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UAE Users Sleep Less, But More Efficiently, ŌURA Data Reveals

UAE users of the ŌURA smart ring sleep less than peers in Europe, the US and Asia yet score among the world’s most efficient sleepers.

Published

7 months ago

January 15, 2026

Joanna Melki

uae users sleep less but more efficiently oura data reveals

ŌURA

UAE users of the ŌURA smart ring sleep less than peers in Europe, the US and Asia yet score among the world’s most efficient sleepers, according to new data from the Finnish wearable maker.

Members in the Emirates average 6.85 hours a night, just shy of the global 7.1-hour norm. Even so, they post an average sleep-efficiency score of 85.7%, outpacing markets including the US, UK, Finland and New Zealand. Sleep efficiency tracks how much of the time in bed counts as actual sleep.

doug sweeny oura chief marketing officer in dubai

The study points to a clear “night-owl” profile. Typical bedtimes land at 12:06 am and wake-ups at 7:57 am. ŌURA said the UAE holds the highest share of late-evening chronotypes in its sample at 6.67%, more than double the global rate.

Gender gaps also stand out. Women sleep nearly 30 minutes longer than men (7.07 vs 6.59 hours) and show slightly higher efficiency and more consistent REM patterns.

“Sleep quality is one of the most important indicators of long-term health, and the UAE is a standout example of protecting quality when life demands make quantity a challenge,” said Doug Sweeny, ŌURA’s chief marketing officer. He argued the country appears to be “working with the body’s natural circadian rhythms rather than against them”.

Also Read: OpenAI’s ChatGPT Health Is A Private Space For Health Data

For ŌURA, the promotion of its research coincides with a broader retail push in the Gulf region. The company’s fourth-generation smart ring — including a ceramic edition — is now sold through Amazon.ae, Virgin Megastore and Dubai Duty Free, starting at AED 1,599.

Wearables adoption in the UAE has picked up in recent years as governments in the Gulf steer preventative-health and digital tracking strategies. Sleep metrics have become a battleground for brands seeking consumers who care more about recovery than step counts.

Related Topics:HealthTech ŌURA United Arab Emirates

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Syria Just Got Its First Super App Featuring Built-In Digital Payments

Built by UAE-based Syrian founders with the Ministry of Tourism’s backing, My Syria lands as visitor numbers more than double.

Published

5 days ago

August 1, 2026

Nour Nasir

syria just got its first super app featuring built-in digital payments

For most of the past decade, paying for anything in Syria with an international card was effectively impossible. Sanctions, a collapsed banking sector, and years of isolation left the country running on cash. That is what makes the launch of My Syria — the country’s first super app — more than a routine product announcement.

Developed by 121 Living, a company founded by four UAE-based Syrian entrepreneurs — Rami Kaiem, Feras Kaiem, Waseem Qudmani, and Kinan Madi — the app launched in Damascus on July 30 under the patronage of Minister of Tourism Mazen Al-Salhani. It bundles hotels, restaurants, transport, attractions, food delivery, and other lifestyle services into a single platform, currently offering eight services with plans to expand to more than 40 verified tourism and hospitality providers across the country.

Although the app already sounds enticing, the headline feature is its built-in payments. My Syria is the first platform in Syria to support cross-border digital payments through Apple Pay, Google Pay, Visa, Mastercard, and American Express — familiar tools for international visitors, and a route into the digital economy for local businesses that have long operated outside it.

my syria super app launch event

The launch rides on a sharp rebound for the troubled country. Syria’s tourism sector recorded 3.52 million visitor arrivals in the first half of 2026, a 111 percent increase over the 1.67 million during the same period in 2025 — a mix of returning expatriates, regional visitors, and international tourists.

Also Read: This UAE Platform Wants To Replace Fashion Photo Shoots With AI

The Ministry of Tourism, which supported and supervised the app’s development, frames the launch as proof of concept for a wider strategy. “Digital transformation is one of the Ministry’s strategic priorities because it enables us to build a more competitive, connected and investment-ready tourism sector,” Al-Salhani said, inviting technology companies “globally, regionally and locally” to explore opportunities across the wider economy.

For 121 Living, this is phase one, with additional services and expanded geographic coverage planned. Whether a super app can flourish in a market still rebuilding its infrastructure is an open question, but for the first time in years, a visitor to Damascus can pay for dinner with their phone.