For Layla Badri, 37, a writer, it's eight hours a day, six days a week. Alia Noufah, 25, an office administrator from Ajman, estimates it's at least 40 hours a week. For Jane Rollon, 29, a Dubai-based receptionist, 50 hours a week is the norm.
A snapshot survey carried out in the waiting room of a leading Dubai chiropractor sheds light upon a worrying trend that could be taking the ultimate toll on the lives of UAE citizens. "For most of our patients, their occupations involve sitting for long periods of time," explains Dr Pamela Leader at Chiropractic Dubai.
In a poll of her patients carried out for The National, Leader found that most spent around 50 hours a week sitting down. "But that is probably underestimated since most people only consider their working time," she adds. "They forget that they might go home and spend hours watching TV or on the internet."
'Sitting Disease' cuts lives short
In July this year, the UK medical journal The Lancet revealed that a lack of exercise is now causing as many deaths worldwide as smoking. A study by 33 researchers from across the globe showed that one in every 10 deaths from diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, breast and colon cancer stem in part from inactivity.
Research from the Harvard School of Public Health in the US shows that for every two hours you spend seated (whether at a desk or driving) rather than being physically active increases your risk of developing type 2 diabetes by up to 14 per cent.
A University of Western Australia study revealed that people who spent more than 10 years in sedentary jobs were almost twice as likely to have developed a tumour in the area of the lower bowel called the distal colon.
"Prolonged sitting promotes a lack of whole-body muscle movement," says Leader. "Recent evidence has shown that sitting for long hours, coupled with a lack of exercise and a poor, unbalanced diet, can raise your risk of early death from cardiovascular diseases."
"It's an issue that's of particular concern - or it should be - for workers in countries like the UAE," says Nayab Sultan, a former WHO Consultant in Occupational Health. "The nature of the physical climate, working long hours, long commuting times, dependence on driving rather than walking, poor dietary habits and a general lack of physical exercise are all compounding health factors in the Emirates for many workers, particularly those who sit for a large portion of their day."
Condemned to a 'desk sentence'
The sedentary lifestyle in the UAE coupled with a failure to engage in even the minimum recommended amount of daily exercise is having ever more severe health implications. "Often employees in high-stress jobs are being condemned to a desk sentence," says Sultan. "When it comes to health and safety, there have been significant improvements in the safety universally, such as on construction sites, but the protection of the health of workers in most industries still leaves much to be desired."
Since the global economic downturn, there is a clear increase in the number of heart attacks in the working environment, as well as cases of type 2 diabetes and mental illnesses as a direct result of work-related stress, as workers struggle to keep their jobs and meet their financial responsibilities.
Leader's patients report being able to breathe and sleep better, as well as walk with much more ease, after their chiropractic treatments - but the underlying causes for the headaches, neck pain, back problems and a multitude of other health complaints that the "sitting disease" can spark remains.
"The UAE has a very strong work ethic and from the questions I ask my patients, I believe people often work longer hours and have more stress," she says. "Employers should invest in better ergonomic equipment to suit each employee. Regulations in the US and parts of Europe encourage this, but sadly, only a few companies in the UAE take the trouble to ensure their employees have the correct set up."
Tips to take
Don't fall victim to sitting disease - make these moves now to change your life
Break it down
"It's important to take regular breaks, but people may think moving from their desk and sitting in a canteen or coffee shop is enough. Really it's not," says Dr Pamela Leader. "We recommend getting up for a two-minute walk around the office with regular stretches at least every hour but preferably every half-hour. Consider standing desks and holding standing meetings and book an ergonomic and spinal check to ensure that you have your workstation ergonomically. Visit www.chiropracticdubai.com.
Work it out
While walking to and from work may not be an option in the UAE joining a gym does offer the ideal setting to combat all that sitting. Doing 150 minutes of exercise per week will cut your risk of developing colon cancer by a third. Sadly, a joint Dubai Sports Council (DSC) and Dubai Health Authority study recently revealed that only 36 per cent of Dubai residents are involved in physical exercise.
Make it a team effort
Start up a work-based sport team or group of gym buddies to motivate you all to exercise after work or during your lunch break. A recent University of Bristol (UK) study found that employees who enjoyed a workout before going to the office were better equipped to handle whatever the day threw at them.
Company profile
Date started: 2015
Founder: John Tsioris and Ioanna Angelidaki
Based: Dubai
Sector: Online grocery delivery
Staff: 200
Funding: Undisclosed, but investors include the Jabbar Internet Group and Venture Friends
The bio
Date of Birth: April 25, 1993
Place of Birth: Dubai, UAE
Marital Status: Single
School: Al Sufouh in Jumeirah, Dubai
University: Emirates Airline National Cadet Programme and Hamdan University
Job Title: Pilot, First Officer
Number of hours flying in a Boeing 777: 1,200
Number of flights: Approximately 300
Hobbies: Exercising
Nicest destination: Milan, New Zealand, Seattle for shopping
Least nice destination: Kabul, but someone has to do it. It’s not scary but at least you can tick the box that you’ve been
Favourite place to visit: Dubai, there’s no place like home
The story in numbers
18
This is how many recognised sects Lebanon is home to, along with about four million citizens
450,000
More than this many Palestinian refugees are registered with UNRWA in Lebanon, with about 45 per cent of them living in the country’s 12 refugee camps
1.5 million
There are just under 1 million Syrian refugees registered with the UN, although the government puts the figure upwards of 1.5m
73
The percentage of stateless people in Lebanon, who are not of Palestinian origin, born to a Lebanese mother, according to a 2012-2013 study by human rights organisation Frontiers Ruwad Association
18,000
The number of marriages recorded between Lebanese women and foreigners between the years 1995 and 2008, according to a 2009 study backed by the UN Development Programme
77,400
The number of people believed to be affected by the current nationality law, according to the 2009 UN study
4,926
This is how many Lebanese-Palestinian households there were in Lebanon in 2016, according to a census by the Lebanese-Palestinian dialogue committee
What the law says
Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.
“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.
“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”
If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre V8 twin-turbocharged and three electric motors
Power: Combined output 920hp
Torque: 730Nm at 4,000-7,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch automatic
Fuel consumption: 11.2L/100km
On sale: Now, deliveries expected later in 2025
Price: expected to start at Dh1,432,000
The Bio
Favourite place in UAE: Al Rams pearling village
What one book should everyone read: Any book written before electricity was invented. When a writer willingly worked under candlelight, you know he/she had a real passion for their craft
Your favourite type of pearl: All of them. No pearl looks the same and each carries its own unique characteristics, like humans
Best time to swim in the sea: When there is enough light to see beneath the surface
The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
THE DETAILS
Solo: A Star Wars Story
Dir: Ron Howard
Starring: Alden Ehrenreich, Emilia Clarke, Woody Harrelson
3/5
Dhadak 2
Director: Shazia Iqbal
Starring: Siddhant Chaturvedi, Triptii Dimri
Rating: 1/5
More from Rashmee Roshan Lall
RESULTS
6.30pm: Handicap (rated 100 ) US$175,000 1,200m
Winner: Baccarat, William Buick (jockey), Charlie Appleby (trainer)
7.05pm: Handicap (78-94) $60,000 1,800m
Winner: Baroot, Christophe Soumillon, Mike de Kock
7.40pm: Firebreak Stakes Group 3 $200,000 1,600m
Winner: Heavy Metal, Mickael Barzalona, Salem bin Ghadayer
8.15pm: Handicap (95-108) $125,000 1,200m
Winner: Yalta, Mickael Barzalona, Salem bin Ghadayer
8.50pm: Balanchine Group 2 $200,000 1,800m
Winner: Promising Run, Pat Cosgrave, Saeed bin Suroor
9.25pm: Handicap (95-105) $125,000 1,800m
Winner: Blair House, James Doyle, Charlie Appleby
10pm: Handicap (95-105) $125,000 1,400m
Winner: Oh This Is Us, Tom Marquand, Richard Hannon
What are the GCSE grade equivalents?
- Grade 9 = above an A*
- Grade 8 = between grades A* and A
- Grade 7 = grade A
- Grade 6 = just above a grade B
- Grade 5 = between grades B and C
- Grade 4 = grade C
- Grade 3 = between grades D and E
- Grade 2 = between grades E and F
- Grade 1 = between grades F and G
Conflict, drought, famine
Estimates of the number of deaths caused by the famine range from 400,000 to 1 million, according to a document prepared for the UK House of Lords in 2024.
It has been claimed that the policies of the Ethiopian government, which took control after deposing Emperor Haile Selassie in a military-led revolution in 1974, contributed to the scale of the famine.
Dr Miriam Bradley, senior lecturer in humanitarian studies at the University of Manchester, has argued that, by the early 1980s, “several government policies combined to cause, rather than prevent, a famine which lasted from 1983 to 1985. Mengistu’s government imposed Stalinist-model agricultural policies involving forced collectivisation and villagisation [relocation of communities into planned villages].
The West became aware of the catastrophe through a series of BBC News reports by journalist Michael Buerk in October 1984 describing a “biblical famine” and containing graphic images of thousands of people, including children, facing starvation.
Band Aid
Bob Geldof, singer with the Irish rock group The Boomtown Rats, formed Band Aid in response to the horrific images shown in the news broadcasts.
With Midge Ure of the band Ultravox, he wrote the hit charity single Do They Know it’s Christmas in December 1984, featuring a string of high-profile musicians.
Following the single’s success, the idea to stage a rock concert evolved.
Live Aid was a series of simultaneous concerts that took place at Wembley Stadium in London, John F Kennedy Stadium in Philadelphia, the US, and at various other venues across the world.
The combined event was broadcast to an estimated worldwide audience of 1.5 billion.
What can victims do?
Always use only regulated platforms
Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion
Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)
Report to local authorities
Warn others to prevent further harm
Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence
SPECS
Engine: 4-litre V8 twin-turbo
Power: 630hp
Torque: 850Nm
Transmission: 8-speed Tiptronic automatic
Price: From Dh599,000
On sale: Now
