Antibiotic use across the world has jumped by one sixth since 2016, a new study has found, despite continuing concerns that their overuse is leading to the spread of resistant bacteria.
The new research highlights Kuwait as the country with the biggest drop in antibiotic use between 2016 and 2023, while some other nations from the region, including the UAE, have registered increases. Many of the biggest rises in antibiotic use have been in lower and upper middle-income countries and regions, among them Thailand, Central America, West Africa and China.
Published last month [November] in the journal PNAS Environmental Sciences, the study looked at dozens of countries and regions across the world and found that between 2016 and 2023, estimated antibiotic consumption increased 16.3 per cent from 29.5 billion to 34.3 billion defined daily doses. Dr Eili Klein, a senior fellow at the One Health Trust and the first author of the study, told The National that several factors were driving the increase in antibiotic use in middle-income countries.
“The primary reason is economic in nature; in expanding economies individuals can afford a wider range of goods, including better access to health care,” he said. “However, rapid economic growth often outpaces infrastructure development, resulting in inadequate hygiene and sanitation, which can lead to increased rates of infection, which can in turn lead to increased antibiotic use.”
Global issue
Every year well over one million people die because of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), according to the World Health Organisation, with increasing resistance among bacteria to antibiotics the key concern. This occurs when bacteria or other pathogens evolve and no longer respond to antibiotics.
There may be more than 39 million deaths by 2050 because of increased resistance to antibiotics in bacteria, according to a study published this year in The Lancet. Resistance to antibiotics makes common medical procedures such as surgery and the administering of cancer chemotherapy riskier, because any infections that result become harder to treat.
Dr Bharat Pankhania, a senior clinical lecturer in the University of Exeter Medical School in the UK, said there was a problem with antibiotic use “locally, nationally and internationally”.
“They shouldn’t be available over-the-counter and they should be prescribed by people who know about them: the right antibiotic for the right infection,” he said.
Regional impact
While the study indicated a modest increase in antibiotic consumption in the UAE between 2016 and 2023 of up to or less than 10 per cent, a standout finding was that in the same period, antibiotic consumption in Kuwait, which like the UAE was classed as a high-income country in the study, appeared to have dropped significantly, by about 40 per cent.
Dr Averyan Vasylyev, Gulf medical director for GSK, one of the few large pharmaceutical companies still working on developing new antibiotics, said his firm’s data did not indicate that Kuwait had recorded a significant drop in antibiotic use.
“We do not observe the same pattern from the market itself and from the market intelligence that we have access to, neither do we see any change in the pattern from the sales of the antibiotics,” he told The National. “I would not think that that [result in the study] would be the actual case in the clinical practice.”
He said the study did not focus on hospital use of antibiotics in the country, which is where “80 to 90 per cent of the consumption is”.
Saudi Arabia was also recorded in the study as having experienced a drop in antibiotic use, in the low single-digits in percentage terms. Dr Vasylyev said in the UAE there was detailed data available on prescription patterns, even down to the level of the individual hospital, and that doctors were well trained.
“I would say that the situation here, if you compare it to some other countries across emerging markets, is … well developed,” he added.
Public prevention
There are things the public can do to prevent the spread of antimicrobial resistance, Dr Vasylyev said, including ensuring they do not stop taking antibiotics earlier than the prescription from the physician suggests.
Stopping antibiotics early has been blamed for infections coming back and for the spread of resistant forms of bacteria. It is also important, Dr Vasylyev indicated, for people not to use leftover antibiotics at a future time when they believe they need them.
“So many people just store the leftovers and then whenever they have similar symptoms they open the freezer and take the antibiotic while they have, for example, a viral infection. That's very common,” he said.
Among high-income nations, those successful at limiting their use of antibiotics had “followed a holistic approach” that includes building and supporting antimicrobial stewardship programmes, improving infection prevention, restricting access to antibiotics and running public awareness campaigns, Dr Klein said.
In middle-income countries, a range of measures can reduce antibiotic use, he said, including improving access to routine preventive health care, such as vaccines to prevent disease.
“Additional investments are needed in antimicrobial stewardship, including messaging to patients, physicians and pharmacists, to avoid inappropriate use,” he said.
This is not just about avoiding antibiotics when not needed, but also ensuring their use is more tailored to the infection, such as by prescribing narrower-spectrum antibiotics and reducing prescription duration. Countries should also, he suggested, invest in surveillance so that prescribing patterns are well understood and programmes to optimise them can be developed. There is, Dr Klein said, “no silver bullet strategy”.
“The most interesting results, though, suggest that cultural differences in care-seeking and patient demand for antibiotics may be one of the most important factors, and altering cultural perceptions is difficult,” he said.
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
Zayed Sustainability Prize
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Key figures in the life of the fort
Sheikh Dhiyab bin Isa (ruled 1761-1793) Built Qasr Al Hosn as a watchtower to guard over the only freshwater well on Abu Dhabi island.
Sheikh Shakhbut bin Dhiyab (ruled 1793-1816) Expanded the tower into a small fort and transferred his ruling place of residence from Liwa Oasis to the fort on the island.
Sheikh Tahnoon bin Shakhbut (ruled 1818-1833) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further as Abu Dhabi grew from a small village of palm huts to a town of more than 5,000 inhabitants.
Sheikh Khalifa bin Shakhbut (ruled 1833-1845) Repaired and fortified the fort.
Sheikh Saeed bin Tahnoon (ruled 1845-1855) Turned Qasr Al Hosn into a strong two-storied structure.
Sheikh Zayed bin Khalifa (ruled 1855-1909) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further to reflect the emirate's increasing prominence.
Sheikh Shakhbut bin Sultan (ruled 1928-1966) Renovated and enlarged Qasr Al Hosn, adding a decorative arch and two new villas.
Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan (ruled 1966-2004) Moved the royal residence to Al Manhal palace and kept his diwan at Qasr Al Hosn.
Sources: Jayanti Maitra, www.adach.ae
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
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The National Archives, Abu Dhabi
Founded over 50 years ago, the National Archives collects valuable historical material relating to the UAE, and is the oldest and richest archive relating to the Arabian Gulf.
Much of the material can be viewed on line at the Arabian Gulf Digital Archive - https://www.agda.ae/en
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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.
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Why are asylum seekers being housed in hotels?
The number of asylum applications in the UK has reached a new record high, driven by those illegally entering the country in small boats crossing the English Channel.
A total of 111,084 people applied for asylum in the UK in the year to June 2025, the highest number for any 12-month period since current records began in 2001.
Asylum seekers and their families can be housed in temporary accommodation while their claim is assessed.
The Home Office provides the accommodation, meaning asylum seekers cannot choose where they live.
When there is not enough housing, the Home Office can move people to hotels or large sites like former military bases.
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KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
Red flags
- Promises of high, fixed or 'guaranteed' returns.
- Unregulated structured products or complex investments often used to bypass traditional safeguards.
- Lack of clear information, vague language, no access to audited financials.
- Overseas companies targeting investors in other jurisdictions - this can make legal recovery difficult.
- Hard-selling tactics - creating urgency, offering 'exclusive' deals.
Courtesy: Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching
Coming soon
Torno Subito by Massimo Bottura
When the W Dubai – The Palm hotel opens at the end of this year, one of the highlights will be Massimo Bottura’s new restaurant, Torno Subito, which promises “to take guests on a journey back to 1960s Italy”. It is the three Michelinstarred chef’s first venture in Dubai and should be every bit as ambitious as you would expect from the man whose restaurant in Italy, Osteria Francescana, was crowned number one in this year’s list of the World’s 50 Best Restaurants.
Akira Back Dubai
Another exciting opening at the W Dubai – The Palm hotel is South Korean chef Akira Back’s new restaurant, which will continue to showcase some of the finest Asian food in the world. Back, whose Seoul restaurant, Dosa, won a Michelin star last year, describes his menu as, “an innovative Japanese cuisine prepared with a Korean accent”.
Dinner by Heston Blumenthal
The highly experimental chef, whose dishes are as much about spectacle as taste, opens his first restaurant in Dubai next year. Housed at The Royal Atlantis Resort & Residences, Dinner by Heston Blumenthal will feature contemporary twists on recipes that date back to the 1300s, including goats’ milk cheesecake. Always remember with a Blumenthal dish: nothing is quite as it seems.
The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
Why does a queen bee feast only on royal jelly?
Some facts about bees:
The queen bee eats only royal jelly, an extraordinary food created by worker bees so she lives much longer
The life cycle of a worker bee is from 40-60 days
A queen bee lives for 3-5 years
This allows her to lay millions of eggs and allows the continuity of the bee colony
About 20,000 honey bees and one queen populate each hive
Honey is packed with vital vitamins, minerals, enzymes, water and anti-oxidants.
Apart from honey, five other products are royal jelly, the special food bees feed their queen
Pollen is their protein source, a super food that is nutritious, rich in amino acids
Beewax is used to construct the combs. Due to its anti-fungal, anti-bacterial elements, it is used in skin treatments
Propolis, a resin-like material produced by bees is used to make hives. It has natural antibiotic qualities so works to sterilize hive, protects from disease, keeps their home free from germs. Also used to treat sores, infection, warts
Bee venom is used by bees to protect themselves. Has anti-inflammatory properties, sometimes used to relieve conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, nerve and muscle pain
Honey, royal jelly, pollen have health enhancing qualities
The other three products are used for therapeutic purposes
Is beekeeping dangerous?
As long as you deal with bees gently, you will be safe, says Mohammed Al Najeh, who has worked with bees since he was a boy.
“The biggest mistake people make is they panic when they see a bee. They are small but smart creatures. If you move your hand quickly to hit the bees, this is an aggressive action and bees will defend themselves. They can sense the adrenalin in our body. But if we are calm, they are move away.”
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'The worst thing you can eat'
Trans fat is typically found in fried and baked goods, but you may be consuming more than you think.
Powdered coffee creamer, microwave popcorn and virtually anything processed with a crust is likely to contain it, as this guide from Mayo Clinic outlines:
Baked goods - Most cakes, cookies, pie crusts and crackers contain shortening, which is usually made from partially hydrogenated vegetable oil. Ready-made frosting is another source of trans fat.
Snacks - Potato, corn and tortilla chips often contain trans fat. And while popcorn can be a healthy snack, many types of packaged or microwave popcorn use trans fat to help cook or flavour the popcorn.
Fried food - Foods that require deep frying — french fries, doughnuts and fried chicken — can contain trans fat from the oil used in the cooking process.
Refrigerator dough - Products such as canned biscuits and cinnamon rolls often contain trans fat, as do frozen pizza crusts.
Creamer and margarine - Nondairy coffee creamer and stick margarines also may contain partially hydrogenated vegetable oils.
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In numbers: PKK’s money network in Europe
Germany: PKK collectors typically bring in $18 million in cash a year – amount has trebled since 2010
Revolutionary tax: Investigators say about $2 million a year raised from ‘tax collection’ around Marseille
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Denmark: PKK one of two terrorist groups along with Iranian separatists ASMLA to raise “two-digit million amounts”
Contributions: Hundreds of euros expected from typical Kurdish families and thousands from business owners
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The years Ramadan fell in May
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The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.
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Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
