
MoHAP launches 'Hajj Safely' to support pilgrims at UAE's airports
ABU DHABI (ALETIHAD)The Ministry of Health and Prevention (MoHAP) has launched the 'Hajj Safely' campaign to support pilgrims travelling to perform Hajj from the UAE's airports. In a post on its official X account, the ministry said: "For a safe and healthy Hajj', we have provided support at the country's airports to pilgrims before the start of their journey, offering health and safety guidelines and conducting medical examinations. We wish all pilgrims an easy and safe journey, beginning with prevention and ending with health and wellbeing."
The ministry offered health and safety guidelines to educate the pilgrims before travelling and administered the necessary medical examinations.
For a 'safe and healthy Hajj', we provided support at the country's airports to pilgrims before the start of their journey, offering health and safety guidelines and conducting medical examinations.
We wish all pilgrims an easy and safe journey, beginning with prevention and… pic.twitter.com/WyOyVAyVaW — وزارة الصحة ووقاية المجتمع - MOHAP UAE (@mohapuae) June 3, 2025
Source: Aletihad - Abu Dhabi

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Al Etihad
3 hours ago
- Al Etihad
Brand Dubai, General Directorate of Identity and Foreigners Affairs partner to highlight Dubai's summertime attractions
25 July 2025 17:01 DUBAI (ALETIHAD)Dialling up the excitement surrounding the #DubaiDestinations summer campaign, Brand Dubai, the creative arm of the Government of Dubai Media Office, has partnered with the General Directorate of Identity and Foreigners Affairs in Dubai to highlight the very best of Dubai's summertime experiences for part of the initiative, people approaching the General Directorate of Identity and Foreigners Affairs will be greeted with souvenir 'passports' introducing them to the city's myriad summer experiences in an engaging and fun a QR code provided in the passport, visitors can tap into the Dubai Destinations website to access interactive guides and curated itineraries designed to help them explore Dubai through the to go online on July 24, the activation is part of wider efforts to promote Dubai's diverse tourism offerings and enhance the overall visitor experience, aligning with Brand Dubai's commitment to showcasing the city's notable attractions and multicultural milieu. The unique initiative is expected to enable thousands of residents and visitors to make the most of their Dubai sojourns with their families and loved ones. For more details and related content, visit @BrandDubai on Instagram and #DubaiDestinations.


Al Etihad
a day ago
- Al Etihad
7,000 steps a day may be enough for major health gains: Lancet study
24 July 2025 08:00 A. SREENIVASA REDDY (ABU DHABI)For years, the widely held belief has been that taking 10,000 steps a day is essential to reap the full health benefits of walking. But a new study offers encouraging news for those who find that goal out of reach: walking around 7,000 steps a day may be enough to significantly lower the risk of chronic diseases, cognitive decline, and premature in The Lancet Public Health journal, the comprehensive study analysed data from over 160,000 adults across 57 studies, with 31 included in meta-analyses. It provides the most robust evidence to date linking daily step counts to a wide range of health findings reveal that walking approximately 7,000 steps per day is associated with a 47% reduction in all-cause mortality. It also corresponds to a 25% lower risk of cardiovascular disease, a 6% drop in cancer risk, and a 14% reduction in the likelihood of developing type 2 diabetes. Furthermore, it found a 38% decrease in dementia risk, a 22% reduction in depression, and a 28% fall in the risk of physical earlier studies that primarily focused on heart disease or death rates, this research examined the impact of walking on multiple serious health conditions. While benefits continued to rise beyond 7,000 steps for some outcomes, such as heart disease, most health gains levelled off around that authors suggest that 7,000 steps a day may be a more realistic and attainable goal than the popular but unofficial 10,000-step target, especially for people who are less active. Even relatively low levels of walking—such as 4,000 steps per day—were found to offer better health outcomes compared to sedentary lifestyles, typically defined as fewer than 2,000 steps a day. Aletihad spoke to UAE-based doctors to gather their views on the findings. 'Walking is one of the simplest yet most powerful tools we have to protect our health,' said Dr. Shahzad Moorkkan Ubaidulla, Specialist Family Medicine at Aster Clinic, Al Nahda, cautioned against treating step goals as a one-size-fits-all metric. 'A young, active adult might aim for 8,000 to 10,000 steps daily, while older adults, individuals with joint issues, or those with heart or lung conditions may benefit more from starting at 3,000 to 5,000 steps and building up gradually,' he said. Such personalised targets, he added, help prevent injury, avoid discouragement, and ensure the activity is safe and Ubaidulla noted that many people accumulate steps incidentally throughout the day. 'Standing up every 30 to 60 minutes during work, taking the stairs, parking farther away, or pacing during phone calls are practical ways to increase step count. These small changes also reduce joint stiffness,' he said.'Even modest increases in daily activity can significantly improve energy levels, reduce fatigue, and support joint health over time,' he Virendra Kumar Misra, Head of the Department of Cardiology at Burjeel Day Surgery Centre, Al Reem Island, Abu Dhabi, echoed the study's emphasis on achievable goals.'Any kind of physical activity is protective when compared to no activity. However, the question has always been: how much is enough?' he said.'Guidelines from the American College of Cardiology, the American Heart Association (AHA), and the European Society of Cardiology recommend 150 minutes per week of moderate-intensity aerobic activity as protective.'Dr. Misra affirmed the relevance of the 7,000-step target. 'The risk of heart attack and stroke is reduced. Blood pressure and blood sugar levels are better controlled, and there is significant improvement in stress, anxiety, and cognitive function,' he Khuloud Al Zubaidi, Specialist Family Medicine at Burjeel Day Surgery Centre, also welcomed the findings. 'At a time when fitness can often feel complicated or inaccessible, it's encouraging to see that a basic daily habit can reduce the risk of chronic diseases, cognitive decline, and even premature death,' she said. 'It serves as a powerful reminder that prevention doesn't have to be complex — small steps can lead to big health gains.'While the UK's National Health Service (NHS) does not recommend step targets based on age, it generally advises aiming for around 10,000 steps daily. 'However, recent studies suggest a 'sweet spot' between 6,000 and 10,000 steps to improve longevity and reduce health risks,' Dr. Zubaidi said'For older adults over the age of 65, especially those with mobility limitations, 6,000 to 8,000 steps may be a more realistic and beneficial target,' she Sreeram Gopalakrishnan, Specialist Cardiologist at Aster Clinic, Al Muteena, Deira, Dubai, stressed the importance of consistency.'Regular physical activity that elevates the heart rate, when performed consistently throughout the day, has been shown to reduce the incidence of heart attacks and strokes,' he also warned about the dangers of sedentary lifestyles. 'Prolonged sitting is associated with increased risks of heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and even mortality,' he said.'The AHA therefore recommends reducing sedentary time and incorporating more physical activity into daily routines to mitigate these risks.''Walking 7,000 steps a day, although not ideal, can be considered a minimum benchmark, as the study shows it correlates with a 70% lower risk of mortality compared to 4,000 steps,' he added.'Importantly, 7,000 steps is a sustainable goal for many people with sedentary jobs or older adults. While 10,000 steps may offer additional benefits, it is often harder to maintain. Individuals with arthritis, heart conditions, or those recovering from illness will need customised plans that include short bursts of walking spread throughout the day,' Dr. Gopalakrishnan on the origins of the 10,000-step goal, Dr. Yasir Shafi, Homeopathy Practitioner at Wellth, Dubai, said the figure was not scientifically grounded. 'The idea that 10,000 steps a day is the gold standard was never rooted in clinical science — it originated from a Japanese marketing campaign in the 1960s. This new research challenges that cultural myth and presents a more nuanced, evidence-based benchmark,' he said.'What the data consistently shows is that you don't need to be an athlete to benefit from physical activity. Even modest daily movement — in this case, 6,000 to 8,000 steps — can be beneficial,' he Shafi emphasised that the shift from 10,000 to 7,000 steps is not just a numbers game but a move towards realistic, sustainable behaviour change. 'For many individuals — especially older adults, people recovering from illness, or those with sedentary jobs — achieving 10,000 steps a day can feel discouragingly out of reach,' he said. 'Rather than promoting a universal target, step goals should be seen as adaptive frameworks that evolve according to a person's health status, motivation, and physical capacity.' 'This study is not about lowering the bar — it's about redefining success in a way that aligns with human behaviour, clinical science, and long-term adherence,' Dr. Shafi concluded.


Al Etihad
2 days ago
- Al Etihad
Following the approval of the Education, Human Development and Community Development Council, Ministry of Education unveils new school calendar for Academic Year 2025-2026
23 July 2025 20:00 DUBAI (ALETIHAD)With the approval of the Education, Human Development and Community Development Council, the Ministry of Education (MoE) has announced a new school calendar for public and private schools across the UAE, effective for academic year new school calendar sets unified dates for the start of the Academic Year, end of the three terms and end of term breaks. The calendar applies to all public and private schools updates aim to support family cohesion and provide a balanced learning environment in line with the goals of the 'Year of Community'.Following the #Education, Human Development and Community Development Council's approval, Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research unveils new calendar for #university #academic year 2025-2026 Read more: Al Amiri, Minister of Education, highlighted that the new school calendar marks a qualitative shift in managing the academic year, aligning with the Ministry's national approach to achieving the goals of the 'Year of Community' by creating a more balanced and socially connected educational Amiri added that the calendar now serves as a strategic national tool, reinforcing both educational quality and social cohesion. She also noted that consistent holiday dates will enable community, cultural and tourism entities to align their programmes with the academic schedule, strengthening the link between education and of the calendar begins on 25th August 2025, marking the start of the academic year 2025-2026. The first term will end with a four-week winter break from 8th December 2025 to 4th January 2026, with schools resuming on 5th January 2026. This extended break offers students time to recharge after an intensive term and engage in national and community second term runs from 5th January 2026 through 15th March 2026, followed by a spring break from 16th to 29th March 2026. Schools resume on 30th March 2026, except for private schools in Sharjah, which return on 23rd March third term starts on 30th March 2026 and ends on 3rd July 2026, except in Sharjah, where it ends on 2nd July 2026. The schedule ensures a balanced academic year that supports learning and student new calendar introduces mid-term breaks for public and private schools following the government's curriculum, offering regular short breaks to ease academic pressure. The first mid-term break runs from 13th to 19th October 2025, an early pause during the longest term. The second break falls between 11th and 15th February 2026, offering students a mid-term recharge. The third break is scheduled from 25th to 31st May 2026, aligning with the Eid Al Adha holiday. These short breaks aim to support students' well-being and strengthen family time throughout the academic Ministry has allowed private schools that do not follow the government's curriculum to schedule mid-term breaks in October and February, with each break not exceeding five consecutive days. These breaks must remain within the specified months and cannot be extended or shifted, ensuring alignment with the national calendar while accommodating schools' operational MoE stressed that all schools must follow the approved calendar, including holding final assessments or completing curriculum requirements in the last week of each term, to ensure students attend until the last school day. This excludes grades taking pre-scheduled international exams. It also emphasised that private schools following the government's curriculum must adhere to the centralised test calendar used in public schools.