Doctors from the Gulf countries noted that the region's population possesses a unique genetic profile, shaped by common ancestry and initial variants, making this area a hub for genomic medicine. These findings were presented during a discussion titled 'Genetic Risk in the Gulf: What Our DNA Tells Us About Hereditary Diseases.'
Dr. Mariam Alshehi, a consultant physician-geneticist and associate professor of genomic medicine at the UAE University Medical College, reported that the region has a higher rate of consanguineous marriages, which increases the prevalence of recessive genetic disorders.
She cited a study published in Nature Medicine led by Dr. Ahmad Abu Tayoun, Director of the Dubai Health Genomics Center. According to this study, eight percent of the first thousand couples undergoing mandatory premarital screening in Dubai carried the same pathogenic variant, which is higher than in comparable international studies. Furthermore, she mentioned a separate study from Oman showing that 80 percent of metabolic diseases in children are linked to parents who were close relatives.
In the UAE, mandatory genetic testing before marriage has been in effect since January 2025, screening over 570 genes in Abu Dhabi and 782 genes in Dubai. Dr. Alshehi called the UAE program the world's first comprehensive premarital genetic screening program, followed by the implementation of newborn screening as an additional level of prevention.
During the discussion, moderated by Dr. Shamsah Alawar, a consultant and professor at the UAE University, Dr. Junaid Muhib Khan, Director of Medical Education and Consultant Neonatologist at SSMC, stated that newborn screening is already changing clinical outcomes. Citing a study conducted in Dubai in May 2026, he reported that the median time to receive results was 3.4 days, with 53 percent of examined infants having a genetic issue. Of these, 47 percent received changes in clinical treatment, and 36 percent underwent precision pharmacotherapy.
He emphasized that the field is moving from evidence-based medicine to precision medicine, planning a full transition by 2030. He added that early genetic diagnosis helps avoid unnecessary tests and provides families with clarity when a child is unwell.
Both doctors agreed that the most serious challenges lie outside the laboratory. Dr. Alshehi noted that doctors often encounter couples under stress due to positive results and insisted that the UAE screening must remain compatible with cultural and religious norms, excluding approaches such as public carrier registries used elsewhere. Dr. Khan stated that having a genetic variant 'is not a disease' and should not lead to the stigmatization of patients or communities.
Dr. Alshehi concluded that people have reached a level of understanding regarding genome sequencing and its benefits, but 'we are still far from full genomic literacy, and much more needs to be done in education.'
The discussion participants called for the establishment of specialized genetic counselors in the region who could help interpret genetic data for routine clinical decisions, stating that further investment in awareness campaigns and screening infrastructure would be key to expanding UAE genomic health programs in the coming years.