Emirates Drug Establishment (EDE), the federal medicines regulator
Is Tirzepatide legal in United Arab Emirates?
The regulator has approved it as a medicine.
UAE press describes Mounjaro (tirzepatide) as widely prescribed. Doctors quoted in July 2024 said it is used for type 2 diabetes and for obesity in adults with a BMI over 30, or over 27 with risk factors. A paediatric endocrinologist quoted in July 2026 said it is approved for type 2 diabetes in children aged 10 and over, but not for weight loss in that age group. Gulf News reported in February 2026 that it typically costs more than Dh1,700, and insurance often covers it for diabetes but rarely for weight management. A Sharjah court fined defendants in July 2026 for selling Mounjaro without a licence. I could not open the EDE register, so the approval date is unconfirmed.
Last verified 2026-09-29 · how we verify
Tirzepatide elsewhere
Sources (5)
- 01Mounjaro safety, side effects: 3 things to know about this new weight loss drugKhaleej Times · 2024-07-31 · accessed 2026-09-29
- 02UAE parents increasingly seek weight-loss injections for children amid GLP-1 buzzKhaleej Times · 2026-07-14 · accessed 2026-09-29
- 03Anti-obesity drugs Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro: Are they getting cheaper?Gulf News · 2026-02-07 · accessed 2026-09-29
- 04Are Ozempic, Mounjaro, other weight-loss drugs covered by insurance in the UAE?Khaleej Times · 2026-02-27 · accessed 2026-09-29
- 05Dh10,000 fine for selling Mounjaro injections without a licence in SharjahGulf News · 2026-07-31 · accessed 2026-09-29