Masar's fourth phase

The fourth phase of Masar, launched in September and running until July 2026, aims to instil a culture of health among school-age children.  The programme targets students from grades 1 to 4, aged 6 to 9, and is supporting them through providing practical methodologies that help reduce obesity risks and support early prevention.

In addition to promoting healthy nutrition, the project also encourages physical activity and enhances health awareness and education within schools.

It also focuses on empowering families and improving the capabilities of teaching and nursing staff to guide and support students in adopting healthy lifestyles, besides fostering collaboration between schools and the community to create health-supportive environments that encourage positive habits to be embedded in future generations.

Significant achievements

Since its launch in 2022, Masar has achieved remarkable progress, with the number of participating schools increasing from 15 schools with 11,699 students in its first year up to 90 schools with 120,222 students in 2024.

The programme has also expanded its reach to include more schools across all Emirates of the UAE.  Indicators of monitoring and results analysis have shown a 15.2% increase in the number of students engaging in physical activity compared to that in the first phase, alongside a 12.8% decrease in students consuming high-sugar foods and a 28.9% reduction in the intake of fast food.

Additionally, the percentage of students eating vegetables increased by 8.2%, reflecting a broad and sustainable behavioural shift in the school environment.

Joint efforts

The Ministry of Health and Prevention is carrying out Masar programme in collaboration with the Ministry of Education and various educational authorities, such as the Sharjah Private Education Authority and the Knowledge and Human Development Authority, together with support from private sector sponsors.

Masar covers five interrelated themes: healthy nutrition, active living, healthy growth and weight management, mental and emotional health, and sleep and rest.

These themes are implemented through practical lesson plans, school-based activities, media campaigns, healthy cooking competitions, daily movement and play sessions, as well as initiatives to reduce unhealthy behaviours, monitor growth and body mass index, build resilience, manage stress, and promote regular sleep routines, all aimed at bridging the gap between knowledge and practice in schools and establishing sustainable healthy habits among students.

Role of school and recognition

Participating schools have implemented the programme by forming health task forces, integrating awareness content into lesson plans, and organising interactive activities under the supervision of school administrations, teachers, and nursing staff.

The Ministry has provided training, educational materials, digital toolkits, and advisory support to ensure high-quality implementation across all schools.

The recognition covered all participating institutions, with special acknowledgement for outstanding schools, thereby highlighting best practices, encouraging positive competition, and promoting a culture of excellence and sustainability.

Preparing generations for healthy future

His Excellency Dr. Hussain Al Rand, Assistant Undersecretary for the Public Health Sector at the Ministry of Health and Prevention, stressed that Masar demonstrates MoHAP’s commitment to building school environments that support healthy lifestyle options through strong partnerships with educational entities and adopting international best practices in line with World Health Organization standards.

He noted that the programme attaches utmost attention to strengthening preventive health approaches and enhancing students’ ability to develop sustainable habits while contributing to achieving the UAE’s quality of life objectives and the UAE Centennial 2071 Vision, which seeks to prepare future generations capable of building a prosperous and healthy society.

For her part, Nouf Khamis Al Ali, Director of the Health Promotion Department at the Ministry, stated that the results achieved in the third phase were driven by the integration of health, education, and community efforts.

Al Ali noted that the Ministry will continue to support schools through training, guidance, and digital resources to ensure effective implementation of the programme.

She added that efforts are underway to expand Masar and strengthen partnerships aimed at creating health-promoting school environments that empower students and their families to adopt healthy nutritional and physical behaviours, helping preserve their growth, enhance their performance, and maximise the programme’s long-term positive impact on community health.