Abu Dhabi's Ministry of Health said on Wednesday that couples will be required to undergo genetic testing before getting married.
The testing requirement, which comes into effect on October 1, is aimed at enabling couples to make “informed decisions” about their partners.
“Premarital screening programs play an important role in protecting the health of couples planning to marry by detecting infectious and inherited blood disorders and providing appropriate genetic counseling.” explanation Dr Ahmed Al Khazraj, Acting Director of the Abu Dhabi Public Health Centre;
The UAE government has created an infographic explaining what the tests will involve.
The Ministry of Health claimed that trial data from genetic testing launched in 2022 showed that 86% of couples were compatible, but 14% required “additional intervention”.
The new testing requirements are necessary “due to the high prevalence of genetic diseases in the UAE population, in part due to the history of inbreeding in the region,” according to Dr. Fahed Al Marzouki of M42, an Abu Dhabi-based healthcare technology company.
“Understanding genetic risk allows health care providers to take proactive measures to improve patient outcomes and reduce the long-term burden of chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease and diabetes,” he said. said.
Al Marzouki said the process of genetic testing and the associated bureaucratic workflow had been improved to the point that the turnaround time for the mandatory tests could be reduced to 14 days.
In the United Arab Emirates Very high Cousin marriage rates. Survey in 2020 Found It is clear that 39% of marriages are consanguineous, meaning that the relationship is closer than first cousin. This is a persistent problem in Middle Eastern societies, and even more so in Pakistan, Kuwait and Qatar. Higher The rate of incest is higher than in the UAE.
In the study Found These cultures have a high rate of consanguineous marriages because they are believed to “maintain family structure and assets, facilitate marriage arrangements, promote harmonious relations with in-laws, and provide economic benefits associated with dowries.” In Arab culture, consanguineous marriages are considered more stable, and the husband's family is more likely to cooperate in supporting the consanguineous wife and her children.
During the Abu Dhabi trial, the test was expanded to include 13 genes “specifically relevant to the UAE population.” One of the genetic disorders prevalent among UAE nationals is ThalassemiaThis is a blood disorder that is more common in children born to couples who are more closely related than one would expect.
Al Marzouki said one of the program's goals is to create a “comprehensive genetic database specific to the UAE population.”
Genetic testing services for couples Provided It will be implemented in 22 primary care centres in Abu Dhabi, Al Dhafra and Al Ain.
“The integration of genetic testing as part of its pre-marital screening programme marks a proud milestone for Abu Dhabi. This integration places the Emirate at the forefront as a global healthcare hub, harnessing the power of genomic science and the latest technology to drive informed decision-making.” said Dr. Asma Al Mannai, Executive Director of Research and Innovation at the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi;
