WEARABLE TECH REDEFINES LIVES

From fitness trackers to AI-powered health monitors, wearable technology is reshaping how we live, move, and connect

- BY CHRIS REDMOND Special to Gulf News

Wearable technology has quietly evolved from novelty gadgets to indispensable digital companions. Once viewed as niche or even frivolous, smartwatches, fitness bands, and connected eyewear are now embedded into daily routines. They monitor heartbeats, guide workouts, track sleep, enable payments, and even alert to medical emergencies. In the UAE and beyond wearables tech has become a convergence point for health, connectivity, and artificial intelligence.

THE RISE OF THE WEARABLE

Over the past decade, wearables have transitioned from early adopters' toys to mainstream utility with the wearable devices market forecast to exceed $120 billion by 2028. Smartwatches, led by brands like Apple, Samsung, Huawei, and Garmin, have become the default digital extension of the smartphone.

A 2022 survey (AppDynamics/Cisco) found that around 47 per cent of UAE respondents already used a fitness or health wearable (including smartwatches), while 88 per cent intended to adopt one in the near term. In fitness, Whoop and Oura have built devoted followings by offering deeper insights into recovery and readiness, transforming the way people train, sleep, and work.