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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.
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.
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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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Checkout.com Set To Launch Card Issuing In The UAE
The payment service provider’s expansion is a first-of-its-kind investment and could reshape digital transactions across the region.
Checkout.com is laying the groundwork to become the first global payments platform to introduce card issuing in the United Arab Emirates — a move that could reshape how businesses in the region manage financial transactions.
The company plans to roll out its domestic card issuance offering in the UAE by 2026, subject to regulatory approval. The launch would give businesses the tools to issue both physical and virtual branded cards. This, in turn, opens up new ways to reward customers, streamline expense processes, and handle B2B payouts efficiently.
Checkout.com’s CEO and Founder, Guillaume Pousaz, revealed the plans during Thrive Abu Dhabi, the firm’s debut conference in the Emirates. Joined on stage by Remo Giovanni Abbondandolo, General Manager for MENA, Pousaz presented to an audience of over 150 partners and merchants at Saadiyat Island. Also in attendance was H.E. Omar Sultan Al Olama, the UAE’s Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy, and Remote Work Applications.
Abbondandolo highlighted the strategic importance of the announcement: “As a global business, we focus on bringing products to markets that our customers want and need. Today’s announcement is proof of our commitment to the MENA region and its rising influence in the digital economy. The appetite for innovation here is real, and we’re proud to be building the infrastructure that powers it”.
One early adopter of Checkout.com’s UAE acquiring services is Headout, a travel experiences marketplace, which recently named the payment provider as its main partner in Europe. The company has already begun card issuing there and is keen to expand that offering into MENA once approval is granted.
The expansion of services in the UAE and beyond builds on Checkout.com’s track record in the region. It was the first global payments firm to secure a Retail Payment Services license from the UAE’s Central Bank and was instrumental in rolling out Mada and Apple Pay in both the UAE and Saudi Arabia.
Also Read: Protecting Your WhatsApp Account From Hackers: Kaspersky Expert Tips
The firm has also been rolling out new products: One of the latest is Flow Remember Me, currently in beta testing. It allows shoppers to store their card information once and access it across Checkout.com’s entire network, potentially cutting checkout times by up to 70%.
Earlier this year, Checkout.com also introduced Visa Direct’s Push-to-Card solution in the UAE, enabling both domestic and international payouts. Its collaboration with Mastercard has grown as well, making it easier for businesses to send funds directly to third-party cards securely and quickly.
With regional tech ambitions on the rise — spurred by initiatives like Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 and the UAE’s 2031 Agenda — Checkout.com sees its role as one of a key enabler. “Our mission is to help ambitious businesses navigate the complexity of payments, so they can move faster, go further, and make the most of every opportunity,” said Abbondandolo. “In MENA, performance is personal. It’s local. It’s built on trust. And when payments perform, businesses thrive”.
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