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Apple Watch Gets UAE Approval For Sleep Apnea Detection

The UAE Ministry of Health and Prevention has given the green light to the feature which monitors interruptions in breathing patterns.

Published

3 months ago

October 25, 2024

Nour Nasir

Apple

Apple Watch users in the United Arab Emirates now have access to a new health feature designed to detect potential signs of moderate to severe sleep apnea after Apple secured marketing authorization from the UAE Ministry of Health and Prevention.

Sleep apnea is a serious condition where breathing is repeatedly interrupted during sleep, and often remains undiagnosed. Affecting an estimated one billion people globally, if untreated, sleep apnea can lead to health complications, including hypertension, Type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular issues.

This new detection feature utilizes the Apple Watch’s accelerometer to monitor wrist movements associated with interruptions in breathing. These “Breathing Disturbances” are analyzed by a specific Apple Watch metric, allowing users to view data in the Health app on their iPhone or iPad.

While occasional disturbances are normal, Apple’s monitoring focuses on patterns that occur frequently over multiple nights, as they may indicate sleep apnea. The app classifies breathing patterns as either elevated or not elevated, and users can track their breathing disturbance history over one-month, six-month, or one-year periods.

Also Read: How To Clean Your Apple Watch Like A Pro

Every 30 days, Apple’s system analyzes the accumulated data for signs of moderate to severe sleep apnea. If it identifies consistent patterns, the user receives a notification advising them to consult a healthcare provider. The notification includes an educational section about sleep apnea risks, as well as a PDF summary containing three months of relevant data, which users can share with their doctors for further discussion.

The Sleep Apnea Notification algorithm was developed with advanced machine learning and a large dataset of clinical sleep apnea studies. Apple validated the feature in an extensive clinical trial, one of the largest conducted for sleep apnea detection technology. In this study, each participant identified by the algorithm as having a breathing disturbance showed at least mild sleep apnea.

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News

Daleel Expands To UAE, Tapping Into $44B Finance Market

The Bahrain-based company offers a personalized financial marketplace with regional expansion supported by investors Flat6Labs and Salica.

Published

21 hours ago

January 20, 2025

Nour Nasir

daleel expands to uae tapping into $44 billion finance market

Daleel, a personalized financial marketplace originally founded in Bahrain, has officially entered the UAE market supported by notable investors, including Flat6Labs and Salica. Known for its ability to connect customers with tailored financial products, Daleel has gained significant traction in its home country, and the company is now eying the wider Middle East’s massive personal finance market, valued at an estimated $44.4 billion.

The platform’s UAE debut was hosted at Visa’s CEMEA Market Support Center in Dubai, marking another milestone for Daleel. The company gained regional attention when it clinched first place and $40,000 in funding at the 2023 Visa Everywhere Initiative finals in Saudi Arabia.

daleel expands to uae

Daleel’s expansion is supported by notable investors, including Flat6Labs and Salica. At the launch event, several key figures in the fintech and financial sectors were present, including Daleel’s co-founders, CEO PK Shrivastava and COO Ridaa Shah.

Reflecting on the launch, PK Shrivastava said, “Launching in the UAE is a landmark moment for the company, and we are pleased to do so alongside Visa, who have championed us from the start. There is a real demand across the region for personalized finance, and we believe this is the right time to expand our marketplace to connect more customers with the best financial solutions”.

Also Read: How (And Why) To Start A Tech Business In Dubai

Daleel’s team combines expertise in open banking, finance, and technology, which has enabled the company to refine its platform for the regional market. Their data-driven system is designed to quickly match customers with financial products, ranging from credit cards and mortgages to savings accounts, offering personalized options in seconds. This transparency and efficiency benefit consumers while providing financial institutions with more cost-effective ways to acquire customers and create data-informed products.

Looking ahead, Daleel plans to secure an open finance license in 2025, which will allow even deeper integration with financial institutions. The company’s ultimate goal is to build a financial ecosystem where decisions that used to take weeks can now be made in minutes, empowering users to achieve better financial outcomes.