Beauty

UAE: How a new app will boost menopause support in Arab world including in conflict zones

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On March 5, 2025

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Women in the Arab world, especially those in war zones, can soon have all their queries related to menopause and other health issues answered, thanks to a UAE-based app. Nawat, which was launched as a website last year, is now rolling out the app that will also offer medical support.

The brainchild of public health expert and sex educator Noor Jaber, the app operates across all countries in the Arab world, including in three regional conflict zones, and its priority is to give “judgement-free zones” to women.

“It is a place where women can access educational programmes in English and Arabic on different topics, ranging from menstruation to menopause and sexuality,” said Noor. “We have also integrated aspects of social services on it, so women who need psychological support can get it. They can directly access the app, which will be available for download by the end of the month.”

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Nawat was one of six startup companies pitching to win the innovate 4 health challenge, launched by medical device company Abbott in collaboration with startup accelerator Plug and Play. Bringing together some of the brightest ideas in health tech, the challenge focuses on three areas — menopause, vertigo and health misinformation.

How it works

Women can visit the website of Nawat and access the programmes offered or book consultations with experts. The app and website have options for complete anonymity and is open to women of all ages. “We’re offering free 30-minute consultations on mental health, sexuality and other topics. They can reach out and we direct them to the best person to offer them the support they’re looking for.”

It currently has ten specialists from across the Arab region helping women with a variety of topics. “The most important thing is that they speak Arabic, and they understand the culture,” she said. “Because the services we offer are quite sensitive, so they need to have a cultural understanding. Some are already offering services, some we’re developing the programs with.

She said women approached them with queries about several topics “which are not really addressed in public spaces” including partnerships, problems with painful sexual intercourse, and support in female genital mutilation.

Helping women

According to Noor, Nawat has been working with local organisations and communities in regional war zone areas, and testing the app with them with the help of Oxfam.

“Right now, we have a pilot programme that we’re running with 100 women, divided across three countries,” she said. “We’ve tested the design of the platform and the language that we’re using, because language plays a big bias. So they have been telling us exactly the words that would work for them to be able to feel comfortable accessing those services.”

She added that as part of the programme, the women were receiving “subsidised services” from the organization when it came to social services. “They can also benefit from all the other services that we offer,” she said. “The programme ends in May but we are looking into how to continue working and offering them the services.”

Increasing awareness

One of the judges on panel, Saudi-based gynecologist and obstetrician Dr. Hesham Arab, Director of Dr Arab Medical Center, said that menopause was one of the most important topics to address. “Our women continue to suffer in silence and they don’t find the right answer for their pain,” he said.

He added that there were many challenges to dealing with the issues of menopause and one of them was the stigma. “Women don’t open up and I think that is the real problem that we need to address,” he said. “The other thing is, availability of medications and treatment facilities. We also need lots of awareness. With the use of technology and these innovations, we can maybe improve on the awareness in menopause and other women’s health areas.”