The UAE continues to demonstrate strong vitality and resilience, with people confident in their ability to adapt to change, recover from setbacks and stay committed at work, according to the Cigna International Health Study 2026.
Seven in 10 UAE respondents say they can adapt to change, while 69% say they bounce back after illness, injury or other hardship—both above their respective global averages. Family remains a vital source of strength, with family well-being the UAE’s highest-rated pillar at 71%.
The study, which surveyed 1,000 people across the UAE, found that the vitality score rose to 73.8 from 73.3 last year, while overall well-being held steady at 70%. The vitality index gives a comprehensive measure of people’s capacity to pursue life with health, strength, and energy.
While the overall picture remains positive, the findings also point to continued pressure on well-being. Stress affected 82% of respondents, although this is down two percentage points from last year, with the pressure particularly evident among younger adults.
Ms Leah Cotterill, CEO, Cigna Healthcare Middle East and Africa (outside KSA), said, “The priority now is to sustain that resilience over the long term. Well-being needs vary across generations and stages of life, and understanding those differences will be essential to ensuring people have the right support to stay healthy and thrive.”
Employee commitment remains high
That resilience is also evident in the workplace. More than three-quarters (76%) say they are willing to work harder to help their organisation succeed, while 72% remain enthusiastic about their jobs.
Yet the wider picture of workplace well-being is more mixed. Workplace well-being stands at 52%, down three percentage points from last year, while 60% say their mental health has affected how they work. Fewer than half (49%) feel understood by their immediate manager, down five percentage points.
These findings reinforce the need to consider well-being alongside performance and engagement. Employees can remain highly committed while under pressure, making it increasingly important for managers to recognise changing needs and connect people with the right support.
Mental well-being emerges as a top priority for younger adults
The changing needs of younger adults are particularly clear in the growing importance they place on mental well-being. For 18 to 24-year-olds, mental well-being is now their top health priority, with 40% identifying it as the area they most want to improve, up 15 percentage points from last year.
This growing focus reflects a more mixed experience for younger adults across several areas of life. Their vitality score fell 4.6 points to 66.6—the only demographic group to record a decline—while mental well-being dropped 11 percentage points to 46%. Financial and workplace well-being also declined, and almost three-quarters (74%) say their mental health has affected how they work.
However, this growing priority has not translated into greater use of formal support: only 6% of people aged 18 to 24 received counselling or therapy in the past year.
The findings underline the importance of understanding what younger adults need as they establish themselves in the workforce, including how they access support and the role employers and managers can play in helping them stay well.
Cigna Healthcare International Health Study
Cigna Healthcare surveyed more than 12,000 respondents in 13 markets – the US, UK, Spain, Netherlands, Belgium, Switzerland, Kenya, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Hong Kong, Japan and South Korea, from 3 to 26 July, 2026, in collaboration with YouGov – a global public opinion and data company. The nationally representative online survey assessed the health, vitality and well-being of 1,000 adults (aged 18 years and older) in each of the markets – the US, UK, Spain, UAE, Singapore, Hong Kong, Japan, and South Korea, 750 in Saudi Arabia, and 500 adults per market in Kenya, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Switzerland.