The United Arab Emirates has approved the oral weight-loss drug Wegovy, becoming the second nation worldwide to back the once-daily tablet for long-term weight management. The Emirates Drug Establishment’s decision, announced this month, clears semaglutide for adults with obesity or overweight linked to other health conditions. Clinical data showed that the GLP-1 receptor agonist, developed by Novo Nordisk, not only reduces body weight when paired with diet and exercise but also lowers the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events, including heart attacks and strokes. The move cements the Gulf state’s role as an early adopter of innovative therapies, following a global surge in demand for this class of drugs.

In Latin America, that demand is palpable on the ground. Pharmacies in Argentina’s Salta province, for example, report a boom in injectable versions of semaglutide, sold under brands such as Ozempic. Originally prescribed for type 2 diabetes, these medications are increasingly sought after for weight loss, a trend fuelled by social media and medical endorsement. While still requiring a prescription, their rising popularity mirrors patterns in affluent nations where GLP-1 therapies have transformed obesity care. Yet access remains uneven; even within middle-income countries, these drugs are often confined to those who can pay out-of-pocket or enjoy comprehensive insurance.

Viewed from a global health perspective, the rapid rollout of GLP-1 drugs risks deepening long-standing divides. For decades, new health technologies have moved along a predictable path: wealthy populations receive cutting-edge treatments, while lower-income regions are left to manage with under-resourced public systems. The injectable weight-loss drugs Ozempic, Wegovy and Mounjaro exemplify this two-tier dynamic. Analysts caution that without generic competition or tiered pricing, the greatest obesity burdens in the developing world will remain largely untreated, even as clinical evidence of cardiovascular benefits strengthens the case for wide availability.

The UAE’s approval of an oral formulation marks a step toward greater convenience and could boost adherence, but it also underscores the yawning gap between early-adopting markets and those still struggling to secure basic versions. As regulators in wealthy states accelerate approvals, the onus falls on manufacturers and global health bodies to ensure that a therapy class with origins in diabetes management does not become another marker of health inequality. The coming year will test whether supply agreements, voluntary licensing, or generic production can begin to bridge the chasm between the world’s therapeutic haves and have-nots.