United Arab Emirates Nationals Research Articles

A retrospective study investigating semen parameter profiles among male patients attending a fertility center in the UAE: Insights from a nationality perspective

ObjectivesThe current study assessed the epidemiological trends of semen phenotypes and their association with ethnicity among men seeking fertility treatment in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). MethodsThis retrospective study assessed the anthropometric information including age, body mass index (BMI), and nationality, along with semen parameters of men who visited a Fertility Center in Abu Dhabi, UAE between January 2011 and July 2022. To understand the epidemiological trend of semen parameters amongst UAE nationals, propensity score analysis and logistic regression were performed. Thus, the exposure variable of interest is ethnicity, categorized into UAE nationals (Emirati) and Others (minus UAE; Global). Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS, R packages and STATA. ResultsIn this study, 32,664 samples were collected from 19,482 patients from 113 countries worldwide over a period of 11 years. Most participants made multiple visits, with around 40% attending at least once. Following covariates adjustment, logistic regression indicated a non-significant increase (4%) in the prevalence of asthenozoospermia among the UAE population compared to Global. Further modeling adjusted for propensity score and Emirati status suggested that Emiratis were 13% less likely to have lower total sperm count (TSC) compared to Global (p<0.001). Whereas approximately 58% of UAE nationals' samples exhibited teratozoospermia compared to 56% in other nationalities. After adjusting for confounders, analysis revealed a significantly higher prevalence (12%) of teratozoospermia among Emiratis compared to other nationals. ConclusionSamples from UAE nationals displayed reduced sperm motility and normal morphology but increased TSC. While the underlying cause of these observed phenotypes was not investigated, it is worth noting that all the men including those from other nationalities resided in the UAE and were subjected to the same climate. Thus, other factors, such as ethnicity, may have primarily influenced the differences observed in these parameters, with genetic makeup also potentially contributing to these outcomes.

KNOWLEDGE AND BEHAVIOR OF HATTA HOSPITAL HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS REGARDING COVID-19 INFECTION PREVENTION AND CONTROL

Healthcare-associated infection represents a public health problem in all countries. COVID-19 patients can rapidly overwhelm the capacities of healthcare systems. As more patients are hospitalized, healthcare workers (HCW) at the frontline of care are at the greatest risk of infection. This study aimed to assess the knowledge and self-reported behavior of healthcare professionals in Hatta Hospital regarding COVID-19 infection prevention and control (IPC) during this emerging infectious disease pandemic. A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in Hatta hospital, United Arab Emirates (UAE) among one hundred HCWs using a self-administered questionnaire based on UAE National and World Health Organization (WHO) IPC guidelines. Of the study participants, 66% received COVID-19 IPC training inside Hatta hospital. The mean knowledge and behavior scores were 75.7% ± 9.4 and 87.6% ± 5.9, respectively. Knowledge score and behavior score were not related to gender (p= 0.232, 0.091, respectively ) and to work position (p= 0.882, 0.994, respectively), however, they were related to the previous contact with COVID -19 patients (p= 001, 0.011, respectively ). Nonetheless, gaps in IPC knowledge and behavior have been identified and need improvement. This includes donning and doffing of PPE and optimal use of protective measures especially respirators (N95 or FFP2).

The Integration of Artificial Intelligence in Physicians' Daily Practice for Diagnosis, Prediction, And Disease Management in the Arab World

Artificial intelligence (AI) is developing rapidly. Integrating AI into healthcare practices in the Arab world will transform diagnosis, prediction, and disease management. Today, countries such as Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) are at the forefront of AI adoption in healthcare, supported by strategic frameworks such as Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 and the UAE National Artificial Intelligence Strategy 2031. However, adopting AI in daily healthcare practice on a large scale faces many obstacles that need to be overcome. Keywords: Artificial intelligence, AI, healthcare practice, diagnosis, prediction, and disease management, Arab world.

Utilising Adaptive Choice-Based Conjoint Approach to Facilitate Shared Decision-Making in Osteoarthritis Management: A Patient Perception Study.

This study examines the application of the adaptive choice-based conjoint (ACBC) method to facilitate the shared decision-making (SDM) process for osteoarthritis (OA) treatment. The study recruited adult OA patients attending the rheumatology/orthopaedics clinics in a local urban hospital in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE). Participants completed a questionnaire regarding who influences their decision in selecting OA medication, followed by an ACBC questionnaire about OA medication preferences and a questionnaire about the potential contribution of ACBC to the SDM process. A univariate analysis was used to investigate the relationships between participant variables and factors that influence their decision-making processes. The chi-squared, Fisher's exact, Cramer's V coefficient test and multivariable logistic regression analysis were utilised. The primary outcome investigates the contribution of the ACBC method to the SDM process for OA treatment. Secondary outcomes measure the association between patient demographics and variables related to the SDM process and ACBC questionnaire. Five hundred patients participated in this study, with a response rate (RR) of 100%. Most study participants were 60-69 years old (34.8%), females (78.8%), and UAE nationals (90.4%). Patients' opinions and online/paper information influencing their decision in selecting OA medication had a statistically significant association with age, gender, education, and employment (P=0.001 - 0.039). Employment status showed the strongest association (φc=0.170) with being independent in making the decision about OA medications, while education levels showed the strongest association (φc=0.24) with decisions impacted by online/paper information. The results of the multivariable logistic analysis showed that the only statistically significant variable for online/paper information that influenced the decision in selecting OA medication was education level (p=0.003). Most participants agreed or strongly agreed that the ACBC predicted their preferences for OA treatment (96.8%), the questionnaire may help doctors understand patients' preferences (93%) and recommended the use of ACBC tool doctors' clinics to aid the SDM process (92.8%) between patients and their physicians. ACBC approach can facilitate doctors' understanding of patients' preferences and aid the SDM process. Most OA patients are independent or influenced by their physician when making decisions about OA medication. Higher education and employment among OA patients are associated with a better involvement in the SDM process for available treatment.

Arabic or English? Multilingual users’ preferences in Dubai ATM transactions

Language choice or preference, that is the deliberate selection of language(s) for different purposes in different contexts, situations and domains, is a complex sociolinguistic phenomenon as it is usually motivated by numerous sociolinguistic factors. This study investigates language choice between Arabic and English during automated teller machine (ATM) transactions in Dubai, a cosmopolitan city in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and aims at exploring the factors influencing these preferences. The data were collected, using a survey questionnaire, from 566 ATM users in Dubai. The findings reveal that nearly all non-Arab participants favor English over Arabic for ATM transactions, irrespective of their length of stay in the country and their proficiency level in English and Arabic, given that Dubai ATMs offer only these two languages. On the other hand, Arab participants, including UAE nationals and Arab expatriates, tend to use Arabic more frequently than English. However, those residing in Dubai show a greater preference for English compared to those living outside Dubai. Additional factors such as age, gender, level of education, occupation, and comfort with technology were also investigated. This research illuminates the prevalent use and elevated status of English in Dubai, affirming its significance among both native and non-native Arabic speakers. Furthermore, it offers insight into the linguistic resources employed by individuals in transactional exchanges, contributing to our understanding of the complex relationship between language contact, language attitudes, language choice, and technology adoption within a multilingual urban setting. The findings underscore the importance of examining linguistic preferences within specific subdomains of multilingual communities.

Epidemiology and antimicrobial resistance of Mycobacterium spp. in the United Arab Emirates: a retrospective analysis of 12 years of national antimicrobial resistance surveillance data.

The Eastern Mediterranean Regional Office (EMRO) region accounts for almost 8% of all global Mycobacterium tuberculosis (TB) cases, with TB incidence rates ranging from 1 per 100,000 per year in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to 204 per 100,000 in Djibouti. The national surveillance data from the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region on the epidemiology and antimicrobial resistance trends of TB, including MDR-TB remains scarce. A retrospective 12-year analysis of N = 8,086 non-duplicate diagnostic Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTB complex) isolates from the UAE was conducted. Data were generated through routine patient care during the 2010-2021 years, collected by trained personnel and reported by participating surveillance sites to the UAE National Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Surveillance program. Data analysis was conducted with WHONET, a windows-based microbiology laboratory database management software developed by the World Health Organization Collaborating Center for Surveillance of Antimicrobial Resistance, Boston, United States (https://whonet.org/). A total of 8,086 MTB-complex isolates were analyzed. MTB-complex was primarily isolated from respiratory samples (sputum 80.1%, broncho-alveolar lavage 4.6%, pleural fluid 4.1%). Inpatients accounted for 63.2%, including 1.3% from ICU. Nationality was known for 84.3% of patients, including 3.8% Emiratis. Of UAE non-nationals, 80.5% were from 110 countries, most of which were Asian countries. India accounted for 20.8%, Pakistan 13.6%, Philippines 12.7%, and Bangladesh 7.8%. Rifampicin-resistant MTB-complex isolates (RR-TB) were found in 2.8% of the isolates, resistance to isoniazid, streptomycin, pyrazinamide, and ethambutol, was 8.9, 6.9, 3.4 and 0.4%, respectively. A slightly increasing trend of resistance among MTB-complex was observed for rifampicin from 2.5% (2010) to 2.8% (2021). Infections due to MTB-complex are relatively uncommon in the United Arab Emirates compared to other countries in the MENA region. Most TB patients in the UAE are of Asian origin, mainly from countries with a high prevalence of TB. Resistance to first line anti-tuberculous drugs is generally low, however increasing trends for MDR-TB mainly rifampicin linked resistance is a major concern. MDR-TB was not associated with a higher mortality, admission to ICU, or increased length of hospitalization as compared to non-MDR-TB.

Emergence of highly resistant Candida auris in the United Arab Emirates: a retrospective analysis of evolving national trends.

The Centers for Disease Prevention and Control lists Candida auris, given its global emergence, multidrug resistance, high mortality, and persistent transmissions in health care settings as one of five urgent threats. As a new threat, the need for surveillance of C. auris is critical. This is particularly important for a cosmopolitan setting and global hub such as the United Arab Emirates (UAE) where continued introduction and emergence of resistant variant strains is a major concern. The United Arab Emirates has carried out a 12 years of antimicrobial resistance surveillance (2010-2021) across the country, spanning all seven Emirates. A retrospective analysis of C. auris emergence from 2018-2021 was undertaken, utilising the demographic and microbiological data collected via a unified WHONET platform for AMR surveillance. Nine hundred eight non-duplicate C. auris isolates were reported from 2018-2021. An exponential upward trend of cases was found. Most isolates were isolated from urine, blood, skin and soft tissue, and the respiratory tract. UAE nationals nationals comprised 29% (n = 186 of 632) of all patients; the remainder were from 34 other nations. Almost all isolates were from inpatient settings (89.0%, n = 809). The cases show widespread distribution across all reporting sites in the country. C. auris resistance levels remained consistently high across all classes of antifungals used. C. auris in this population remains highly resistant to azoles (fluconazole, 72.6% in 2021) and amphotericin. Echinocandin resistance has now emerged and is increasing annually. There was no statistically significant difference in mortality between Candida auris and Candida spp. (non-auris) patients (p-value: 0.8179), however Candida auris patients had a higher intensive care unit (ICU) admission rate (p-value <0.0001) and longer hospital stay (p < 0.0001) compared to Candida spp. (non-auris) patients. The increasing trend of C. auris detection and associated multidrug resistant phenotypes in the UAE is alarming. Continued C. auris circulation in hospitals requires enhanced infection control measures to prevent continued dissemination.

Epidemiology and antimicrobial resistance trends of Acinetobacter species in the United Arab Emirates: a retrospective analysis of 12 years of national AMR surveillance data.

Acinetobacter spp., in particular A. baumannii, are opportunistic pathogens linked to nosocomial pneumonia (particularly ventilator-associated pneumonia), central-line catheter-associated blood stream infections, meningitis, urinary tract infections, surgical-site infections, and other types of wound infections. A. baumannii is able to acquire or upregulate various resistance determinants, making it frequently multidrug-resistant, and contributing to increased mortality and morbidity. Data on the epidemiology, levels, and trends of antimicrobial resistance of Acinetobacter spp. in clinical settings is scarce in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and Middle East and North Africa (MENA) regions. A retrospective 12-year analysis of 17,564 non-duplicate diagnostic Acinetobacter spp. isolates from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) was conducted. Data was generated at 317 surveillance sites by routine patient care during 2010-2021, collected by trained personnel and reported by participating surveillance sites to the UAE National AMR Surveillance program. Data analysis was conducted with WHONET. Species belonging to the A. calcoaceticus-baumannii complex were mostly reported (86.7%). They were most commonly isolated from urine (32.9%), sputum (29.0%), and soft tissue (25.1%). Resistance trends to antibiotics from different classes during the surveillance period showed a decreasing trend. Specifically, there was a significant decrease in resistance to imipenem, meropenem, and amikacin. Resistance was lowest among Acinetobacter species to both colistin and tigecycline. The percentages of multidrug-resistant (MDR) and possibly extensively drug-resistant (XDR) isolates was reduced by almost half between the beginning of the study in 2010 and its culmination in 2021. Carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter spp. (CRAB) was associated with a higher mortality (RR: 5.7), a higher admission to ICU (RR 3.3), and an increased length of stay (LOS; 13 excess inpatient days per CRAB case), as compared to Carbapenem-susceptible Acinetobacter spp. Carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter spp. are associated with poorer clinical outcomes, and higher associated costs, as compared to carbapenem-susceptible Acinetobacter spp. A decreasing trend of MDR Acinetobacter spp., as well as resistance to all antibiotic classes under surveillance was observed during 2010 to 2021. Further studies are needed to explore the reasons and underlying factors leading to this remarkable decrease of resistance over time.

Cancer Health Literacy and Its Correlated Factors in the United Arab Emirates-A Cross Sectional Study.

Cancer Health literacy (CHL) is the health literacy related to cancer knowledge, prevention, treatment, screening, and access to services. It is an important indicator of people's adherence to screening and preventive measures, which helps to reduce the incidence and prevalence of cancer. The study assessed the CHL level and its association with relevant socio-demographic characteristics and sources of information among primary health care patients and visitors in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). A cross-sectional study recruited survey participants who consented to respond to an interviewer-administered questionnaire. The assessment of CHL was done by using 15 questions. CHL level was measured as a median score and also categorized as poor/inadequate, moderate, good/excellent. Nominal logistic regression was used to analyze the relationship between CHL categories and participants' sociodemographic characteristics and CHL sources of information. Of the total 492 participants, 45.5% were young adults (30-39years old), 32.9% were males, and 70.8% were UAE nationals. The overall median CHL score was 8.0 (IQR = 5.0-10). 33.7% of the participants had a poor/inadequate level of CHL, 49.6% had a moderate level and 16.7% had a good to excellent level of CHL. 76.9% of the participants knew the importance of early cancer screening tests, 72.7% acknowledged the metastatic capacity of cancer, and the protective factors of cancer, especially, in colon cancer (71.7%). A high proportion of participants received health information about cancer via the internet (50.7%), television (45.3%), social media (40.2%), and doctors (43.6%). Nationality other than UAE (aOR = 1.62, 95% CI = 1.03-2.56, P = .038), having university education (aOR = 2.20, 95% CI = 1.21-3.99, P = .010) compared to those with lower than high school, and having a family history of cancer (aOR = 2.42, 95% CI = 1.33-4.41, P = .004) were positively associated with CHL. Older age (aOR = .36, 95% CI = .17-.75, P = .007 for 50-59 years, and aOR = .29, 95% CI = .11-.82, P = .019) for 60-69 years, higher-income (aOR = .57, 95% CI = .33-.99, P = .047 for 10,000-19,999 AED; aOR = .53, 95% CI = .33-.88, P = .013 for ≥20,000) compared with those earning <10,000 AED were negatively associated with CHL. CHL among the resident UAE population was moderately adequate, therefore implementation of awareness campaigns seems to be warranted. Moreover, evaluation research targeting the CHL impact on cancer prevention practices and screening is also advocated.

Energy deposition responses, transmission factors, and radiation interaction properties of some antibiotics: A critical assessment for substantial molecular alterations as a function of radiationexposure

This study addresses the underexplored area of radiation interaction properties of antibiotics and their implications for stability, efficacy, and structural integrity. Focusing on a range of antibiotics classified by the United Arab Emirates National AMR Surveillance system, the research evaluates key metrics such as attenuation coefficients, effective electron density, exposure buildup factor, and photon transmission factors. Utilizing advanced MCNPX Monte Carlo simulation, we observed varied interaction patterns among different antibiotics, with significant findings on their photon interaction characteristics. The study highlights the potential molecular changes in antibiotics due to radiation exposure, emphasizing the importance of such research in fields from medical radiography to space exploration. Results indicate that radiation exposure can significantly affect antibiotic properties, underscoring the need for careful evaluation of drugs in radiation-rich environments to ensure their effectiveness and safety.

Evolving trends among Pseudomonas aeruginosa: a 12-year retrospective study from the United Arab Emirates.

Pseudomonas is a group of ubiquitous non-fermenting Gram-negative bacteria (NFGNB). Of the several species associated with humans, Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA) can acclimate to diverse environments. The global frequency of PA infections is rising and is complicated by this organism's high intrinsic and acquired resistance to several clinically relevant antibiotics. Data on the epidemiology, levels, and trends of antimicrobial resistance of PA in clinical settings in the MENA/GCC region is scarce. A retrospective 12-year analysis of 56,618 non-duplicate diagnostic Pseudomonas spp. from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) was conducted. Data was generated at 317 surveillance sites by routine patient care during 2010-2021, collected by trained personnel and reported by participating surveillance sites to the UAE National antimicrobial resistance (AMR) Surveillance program. Data analysis was conducted with WHONET (https://whonet.org/). Among the total isolates (N = 56,618), the majority were PA (95.6%). Data on nationality revealed 44.1% were UAE nationals. Most isolates were from soft tissue (55.7%), followed by respiratory tract (26.7%). PA was more commonly found among inpatients than among outpatients, followed by ICUs. PA showed a horizontal trend for resistance to fluoroquinolones, 3rd- and 4th-generation cephalosporins, and decreasing trends of resistance for aminoglycosides and meropenem. The highest percentage of multidrug resistant (MDR) isolates was reported in 2011 at 35.6%. As an overall trend, the percentage of MDR, extensively drug-resistant (XDR), and possible pandrug-resistant (PDR) isolates generally declined over the study period. Carbapenem-resistant PA (CRPA) were associated with a higher mortality (RR: 2.7), increased admission to ICU (RR: 2.3), and increased length of stay (LOS) (12 excess inpatient days per case), as compared to carbapenem-susceptible PA (CSPA). The resistance trends in Pseudomonas species in the UAE indicated a decline in AMR and in percentages of Pseudomonas isolates with MDR and XDR profiles. The sustained Pseudomonas spp. circulation particularly in the hospital settings highlights the importance of surveillance techniques, infection control strategies, and stewardship to limit the continued dissemination. This data also shows that CRPA are associated with higher mortality, increased ICU admission rates, and a longer hospitalization, thus higher costs due to increased number of in-hospital and ICU days.

Epidemiology of vancomycin-resistant enterococci in the United Arab Emirates: a retrospective analysis of 12 years of national AMR surveillance data.

Enterococci are usually low pathogenic, but can cause invasive disease under certain circumstances, including urinary tract infections, bacteremia, endocarditis, and meningitis, and are associated with peritonitis and intra-abdominal abscesses. Increasing resistance of enterococci to glycopeptides and fluoroquinolones, and high-level resistance to aminoglycosides is a concern. National antimicrobial resistance (AMR) surveillance data for enterococci from the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) and the Gulf region is scarce. A retrospective 12-year analysis of N = 37,909 non-duplicate diagnostic Enterococcus spp. isolates from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) was conducted. Data was generated by routine patient care during 2010-2021, collected by trained personnel and reported by participating surveillance sites to the UAE National AMR Surveillance program. Data analysis was conducted with WHONET. Enterococcus faecalis was the most commonly reported species (81.5%), followed by Enterococcus faecium (8.5%), and other enterococci species (4.8%). Phenotypically vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) were found in 1.8% of Enterococcus spp. isolates. Prevalence of VRE (%VRE) was highest for E. faecium (8.1%), followed by E. faecalis (0.9%). A significant level of resistance to glycopeptides (%VRE) for these two species has been observed in the majority of observed years [E. faecalis (0-2.2%), 2010: 0%, 2021: 0.6%] and E. faecium (0-14.2%, 2010: 0%, 2021: 5.8%). Resistance to fluoroquinolones was between 17 and 29% (E. faecalis) and was higher for E. faecium (between 42 and 83%). VRE were associated with higher patient mortality (RR: 2.97), admission to intensive care units (RR: 2.25), and increased length of stay (six excess inpatient days per VRE case), as compared to vancomycin-susceptible Enterococcus spp. Published data on Enterococcus infections, in particular VRE-infections, in the UAE and MENA region is scarce. Our data demonstrates that VRE-enterococci are relatively rare in the UAE, however showing an increasing resistance trend for several clinically important antibiotic classes, causing a concern for the treatment of serious infections caused by enterococci. This study also demonstrates that VRE were associated with higher mortality, increased intensive care unit admission rates, and longer hospitalization, thus poorer clinical outcome and higher associated costs in the UAE. We recommend the expansion of current surveillance techniques (e.g., local VRE screening), stricter infection prevention and control strategies, and better stewardship interventions. Further studies on the molecular epidemiology of enterococci are needed.

Enterprise Content Management system implementation: Insights from the National Library and Archives of UAE

This study aims to elucidate the key elements that contribute to the successful execution of an Enterprise Content Management (ECM) system. The insights provided are based on the experiences of professionals at the National Library and Archives of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) during their ECM implementation. An interpretive philosophical model, along with qualitative methodologies such as interviews and focus group discussions were employed for data collection. The participants included professionals from the UAE's National Library and Archives who played a significant role in the ECM system's implementation. A thorough review of relevant literature was also carried out to validate and reinforce the viewpoints obtained from the interviewees and focus group participants. The study discovered that comprehensive business needs assessment, detailed research, system compatibility, clarity of policies, and effective change management are vital for the successful roll-out of an ECM system. However, it's worth noting that the proposed implementation model offered in this study may not be all-encompassing. The insights shared are limited to the experiences of one archival institution, and the literature consulted may not cover all existing viewpoints. Despite these limitations, this research provides essential guidance, particularly to national archival institutions contemplating the adoption of ECM systems. It underlines the importance of ECM in effectively managing an organization's structured and unstructured data and emphasizes the need for due diligence during ECM implementation. Further research is recommended to explore the advantages arising from the successful implementation of an ECM system.

Sphingomonas Paucimobilis Bacteremia in a Patient with Major Burns Injury: A Case Report

Background:: Sphingomonas paucimobilis is an emerging opportunistic pathogen associated with hospital and community-acquired infections. Infection is the most common cause of morbidity and mortality in burn patients. Case Presentation:: We present a case of a 29-year-old lady who sustained severe burn injuries after a gas explosion at home. She was admitted to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) National Burns Unit and required several episodes of surgical debridement. She developed S. paucimobilis bloodstream infection whilst being treated with Piperacillin-tazobactam. She was subsequently treated with Meropenem for a total of 7 days after removing the source of infection, an infected central line. The S. paucimobilis isolate showed intermediate resistance to Piperacillin-tazobactam. Conclusion:: Numerous case reports indicate high morbidity in patients with life-threatening S. paucimobilis infections, immunocompromised patients, and patients with underlying medical comorbidity; however, this is the first reported case from the UAE.

The United Arab Emirates approach towards international space law: Divergence or convergence?

In recent years, new space actors have entered the field of space activities with great enthusiasm. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is one of these newcomers investing in this domain with a broad prospect based on a specific strategy and policy. Accordingly, in 2019, the UAE developed a legal framework to govern diverse space activities in line with its strategy and policy. This Law covers many challenging and complex items that have long been on the agenda of the Legal Subcommittee of the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space. This article aims to investigate the UAE National Space Law to bring to light the extent to which they are moving in line with the existing principles of international space law. Firstly, the Law, among other national legislation, will be assessed to determine whether it reshapes or reflects the existing international space law. Secondly, the key provisions of the Law will be highlighted and analyzed. The final part will discuss the correlation of this Law with the concept of NewSpace. In conclusion, the author will highlight the importance of multilateralism and collective decision-making processes in developing international space law principles.

Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus Clinical Profile and Follow-up: North Emirate Hospitals’ Experience

Background: Type 1 Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a chronic metabolic disorder in children and adolescents due to insulin deficiency. The disease is more common below 19 years of age with two peaks of incidence, one at 4-6 years and the other peak at early puberty (10-14 years). There is a gradual increase in the incidence of type 1 DM and a rise in incidence at 10,200 cases per year in the Middle East. Chronic type-1 diabetic patients develop microvascular and macrovascular complications. Methods: The present retrospective cross-sectional study aims to describe the experience on the clinical profile, morbidity profile, and comorbidities of Type1 DM in children below 15 years of age admitted to the SAQR and Fujairah hospitals in the Northern part of United Arab Emirates (UAE) from 1st January 2017 to 31st December 2019. The study material was the digital medical records of children below 15 years who got admitted to emergency and pediatric wards with type 1 Diabetes mellitus (T1DM) in SAQR and Fujairah hospitals. Results: Total admissions during the study period were 98. At the time of diagnosis, 12.2% of children were below five years of age, whereas 87.75% were more than five years. All 98 children were UAE nationals, of which 52% were males and 48% were females. 50% of our study population has a strong family history of either type 1 or type 2 diabetes mellitus, of which 12.2% of siblings of the study population had T1DM. The first symptoms in 58% and 57% of children were polyuria and polydipsia. Among 90 % of children under follow-up for three years, one child developed microalbuminuria, three developed systolic hypertension, and 8% were lost to follow-up. Conclusions: The present study highlights the need for future prospective studies in the UAE to know the actual burden of the disease with an emphasis on early screening.

How having job impact leads to employee innovative behavior: a moderated mediation model of servant leadership and work meaningfulness

PurposeProsocial job characteristics have received the least scholarly attention among the antecedents of employee innovative work behavior (IWB). Hence, antecedents' role remains largely unknown, especially in public sector organizations. Based on the relational job design theory, job characteristics theory (JCT) and public sector innovation literature, the authors examine whether job impact (JI) promotes public sector employees' IWB mediated by work meaningfulness (WM). This study also assesses whether servant leadership (SL) strengthens the influence of JI on IWB (via WM).Design/methodology/approachThe model was examined on a sample of 180 employee-supervisor dyads (90 supervisors and 180 employees) recruited from various government departments in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).FindingsThe finding supports the proposed moderated mediation model in which JI enhances IWB. The association between JI and innovative behavior via WM is found to be stronger under high SL behavior.Originality/valueThe authors' findings offer prescriptive insights into SL's crucial role in illustrating when and how JI promotes IWB and offer relevant managerial recommendations for encouraging public sector employees to demonstrate innovative behavior. The authors also provide empirical evidence on the significant contribution of a prosocial job characteristic, i.e. JI, to IWB. In addition to having theoretical and practical significance, the authors' study is aligned with the UAE National Innovation Strategy 2015.

UNCONSUMED FOOD CONCERNS: THE CASE OF THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES

The article identifies factors influencing consumer attitudes with regard to unconsumed food in the wealthy economy of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), where the vast majority of the population are transient residents. The estimated regression coefficients were used to calculate the marginal effects, which measure change in probability of attitude towards the unconsumed food. The study applied the survey data collected from 1,542 UAE residents. The respondents included individuals representing 70 nationalities – transient residents of the UAE, mostly Filipinos (26%) and citizens of India (20%), and the UAE nationals (11%). Results show that persons showing most frequently concern about unconsumed food are women, older, college educated, and high income. Additionally, those concerned were also the long-term residents of the UAE as well as the supporters of investment in renewable energy. The sole factor that was associated with lower probability of being concerned about unconsumed food was the number of owned cars (on average 2.7 cars per household).

Analysis of the United Arab Emirates' contribution to the sustainable development goals with a focus on global health and climate change

PurposeThe world is confronted by various current development challenges, including global health security and climate change. The rapid growth of these challenges warned all nations regardless of their development or geographical position. As an emerging international power, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) was among these nations and is viewed as a proactive key actor.Design/methodology/approachThis review was conducted as a thematic synthesis from 27 studies, reports and publications along with authors' insights. Using MS Word and Excel programs, three stages of data exploration, extraction and synthesis and analysis were applied. Data gathering, analysis and thematization and compilation.FindingsThe UAE is giving significant attention to global health and climate change. Over the past 20 years, multipolicies, strategies and bodies were developed to lead the national, regional and global SDGs. Global health and climate change became the most two notable priorities on the government agenda and its strategic thinking is that both priorities can no longer be overlooked. Nationally, the UAE has made significant economic, scientific, social and health growth. Building a resilient and world-class healthcare system was one of six national priorities of the achieved UAE National Agenda 2021. Globally, UAE has proved its global health leadership by ensuring lasting and collective multilateral partnerships and collaborations that led to remarkable achievements in global health and climate change. Examples on the global scale: partnership with the World Health Organization (WHO) to target billions of people of the world's population and ensure they get Universal Healthcare Coverage (UHC) without financial hardship, the partnership between UAE and Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to establish the Global Institute for Disease Elimination (GLIDE) to fight diseases and put an end to polio. Additionally, the state's role in the COVID-19 global efforts such as vaccine development, supply chain and distribution targeted low- and middle-income countries (LMIC). The UAE has shown a constant commitment to climate change mitigation and building a sustainable ecosystem by hosting global organizations, leading initiatives, supporting countries and is now organizing the 28th Conference of the Parties (COP28) this year. Great opportunities can be exploited to promote the country's contributions through further investment in cooperation, research and technology for better knowledge, sound policies, and innovative solutions for all regional and global health and climate change challenges. Originality/valueThis review is a fresh evidence-synthesizing attempt to document the role of the UAE. This role is well placed to play an additional major role with all partners to address these pressing challenges by boosting its role, especially in the Middle East region and advancing a new regional-oriented revolutionary expanded developmental plan that centered on low-resource countries empowerment, multilateralism, intersectionality and lasting collaborations.

United Arab Emirates: Recent Developments in the Protection of the Rights of Migrant Workers and of Women

Abstract This survey reviews some of the key legislative and executive measures of the government of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in the year 2021–2022, which have relevance to mainly the rights of the migrant workers. Further, and in less detail, this survey also refers to some of the developments pertinent to the rights of women living in the UAE. However, more generally these rights are less relevant to women who are not UAE nationals. The UAE is a member country of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and a federal state comprising seven emirates namely, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Dubai, Umm Al Quwain, Ras Al Khaimah and Fujairah. The GCC comprises six states in the Arab-Gulf region: Oman, Bahrain, the UAE, Kuwait, Qatar and Saudi Arabia. These oil-producing states have a significant proportion of foreign workforce in the population. Foreign workers work mostly in the private sector and are also residents in the host countries. At 88.1 per cent, the UAE has the highest proportion of migrants in its population among the GCC members (UN DESA, 2020). Therefore, a broader spectrum of governments’ measures relating to the issues like labour, entry and residence, and ownership of property or business touch the lives of the foreign/migrant workers or expatriates in the Gulf country. Governments’ initiatives targeting domestic workers are relevant also for women because they comprise the majority in this group. The survey notes that most of the governmental activity in the Emirates in the past year largely concern new laws or amendments of the existing legislation and regulations linked to labour and residency matters. Some of the more relevant ones that the survey has selected here confirms this. It also marks the period post the pandemic, which had posed considerable economic challenge for the government. Hence, as also some neighbouring Gulf countries, the UAE has shown a balance of measures. On the one hand, to revive its economic dynamism and competitiveness, measures have been taken aimed at facilitating more ease and benefits to attract and retain foreign labour and investment in the country. On the other hand, measures have been taken that expressly favour the national workforce in order to boost their more active participation in the labour market and to support increased nationalisation efforts. The UAE government’s expansion and the introduction of new residence and entry visas, unified rules of labour, and the Abu Dhabi government’s initiative with separate personal status law for non-Muslim foreigners in the emirate are a few notable highlights. The survey has essentially drawn on the government’s documents and announcements as available in English or translated text, in addition to information in the press and other relevant sources.