22 January 2026
Dubai Health comprises a network of hospitals, ambulatory health centers, the Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences (MBRU), and Al Jalila Foundation. As the city’s first integrated academic health system, Dubai Health is leading groundbreaking initiatives to implement genomics into routine healthcare, reinforcing the UAE’s commitment to preventive medicine and personalized care throughout the patient’s entire life journey. Dubai Health now provides testing citywide to newborns and pediatric patients suspected of genetic disease. It also offers prenatal screening and premarital screening for parents.
The Genomic Medicine Center at Dubai Health recently consolidated all rare disease genetic testing, previously performed through targeted gene testing and whole-exome sequencing, into a single, comprehensive whole-genome sequencing (WGS) test. By adopting WGS as the universal first-line diagnostic tool for many patients suspected of having a rare genetic condition, Dubai Health is significantly shortening the diagnostic odyssey, improving diagnostic yield and clinical utility while also streamlining genetic laboratory operations. This unified approach aligns with the standard of practice in leading genetic testing laboratories globally. It enables broader, more accurate detection of disease-causing variants and creates a scalable, efficient framework that strengthens both patient care and research readiness across the healthcare system.
Dubai Health has also adopted rapid whole-genome sequencing (rWGS) for critically ill newborns. A pilot study published in Genome Medicine showcased the life-saving potential of this approach, achieving diagnostic yields of over 50%, and has paved the way for a continued collaboration with Illumina through the Little Falcon initiative. Today, rWGS is established as a first-tier diagnostic tool in the NICU. An ongoing large-scale study—the first of its kind in the Middle East—was highlighted in Nature Medicine.
To detect certain chromosomal abnormalities and partial deletions or duplications, the Center introduced non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT). It is mainly offered to high-risk pregnancies to manage the pregnancies and the outcomes of those pregnancies. NIPT requires a simple blood draw performed starting from week 10 of gestation and offers a higher detection rate for the common aneuploidies with a sensitivity and specificity of about 99.9%.1,2 By improving clinical insights and avoiding iterative testing, NIPT reduces exposure of fetus to risk from unnecessary invasive diagnostic procedures.8 International guidelines and societies have also endorsed the use of NIPT. Most recently, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) recognized NIPT as being one of the most sensitive and specific screening tests for the common trisomy disorders and also stated that NIPT should be an option for all women, regardless of their risk level.3,4,5,6,7
NIPT is not a diagnostic test. Test results must not be used as the sole basis for diagnosis.
Mandatory premarital genetic testing: A global first
As of January 2025, UAE law requires all Emiratis to undergo comprehensive genetic testing before marriage. The screening covers 570 genes through next-generation sequencing and identifies couples at risk of passing on recessive genetic disorders. The UAE is the first country in the world to mandate such extensive premarital screening. To meet growing demand, Dubai Health doubled its testing capacity and expanded its team of genomic scientists and counselors. This investment reduced turnaround times from weeks to just 13 days. Access to parental genomic data also accelerates future diagnoses, eliminating the need for repeat sequencing.
“The test must be completed before a marriage certificate is issued,” says Dr. Ahmad Abou Tayoun, director of Dubai Health’s Genomic Medicine Center. “If both partners carry pathogenic variants in the same gene, they receive genetic counseling and a detailed report to guide future family planning.”
Dr. Abou Tayoun and colleagues discussed how premarital screening can effectively alleviate the regional population’s increased risk in a recent issue of Nature Medicine.
Building a regional genetics community
Centralizing genomic data within Dubai Health establishes a transformative resource for research, addressing the significant underrepresentation of Middle Eastern populations in global genetics studies. This initiative opens opportunities comparable to those provided by the UK Biobank, fostering more inclusive and representative insights into human genetics.
Dr. Abou Tayoun, alongside experts from the UAE, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Iran, and Turkey, coauthored a compelling perspective published in Nature Genetics. In their article, they highlight the region’s unique potential as a natural laboratory for genetic discovery and outline strategic approaches to develop a comprehensive, all-encompassing research framework. Their collaborative effort aims to unlock the region’s rich genetic diversity, thereby advancing personalized medicine and deepening the global understanding of human health.
Furthermore, Dr. Abou Tayoun and peers are establishing the Middle East Society for Human Genetics to foster collaboration among researchers, clinicians, and genetic counselors. Their vision is to leverage the region’s unique genetic diversity to drive inclusive, impactful research that benefits populations both regionally and worldwide.
References
1 Wellesley D, Dolk H, Boyd PA, et al. Rare chromosome abnormalities, prevalence and prenatal diagnosis rates from population-based congenital anomaly registers in Europe. Eur J Hum Genet. 2012;20(5):521-526.
2 American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Screening for fetal aneuploidy. Practice Bulletin No. 163. Obstet Gynecol. 2016; 127(5):e123-37
3 Dondorp W, De Wert G, Bombard Y et al: on behalf of the European Society of Human Genetics (ESHG) and the American Society of Human Genetics (ASHG): non-invasive prenatal testing for aneuploidy and beyond: challenges of responsible innovation in prenatal screening. Eur J Hum Genet; e-pub ahead of print 18 March 2015; doi:10.1038/ejhg.2015.57
4 Gregg AR, Skotko BG, Benkendorf JL, et al. Noninvasive prenatal screening for fetal aneuploidy, 2016 update: a position statement of the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics. Genet Med. 2016;18(10):1056-1065. 6.
5 Benn P, Borrell A, Chiu R, et al. Position statement from the Chromosome Abnormality Screening Committee on behalf of the board of the International Society for Prenatal Diagnosis. Prenat Diagn. 2015;35(8):725-734.
6 Gregg AR, Gross SJ, Best RG, et al. ACMG statement on noninvasive prenatal screening for fetal aneuploidy. Genet Med. 2013;15(5):395-398.
7 Screening for Fetal Chromosomal Abnormalities. Practice Bulletin No. 226. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Obstet Gynecol 2020 (published ahead of print).
8 Hui L and Bianchi DW Fetal Fraction and noninvasive prenatal testing: What clinicians need to know. Prenat Diagn 2019; DOI: 10.1002/pd.5620
