Partnerships drive impactful health research at Abu Dhabi University
Researchers at Abu Dhabi University are investigating how digital tools can boost local well-being
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Haleama Al Sabbah, professor of public health nutrition at Abu Dhabi University (ADU), highlights collaboration as a key driver of scientific rigour and real-world research impact, emphasising its importance in advancing health research.
Al Sabbah’s work focuses on understanding the determinants of health-related behaviours and developing evidence-based strategies to improve population well-being. In particular, she investigates lifestyle-related diseases, maternal and child health, metabolic dysfunction, and nutrition-related public health challenges in the region.
ADU is a leading private university in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), with a commitment to excellence in public health education and applied research, emphasising local and regional health challenges. Global public health is a key priority for the UAE, which advocates for health-related issues on the worldwide stage.
At the same time, more than three-quarters of all deaths in the UAE are attributed to noncommunicable diseases, including cardiovascular diseases, cancer and diabetes. In response to this need, researchers at ADU are working to better understand these conditions and develop effective strategies for prevention and management within local communities.
“The UAE is witnessing rising rates of obesity, diabetes and metabolic disorders, driven largely by modifiable behaviours,” Al Sabbah says. Much of her research “integrates digital-health innovations, behavioural sciences, and community-based approaches to promote healthier lifestyles and inform policymaking”.
Smartphones and smartwatches can store large quantities of health data and serve as tools to encourage behavioural change and improve health outcomes. However, gaps remain in understanding which interventions are most effective and how they influence behaviour.
Al Sabbah and her colleagues are examining how digital health tools, such as mobile apps, wearables and artificial intelligence-informed platforms, can effectively influence lifestyle behaviours, including diet quality, physical activity, sleep, stress and chronic disease prevention.
The goal is to “generate actionable insights”, she says. “By understanding how digital tools shape daily choices and support sustained behaviour change, we can design more effective interventions that empower individuals to take charge of their health.” This sort of research is important because it supports the country’s national health priorities, enhances preventative care, and contributes to reducing long-term healthcare costs, she says.
Partnerships with government, industry, and fellow academics are vital in this type of research, she says. “Collaborations with government entities provide access to population-level data, ensure alignment with national health strategies, and facilitate the translation of research findings into policy and practice,” she says. Meanwhile, industry partnerships enable researchers to test digital health solutions in real-world settings and co-develop interventions tailored to community needs, she says.
Collaboration with other academic departments “enriches the research through multidisciplinary perspectives, including data science, behavioural psychology and health economics”, she says.
Looking ahead, Al Sabbah plans to expand her research by conducting longitudinal studies that examine the sustained impact of digital health tools on lifestyle behaviours and clinical outcomes. She aims to integrate AI and predictive analytics to personalise interventions and enhance user engagement.
In the future, she hopes to collaborate further with industry and government to “scale successful initiatives across diverse communities in the UAE”, she says.