Understanding Traditional Emirati Medicine: Insights, Challenges, and a Call to Action

Although the United Arab Emirates was founded in 1971 as a federation of 7 emirates with Abu Dhabi serving as its capital, the peoples who have inhabited its lands since antiquity have long-standing beliefs and practices for preventing, diagnosing, and treating ill-health and for maintaining health. Traditional Emirati Medicine exists as unwritten healing practices, beliefs, and knowledge communicated through poems, stories, sayings, songs, and proverbs and Islamic teachings and literature. Research is needed to understand Traditional Emirati Medicine’s scope, proper usage, efficacy, active ingredients and mechanisms of action, safety, and quality assurance, and we encourage government and non-government entities to formulate action plans and policies. A strong and up-to-date knowledgebase will inform decisions and recommendations concerning the future of Traditional Emirati Medicine including establishing best practices and health policies, regulating medicines and practitioners to protect consumers, and integration of traditional medicine and modern medicine.