Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed leads Emirates Genome Council meeting

Photo : Abu Dhabi Media Office

His Highness Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, led a meeting of the Emirates Genome Council.

At the meeting, leaders talked about using genetic science to make healthcare better in the UAE. They want to use people’s genes to keep them healthy, make hospitals work better, and grow the medical field. Sheikh Khaled said the UAE government cares about people’s health and believes medical research can help them live longer and stay well. He praised the country’s efforts to become a world leader in genetic research.

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Sheikh Khaled approved new health programs that use genetic science to give people better medical care. These programs include testing newborn babies for diseases, checking adults for health problems, helping couples plan for healthy babies, and finding heart diseases early. The baby test will check for over 800 diseases, so babies can get treatment quickly. The adult test will check for 50 health problems using genes. The fertility test will check for over 130 conditions to help couples have healthy children. The heart test will look for over 100 heart diseases to catch them early and give better care.

Sheikh Khaled was also told about a big genetic study called the Telomere-to-Telomere (T2T) Emirati Reference Genome study. This study, done by the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi with Khalifa University and M42, will help scientists understand diseases better and create treatments that match Emirati people’s genes.

The meeting also discussed the Premarital Genetic Screening Program, which started on January 1, 2025. This program, run by the Ministry of Health and other medical groups, has tested 2,428 couples so far. It found that 92% of them had no genetic problems. Couples who needed help got expert advice to understand risks and plan for a healthy family. The program aims to protect future generations from inherited diseases and help families make smart choices.

Sheikh Khaled was also updated on the Emirati Genome Program, which has collected over 700,000 genetic samples from UAE citizens. The goal is to reach 1 million. Another project collected 100,000 samples from people of different nationalities to help with global genetic research. This project, done with M42, will help scientists learn about genetic diseases affecting billions of people and improve treatments worldwide.

The Emirati Genome Program is part of the National Genome Strategy. It will help doctors and scientists find out why genetic diseases happen, how genes change, and which diseases a person may get in the future. This will help doctors give treatments that fit each person’s body.

Many important government leaders attended the meeting, including His Excellency Mohammad Al Gergawi, UAE Minister of Cabinet Affairs; Her Excellency Sarah bint Yousef Al Amiri, UAE Minister of Education; His Excellency Omar bin Sultan Al Olama, UAE Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy, and Remote Work Applications; His Excellency Mansour Ibrahim Al Mansouri, Chairman of the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi; His Excellency Saif Saeed Ghobash, Secretary General of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council; His Excellency Dr. Amer Ahmed Al-Sharif, CEO of Dubai Health and President of Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences; and His Excellency Dr. Yousif Mohammed Al-Serkal, Director-General of Emirates Health Services.

The Emirates Genome Council is working hard to make the UAE a top country in medical research and healthcare. By investing in genetic studies and new treatments, the country hopes to give people better healthcare and improve their lives.