UAE doctors warn against online peptide injections after influencer crackdown

The biggest danger behind the UAE's growing peptide trend is not just counterfeit products — it's that many people are injecting themselves with powerful substances without ever finding out whether those treatments are right for them.

Following the Emirates Drug Establishment's recent crackdown on 71 entities found marketing or selling unapproved peptide products and the referral of 14 social media influencers to the relevant authorities, doctors told Khaleej Times they are increasingly seeing patients turning to online sellers, influencer recommendations and social media trends instead of seeking proper medical advice.

"The bigger risk isn't just the substance; it's using it blind. No baseline blood tests, no monitoring, no idea what it's doing to your liver, glucose or hormones," said Dr Yousef Said, Medical Director and Diabetologist at Metabolic.

He said the clinic is seeing a growing number of patients who have obtained peptides through social media, online vendors or recommendations from friends without medical supervision.

"Many believe these products are harmless because they are marketed as 'natural' or 'anti-ageing', when in reality many have never undergone the rigorous quality control and clinical testing required for approved medicines," he said.

According to Dr Said, people are increasingly seeking peptides to lose weight, boost energy, build muscle, recover faster from injuries or simply "feel younger for longer".

"Social media has created the impression that peptides are quick and low-risk solutions," he said. "While some peptides have established medical uses and others are promising, many claims currently exceed the available scientific evidence."

One of the biggest misconceptions, he added, is that anything described as a peptide must automatically be safe.

"Peptides are a diverse group of molecules with very different biological effects. Some peptide medications are well-established and approved for specific medical conditions, while others remain investigational and should not be marketed as proven anti-ageing therapies."

"We've seen patients who developed gastrointestinal side effects, unexpected hormonal changes, or simply spent considerable amounts of money on products that were ineffective because the diagnosis was incorrect or the product quality was uncertain," said Dr Said.

"In many cases, the biggest problem isn't necessarily toxicity; it's using the wrong treatment for the wrong indication without proper assessment or follow-up."

Dr Ismail Arslan, endocrinologist at Metabolic, said no one should consider peptide therapy without first undergoing a proper medical assessment.

"Evaluating liver function, kidney function, thyroid function, complete blood count and fasting blood sugar gives us a good baseline," he said, adding that additional tests may be required depending on the treatment being considered.

"Once we have the baseline, we can also see the actual impact of the protocols in your numbers, so you can quantify the difference."

He warned that although peptide therapies can be beneficial when prescribed appropriately, self-prescribing can expose people to unnecessary risks.