One hundred male U.A.E nationals (50 smokers and 50 non-smokers) rated their own risk for developing heart disease, developing arthritis and having an automobile accident; and the risks facing the average smoker and average non-smoker. Smokers in the U.A.E., like smokers in the U.K.,I exhibited 'constrained optimism.' Non-smokers, unlike non-smokers in the U.K., were 'pessimistic' about their chances of developing heart disease and having an accident. Eighty-two male doctors, 41 smokers and 41 non-smokers, were asked to respond to two hypothetical patients (one with long-term obesity newly diagnosed as being hypertensive, the other a long-term smoker newly diagnosed as having lung cancer). Compared with smoker doctors, doctors who themselves did not smoke expected to feel more uncomfortable when managing the smoker patient, and perceived him as more responsible for his condition. Possible reasons for these results, their implications and ways of pursuing the issues raised are discussed.