AI meets genomics: UAE's bold health care revolution

On January 1, 2025, the UAE took a bold step into the future of health care, making genetic testing mandatory as part of its nationwide premarital screening programme for Emiratis. The decision, endorsed by the Emirates Genome Council and approved during the UAE government’s annual meetings, is a remarkable shift in the country’s health care sector.

Redefining the very foundation of medical care in the UAE, the testing covers 570 genes associated with more than 840 medical conditions, and it will help Emiratis to make informed decisions based on their health status when planning to start families.

With 75 out of every 1,000 babies born in the UAE diagnosed with genetic-related conditions — among the highest rates globally — the government’s new initiative is both timely and critical. It is a powerful acknowledgement that the UAE is not just addressing genetic challenges, but is taking proactive steps to tackle them head-on, ensuring the health and well-being of future generations from the very start.

Premarital genetic testing has proven effective in reducing genetic disorders worldwide. In some countries, it led to a 70% reduction in thalassemia cases, while others saw a 75% decrease. Genetic counselling programs also help reduce at-risk marriages, with one Arab country reporting a fivefold increase in the cancellation of proposals among at-risk couples.

Such a move cannot be viewed in isolation. It is part of a larger, ambitious effort to transform health care in the UAE, driven by the intersection of artificial intelligence (AI) and genomic sequencing. The government’s Emirati Genome Programme (EGP) is at the heart of this transformation. The potential of genomic sequencing to not only understand but predict health risks based on individual genetic make-up is enormous.

Through this vast store of data, doctors will be able to predict the likelihood of certain diseases manifesting, customise treatments to an individual’s unique genetic profile, and begin the long-sought task of eradicating genetic diseases.

But the implications go far beyond just identifying individual health risks. This initiative is a direct response to the challenge of genetic disorders associated with consanguineous marriages, a common practice in many Middle Eastern societies, including the UAE. According to the Centre for Arab Genomic Studies, the UAE ranks among the countries with the highest rates of genetic-related conditions globally.

Data published in the Clinical Genetics journal paints a stark picture: children born from consanguineous marriages — those between blood relatives — have a 37.1% higher incidence of congenital conditions compared to 29% in non-consanguineous unions.

This reality highlights an important challenge, one that the UAE is determined to address, ensuring the health and vitality of future generations for years to come. And so, the UAE has chosen a path that many countries might shy away from: to combat these genetic conditions before they are passed on to the next generation.

By mandating genetic testing as part of the premarital process, the UAE is stepping in, offering prospective couples the information they need to make informed decisions about their health and that of their children.

Effective interventions

The integration of AI into this initiative is what gives it its cutting edge. Genetic sequencing alone would be an enormous task, but with the help of AI, the complexity of the human genome can be processed, analysed, and understood at a speed and scale previously unimaginable. AI sifts through the massive amounts of data generated by the Emirati Genome Programme, identifying genetic mutations linked to diseases, predicting how they might manifest, and suggesting the most effective interventions. In IVF (in vitro fertilisation) clinics, AI already plays a critical role in assessing embryos, improving the odds of successful pregnancies and healthier offspring. It is this intersection of biology and machine learning that promises to radically change the future of medicine.

Leading the charge into a new era of health care, it is clear that the UAE is not just embracing innovation for the sake of progress but is actively redefining the very foundation of medical care.

The integration of AI and genomics into the future of our health care represents a monumental shift — one that promises to prevent disease, tailor treatments, and ensure healthier future generations. For now, the UAE stands as a testament to what happens when ambition meets technology, charting a course toward a future where health is not left to chance, but shaped by science.

Fatima Rashid Al-Ali is an expert at the Emirati National Experts Programme