The Emirates Genome Council has launched the UAE Genome Dialogue, a series of workshops that aim to deepen collaboration among healthcare regulators and stakeholders to realise the UAE’s personalised healthcare agenda, promoting public health and enhancing the quality of life for Emirati families.
Planned to be held regularly, the initiative focuses on priority genome-based programmes that address the UAE’s public health priorities and effectively contribute towards reducing genetic and chronic diseases within the UAE community.
The inaugural workshop in the series was hosted by Dubai Health at the Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences (MBRU) in Dubai, on 4 September 2025, with the participation of key healthcare regulators and partners including the Ministry of Health and Prevention, Emirates Health Services, Abu Dhabi Public Health Centre, Dubai Health, Dubai Health Authority, the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi and M42.
The workshop centred on the Premarital Genetic Screening programme, which has been nationally implemented since 1 January 2025 by the Ministry of Health and Prevention, in collaboration with regulators and strategic partners.
To date, the Premarital Genetic Screening programme has supported 8,987 couples, through the comprehensive genetic screening of 570 genes linked to more than 840 genetic disorders. Couples who required additional support were provided personalised genetic counselling to assess and diagnose risk factors, as well as offer potential solutions to support family planning decisions.
The UAE Genome Dialogue workshop addressed the public health implications of premarital genetic screening, the challenges and successes involved in such screening, and discussed opportunities for further improvements to the programme.
The UAE Genome Dialogue initiative has been developed in line with the National Genome Strategy, which aims to establish a comprehensive regulatory framework to support the development and implementation of genomic programmes, transforming healthcare and improving public health and wellbeing in the UAE.
