The Emirates Drug Establishment (EDE) has approved orforglipron – sold under the brand name Foundayo™ – for use in chronic weight management in the UAE.
Developed by pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly, the drug makes the UAE the second country in the world to register the treatment. Patient access is expected from May 2026.
This guide covers what orforglipron is, how it works, who it is intended for, what the clinical trial results showed, and what the approval means for patients in the UAE.
Orforglipron approved in UAE: Everything you need to know
Orforglipron is an oral glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist. GLP-1 drugs have become among the most in-demand obesity treatments in the world in recent years, but until now they have been administered via injection.
Orforglipron is taken as a pill, once daily, without restrictions on food or water intake – meaning patients do not need to take it on an empty stomach or with a set amount of water.
The drug works by regulating appetite and reducing food intake over time. It is not intended to replace lifestyle changes but to support them.
Orforglipron is prescribed as part of a treatment programme that includes lifestyle modification and a focus on overall health improvement. It is designed for long-term use in the management of chronic obesity.
Clinical trials of orforglipron demonstrated results the EDE described as showing the treatment’s effectiveness and patient response. Participants who received the highest dose recorded an average weight loss of 12.4 per cent when the drug was used alongside lifestyle guidance.
The EDE’s Director-General, H.E. Dr Fatima Al Kaabi, said the approval followed a review of these clinical trial results before the drug was cleared for use in the UAE.
Orforglipron is intended for adults living with chronic obesity as part of a programme focused on long-term weight management. Al Kaabi highlighted that tackling obesity is a priority for the EDE because of its links to more than 200 diseases and health complications – including type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and at least 13 types of cancer.
Patients should consult their doctor to establish whether the treatment is appropriate for their circumstances.
The UAE is the second country in the world to register orforglipron, which signals the speed at which the EDE is moving to bring pharmaceutical innovations to patients domestically.
The approval also marks a shift in the GLP-1 treatment landscape: for patients who have been reluctant to use injectable GLP-1 drugs, an oral option removes a practical barrier to treatment.
“The establishment is committed to supporting an integrated and sustainable pharmaceutical ecosystem based on innovation and strengthened collaboration with its partners across the pharmaceutical sector. We will continue to operate according to the highest global regulatory standards to ensure the availability of high-quality treatments within accelerated timeframes, strengthen prevention efforts and support the sustainability of the national pharmaceutical system in ways that help protect community health,” Al Kaabi said in a statement.
Roberta Marinelli, President and General Manager for Eli Lilly’s META Hub, said “making the treatment available in the UAE following its approval by the Emirates Drug Establishment enables eligible patients to benefit from it as part of available treatment options.”
The treatment is expected to become available to patients in the UAE from May 2026. Patients interested in the drug should speak to their healthcare provider about eligibility and whether it is suitable as part of their treatment plan.
The approval is part of a broader national effort to develop the UAE’s pharmaceutical sector around the principles of efficiency, innovation, and sustainability.
The EDE has stated its aim is to accelerate patient access to medicines approved in global markets, in line with the country’s directives for the sector. The registration of orforglipron as the world’s second country to do so is consistent with that direction.
