Global pharma giant Novo Nordisk has launched its Wegovy pill (semaglutide tablets) in the United Arab Emirates, making the West Asian country the first outside the US to offer the oral obesity treatment to obese people.

 

The move signals a major expansion in access to next-generation weight-loss therapies and broadens treatment options in a rapidly growing global obesity market.

 

“I am thrilled that Wegovy pill is now available in the UAE,” said Emil Kongshøj Larsen, executive vice president, International Operations at Novo Nordisk. 

 

“This launch represents an important milestone in our ambition to expand access to innovative obesity care globally. As we look to future launches, our approach will be guided by local patient demand, the readiness of healthcare professionals, and the strength of healthcare and telehealth infrastructure that can support long-term obesity care. 

 

"The UAE has demonstrated strong momentum across all of these areas, and we look forward to bringing Wegovy pill to additional select countries in the coming months.”

 

The Wegovy pill is the first oral glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist approved for weight management, with its approval backed by the OASIS 4 trial programme.

 

In that trial, oral semaglutide 25 mg taken once daily delivered striking results: “~17% mean weight loss when treatment was adhered to in adult participants with obesity or overweight with one or more comorbidities.” 

 

Researchers also found that “1 in 3 people experienced 20% or greater weight loss in the OASIS 4 trial.” The weight loss outcomes were reported to be comparable to injectable Wegovy 2.4 mg, while its established safety and tolerability profile remained consistent with earlier semaglutide studies.

 

Wegovy pill is also positioned as the only weight-loss pill approved by both the FDA and the Emirates Drug Establishment (EDE) to reduce the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), including heart attack and stroke, in adults with established cardiovascular disease and obesity or overweight.

 

The launch comes amid a global obesity crisis. Worldwide, an estimated 1 billion people are living with obesity. In the UAE alone, 28% of adults are affected, with projections suggesting nearly 7.5 million people will be living with obesity or overweight by 2035.

 

Novo Nordisk has said it plans to expand availability further, previously stating that it will launch Wegovy pill in select markets in the second half of 2026.