UAE Mandates Premarital Genetic Testing for Emiratis
Beginning January 2025, mandatory genetic testing will be implemented for all Emirati couples before marriage as part of a national premarital screening program. This initiative, based on directives from the Emirates Genome Council, analyzes 570 genes linked to over 840 conditions, empowering couples to make informed family planning decisions. A successful pilot program demonstrated the efficacy of this approach, and the nationwide expansion aims to reduce the incidence of inherited diseases, particularly prevalent due to high consanguineous marriage rates. The program is a collaborative effort involving various UAE health authorities and leverages the nation’s National Genome Strategy to build a comprehensive genetic database.
John Q. Hosedrinker