Women in the UAE sleep longer and more efficiently than men, according to ŌURA’s latest UAE sleep report. The study, based on data from ŌURA smart ring users, found that women average 7.07 hours of sleep per night, compared with 6.59 hours for men, and show stronger sleep efficiency and more consistent REM sleep patterns.
Night owl nation
The report also highlights the UAE as one of the world’s latest-to-bed, latest-to-rise countries. Residents typically sleep from 12:06 AM to 7:57 AM, and 6.67% of the population are late-evening chronotypes, nearly double the global average of 3%. Researchers say that aligning sleep patterns with natural circadian rhythms can help reduce health risks.
High sleep quality
Despite averaging slightly less sleep than the global norm of 7.1 hours, UAE residents show some of the world’s best sleep efficiency, at 85.7%. Measures such as REM sleep and deep sleep surpass countries like Finland, the United States, and the United Kingdom, and even outperform Japan in both quality and quantity metrics.
Insights from ŌURA
Doug Sweeny, CMO at ŌURA, said: “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. In a place where nights run late and productivity is a cultural norm, we’re seeing a nation work with the body’s natural circadian rhythms rather than against them. By understanding and respecting individual chronotypes—whether you peak early, later, or somewhere in between—UAE residents are tailoring their rest and activity for deeper, more restorative sleep.”
The report shows that UAE residents balance shorter sleep durations with high efficiency, offering insights into national sleep behaviors and strategies for improving overall health.
tanvir@dubainewsweek.com
