see the full picture.
Dubai and the wider UAE present a unique health landscape. As one of the most rapidly urbanised regions in the world, the country has seen dramatic changes in lifestyle over just two generations. Dietary patterns have shifted significantly, physical activity has declined with the rise of sedentary professions and indoor lifestyles, and the stress of modern living — career pressures, financial demands, parenting challenges — has taken a measurable toll on mental and physical health.
The statistics reflect this reality. The UAE has one of the highest rates of type 2 diabetes in the world, with the International Diabetes Federation estimating that approximately one in five adults in the country is living with the condition. Obesity prevalence is also elevated, with childhood obesity emerging as a growing concern among paediatricians. Cardiovascular risk factors, including high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and metabolic syndrome, are widespread.
These are not abstract statistics. They represent real families — fathers who don’t know their blood pressure is dangerously high, children whose vaccine schedules have lapsed unnoticed, mothers navigating postnatal challenges without adequate support. The One Family programme at HealthHub Clinics exists to bridge this gap: to bring clinical expertise and genuine care directly to families who may not otherwise prioritise their health until a crisis occurs.
One of the most profound outcomes of a family-based screening approach is the cultural shift it encourages. When parents take their health seriously, children learn to do the same. When families attend screenings together, health becomes a shared conversation rather than a private worry. The nutritionist session included in our One Family programme, for example, is not just about individual dietary advice — it is about reshaping how a household thinks about food, eating habits, and nourishment as a collective unit.
Research consistently shows that children who grow up in households where health is actively discussed and prioritised are more likely to adopt healthy behaviours as adults. The Year of the Family initiative recognises this intergenerational opportunity and invites healthcare providers like HealthHub Clinics to be part of the solution.
The HealthHub One Family screening has been carefully designed to address the most important preventive health priorities for families living in Dubai. Each component serves a specific clinical purpose, and together they provide a comprehensive baseline assessment for every family member.
For adult family members, a consultation with a qualified family medicine or internal medicine physician forms the cornerstone of the screening. This is not a cursory check-in — it is a structured clinical conversation that covers medical history, current symptoms or concerns, lifestyle factors, and any hereditary conditions present in the family.
Family medicine physicians are trained to view the patient as a whole person within the context of their relationships, environment, and life stage. They are skilled at identifying patterns and risk factors that a more specialised consultation might miss. For families where busy schedules and demanding lives often push health to the bottom of the priority list, this consultation offers a vital opportunity to pause, reflect, and get professional guidance.
Internal medicine consultations serve adult family members whose health profile may benefit from more in-depth evaluation of organ systems, metabolic health, and chronic disease risk. Together, these consultations ensure that every adult who participates in the One Family screening leaves with a clear understanding of where their health stands.
Children’s health requires a specialised lens. The developmental milestones, nutritional needs, immunisation schedules, and psychological wellbeing of children differ dramatically from those of adults, and they change rapidly with age. Our paediatric screening component is led by qualified paediatricians who assess each child according to their age-specific needs.
One of the most critical elements of paediatric healthcare that is frequently overlooked — particularly in families that have relocated or changed healthcare providers — is vaccine management. The UAE follows an internationally recognised immunisation schedule that protects children against a range of preventable diseases. However, keeping track of which vaccines have been administered, which are due, and which may have been missed can be challenging for busy parents.
Our paediatric screening includes a thorough review of each child’s vaccination history, identification of any gaps in their immunisation record, and clear guidance on the steps needed to bring them fully up to date. This is not just a clinical necessity — it is a public health priority and a tangible way that the One Family programme contributes to community-wide disease prevention in Dubai.
Nutrition is one of the most powerful determinants of long-term health, and yet it is also one of the most misunderstood. In a city as diverse as Dubai, families come from a wide variety of culinary traditions, dietary practices, and food cultures. What constitutes a ‘healthy diet’ is not one-size-fits-all, and generic nutritional advice often fails to account for the specific realities of a household’s eating patterns.
The nutritionist discovery session included in the One Family screening is designed to be exploratory rather than prescriptive. Our registered nutritionists work with the family as a unit, understanding their current dietary habits, identifying areas of concern, and offering practical, culturally sensitive guidance that families can realistically incorporate into their daily lives.
Topics discussed may include balanced meal planning, healthy school lunchbox ideas for children, reducing sugar and processed food intake, managing dietary requirements for family members with specific health conditions, and building sustainable long-term eating habits. Given the high prevalence of diabetes and obesity in the UAE, this session is particularly valuable in helping families understand how their daily food choices connect directly to their long-term health outcomes.
The glucose blood test included in the One Family screening is a simple but profoundly important clinical measure. Blood glucose testing screens for elevated sugar levels that may indicate pre-diabetes or type 2 diabetes — conditions that are alarmingly prevalent in the UAE but which, in their early stages, may present with no obvious symptoms.
Early identification of elevated blood glucose is one of the most impactful preventive health interventions available. Pre-diabetes, if identified and addressed through lifestyle modification, dietary changes, and appropriate follow-up care, can in many cases be reversed before it progresses to type 2 diabetes. For adult family members who have never been tested, this may be the single most important clinical insight the screening provides.
Our clinical team will advise participating families of any preparation requirements (such as fasting) ahead of the screening appointment to ensure the most accurate results possible.
Body Mass Index (BMI) is a widely used measure that relates an individual’s weight to their height, providing a useful indicator of whether they fall within a healthy weight range. While BMI is not a definitive diagnostic tool, it is an accessible and informative screening measure that helps identify individuals who may be at increased risk of weight-related health conditions including type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, sleep apnoea, and joint problems.
For children and adolescents, BMI assessment is particularly valuable as it tracks growth patterns over time and can flag early signs of underweight or overweight conditions that benefit from early intervention. Our clinical team will contextualise BMI results within the broader picture of each family member’s health, ensuring that results are interpreted thoughtfully and not in isolation.
Important: Screening, Not Treatment The One Family programme is strictly a preventive health screening initiative. No medical treatment, prescriptions, or formal diagnoses are issued as part of this programme. Family members identified as requiring further evaluation or clinical follow-up will be guided by the HealthHub clinical team, who will recommend appropriate next steps through our standard consultation pathways. |
The Year of the Family places enhanced maternal care at the heart of its healthcare agenda, and with good reason. Maternal health in the UAE has improved significantly over recent decades, but challenges remain. Access to high-quality antenatal and postnatal care, management of gestational diabetes and hypertension, mental health support for new mothers, and education around infant nutrition are all areas where investment yields profound generational dividends.
HealthHub Clinics offers a comprehensive range of maternal health services that extend beyond the One Family screening. Our antenatal programmes provide expectant mothers with the clinical support, monitoring, and education they need to navigate pregnancy safely and confidently. Our postnatal services recognise that the period after childbirth is as medically significant as the pregnancy itself — a time when both mother and newborn require attentive, personalised care.
Postnatal depression affects a significant proportion of new mothers, yet it remains widely underdiagnosed and undertreated. The stigma around mental health — compounded, in many communities, by cultural expectations that mothers should appear happy and capable at all times — means that many women suffer in silence. At HealthHub Clinics, we are committed to creating a clinical environment where maternal mental health is taken as seriously as physical recovery, and where mothers feel safe to speak openly about their experiences.
For families participating in the One Family screening, the maternal health conversation often begins during the family medicine consultation, where our doctors are trained to ask the right questions and connect mothers with the appropriate support services when needed.
Mental health is the most underdiscussed dimension of family wellbeing, and yet it is one of the most consequential. A household where one or more members is struggling with anxiety, depression, chronic stress, or unresolved emotional difficulties is a household under strain. The ripple effects of poor mental health within a family system are profound, affecting relationships, communication, parenting capacity, academic performance, and even physical health.
The UAE has made significant strides in destigmatising mental health in recent years. The national mental health strategy, supported by investments in mental health infrastructure and public awareness campaigns, has begun to shift the conversation. The Year of the Family builds on this progress by identifying mental health services as a priority area for enhancement.
At HealthHub Clinics, our mental health services encompass a range of evidence-based therapeutic modalities including cognitive behavioural therapy, family counselling, adolescent mental health support, and stress management programmes. We understand that the decision to seek psychological support can be a significant one, and our practitioners approach every patient with the sensitivity, confidentiality, and cultural awareness that such conversations require.
Parenting in a modern, high-cost, high-pressure urban environment like Dubai places extraordinary demands on adults. The dual burden of professional responsibility and parenting, compounded by the isolation that many expatriate families experience away from their extended support networks, creates conditions where stress, anxiety, and burnout are common. Yet parents rarely place themselves at the top of the list when it comes to seeking help.
One of the most powerful messages embedded in the One Family initiative is this: looking after yourself is not a luxury or a form of selfishness. It is one of the most important things a parent can do for their family. When parents are mentally and physically well, they are better equipped to be present, patient, and engaged with their children. The family medicine consultation within our screening programme creates a dedicated space for parents to address their own health, often for the first time in years.
Adolescence is one of the most psychologically demanding periods of life, characterised by identity formation, social pressures, academic stress, and the neurological changes that accompany puberty. For teenagers growing up in Dubai’s multi-cultural, high-achievement environment, these pressures are often intensified.
HealthHub Clinics provides adolescent mental health services delivered by specialists experienced in working with young people. Our approach is non-judgmental, confidential, and tailored to the adolescent’s developmental stage. We work collaboratively with families to ensure that support is coordinated and that communication between parents and teenagers is strengthened rather than strained through the therapeutic process.
The early years of a child’s life are the most neurologically significant. The brain’s remarkable plasticity during the first five years means that experiences, nutrition, relationships, and healthcare during this period have an outsized and lasting impact on cognitive, emotional, and physical development. Supporting children’s health during these foundational years is not simply a medical priority — it is an investment in the nation’s future.
The UAE’s Year of the Family explicitly prioritises child development initiatives as part of its healthcare agenda. This includes not only medical screenings and vaccinations but also developmental assessments, early intervention for developmental delays, support for children with special educational needs, and nutritional guidance tailored to different life stages.
HealthHub Clinics’ paediatric team works closely with families to ensure that children receive the age-appropriate care, monitoring, and support they need at every stage. From newborn checks and infant feeding support to school-age health assessments and adolescent wellbeing programmes, our paediatric services are designed to accompany families through the full journey of childhood.
Immunisation is one of the great achievements of modern medicine. The ability to protect children against diseases that once caused widespread suffering and death represents a profound advance in human health. Yet the effectiveness of vaccination depends on high rates of uptake — what epidemiologists call ‘herd immunity’ — and any gaps in coverage within a community create vulnerability for the most vulnerable members, including infants too young to be vaccinated and immunocompromised individuals.
In a city as internationally connected as Dubai, where families arrive from every corner of the world with varying vaccination histories and schedules, ensuring that every child is fully immunised according to the UAE national schedule is both a clinical and a community responsibility. The vaccine management component of the One Family screening takes this responsibility seriously, providing families with a clear, personalised action plan for bringing their children’s immunisation status fully up to date.
No discussion of family health in the UAE is complete without addressing the country’s significant burden of non-communicable chronic diseases. Type 2 diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, and obesity are the defining health challenges of the UAE population, and they disproportionately affect families rather than isolated individuals.
The genetic, dietary, and lifestyle risk factors for these conditions run through families. A father with type 2 diabetes has children whose risk is elevated. A household where processed, high-sugar foods are a dietary staple is a household where metabolic risk accumulates across every member. Identifying and addressing these risk factors at the family level — rather than waiting for individuals to present with symptoms — is one of the most effective strategies available for bending the curve on chronic disease in the UAE.
The combination of glucose testing, BMI assessment, and clinical consultation within the One Family screening creates a meaningful clinical snapshot of each family’s chronic disease risk profile. Our doctors use this information to provide tailored guidance, whether that means recommending further diagnostic testing, referring to a specialist, or simply providing clear lifestyle advice that the family can begin implementing immediately.
The UAE Diabetes Reality The UAE has one of the highest rates of type 2 diabetes globally. Approximately 17-19% of the adult population is estimated to be living with diabetes, with a further significant proportion undiagnosed. Regular blood glucose screening is one of the most effective tools available for catching this condition before it causes serious complications. Early intervention can prevent or significantly delay the onset of type 2 diabetes. |
HealthHub Clinics by Al-Futtaim is part of one of the most respected and enduring business groups in the UAE. With a legacy spanning decades and a presence across retail, automotive, real estate, and services, Al-Futtaim has built its reputation on delivering quality, trust, and genuine value to the communities it serves. HealthHub Clinics carries that legacy into the healthcare domain, bringing together world-class clinical talent, modern facilities, and a patient-first philosophy that places the wellbeing of every individual at the centre of everything we do.
Our clinics are staffed by internationally trained doctors, nurses, and allied health professionals who understand the unique health needs of Dubai’s diverse, multicultural population. We speak your language — literally and figuratively. We understand the pressures of expat life, the complexities of navigating healthcare in a new country, the importance of cultural sensitivity in clinical practice, and the value of building long-term relationships with families that extend across generations.
One of the most significant barriers to healthcare engagement is simply convenience. In a city as fast-moving as Dubai, where commutes are long, work schedules are demanding, and leisure time is precious, the friction of booking and attending a medical appointment can feel prohibitive. HealthHub Clinics is designed to reduce this friction.
Our locations across Dubai are chosen for accessibility, offering families the ability to attend appointments without lengthy travel. Our booking process is designed to be simple and efficient, and our clinical teams are committed to running on time so that families can plan their visits with confidence. The One Family screening, with its structured programme of services delivered under one roof in a single visit, is a direct response to the time constraints that modern Dubai families face.
The One Family screening programme is available to all families in Dubai, subject to the following terms and conditions:
To prepare for your screening, please bring valid ID (Emirates ID or passport) for all family members, any relevant medical records, and a record of your children’s vaccination history where available. Our clinical team will advise of any specific preparation requirements, such as fasting for the glucose test, at the time of booking.
The Year of the Family is a powerful reminder that health is not an individual pursuit. It is a shared endeavour, built within families, extended into communities, and ultimately reflected in the vitality of a nation. When families are well — physically, mentally, nutritionally, and emotionally — the society they belong to is stronger for it.
At HealthHub Clinics by Al-Futtaim, we are proud to be part of this vision. The One Family screening is one expression of our commitment to putting genuine, meaningful healthcare within reach of every family in Dubai. But it is part of a broader promise — to be the clinic that accompanies your family through every stage of life, with expertise, compassion, and the highest standard of clinical care.
We invite you to take this step with us. Register your family today and experience what it means to make health a family priority — not just this year, but for every year to come.
Book Your One Family Screening Today Spaces are limited. Prior booking is required and walk-ins cannot be accommodated. Register online via the HealthHub Clinics website or contact your nearest HealthHub location in Dubai. Each family can avail the screening once. T&Cs apply. This is a screening initiative, not a treatment programme. |
Connect with our experienced doctors at HealthHub Clinics to learn more or call 800 2344. to book your appointment.
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