More than 1,000 emilatis has been examined for the reason that necessary premarital genetic testing was performed in January 2025, based on a report by Gulf News. This program, a part of the UAE’s nationwide genome technique, requires all Emira {couples} who plan to marry for genetic screening.
The determination to mandate genetic testing was introduced in December 2024 by the UAE’s Ministry of Health and Prevention (MOHAP) in accordance with the directive of the Emirates Genome Council. The check covers 570 genes related to over 840 medical situations, permitting {couples} to make knowledgeable selections about their reproductive well being.
The excessive prevalence of genetic issues within the Emirate inhabitants is related to a 39% price of kinship marriages. Dr. Fahed Al Marzooqi, Associate Chief Operating Officer of M42, careworn that understanding genetic dangers will help suppliers take proactive measures, enhance affected person outcomes, and scale back the long-term burden of continual illness.
The pilot section of this system, launched in 2022, was discovered to have over 800 {couples}, with 86% reaching genetic compatibility. The remaining 14% acquired household planning counseling and steerage primarily based on genetic outcomes.
This article was written with the help of the News Analysis System.