UAE Doctors Warn of Genetic Health Risks Linked to Marrying Relatives

UAE doctors are raising awareness about the genetic health risks that can be associated with marriages between relatives, highlighting the importance of genetic screening and counselling before starting a family.

Medical experts say the Gulf region has a genetic profile shaped by shared ancestry and inherited genetic variants.

In families where relatives marry, certain recessive genetic conditions may have a chance of appearing in children when both parents carry the same disease-causing variant.

Why Genetic Screening Is Important

Genetic screening can identify people who carry disease-causing genetic variants even when they have no symptoms.

When both partners carry the same recessive variant, there can be an increased possibility of passing the related condition to their children.

UAE doctors say this makes premarital testing an important part of preventive healthcare.

The purpose of screening is not to label someone as sick but to provide couples with information that can help them understand potential health risks.

UAE Has Expanded Premarital Genetic Testing

Genetic testing became a part of premarital screening for UAE citizens from January 2025.

The programme covers hundreds of genes associated with inherited conditions, with screening covering more than 570 genes in Abu Dhabi and 782 in Dubai, according to the latest report.

The screening programme is designed to identify shared risks early and provide couples with access to appropriate medical guidance and counselling.

Genetic Carriers May Have No Symptoms

One of the challenges with inherited diseases is that a person can carry a disease-causing variant without knowing it.

Being a carrier does not mean that an individual has the disease.

UAE doctors have therefore stressed the importance of understanding genetic test results.

Genetic counselling can help couples interpret their results and understand what they could mean for pregnancies and children.

Early Testing Can Support Better Family Planning

Genetic screening gives couples an opportunity to learn about inherited health risks before having children.

When a shared genetic variant is identified, medical specialists can provide counselling and discuss the options available to the couple.

This approach forms part of a shift towards preventive and precision medicine, where genetic information can help doctors identify health conditions earlier and make treatment decisions more specific to individual patients.

Newborn Screening Adds Another Layer of Protection

Genetic testing is also being used after birth to help identify conditions at an early stage.

Doctors say early diagnosis can make a difference for babies with genetic disorders because treatment and medical management can begin sooner.

Recent UAE research has also highlighted how newborn genetic screening can help doctors make clinical decisions and provide more targeted treatment when a condition is identified.

Doctors Call for Greater Genetic Awareness

Medical experts say genetic screening alone is not enough.

Greater public understanding of genetics and access to genetic counsellors are also needed to help families understand test results without unnecessary fear or stigma.

UAE doctors have emphasised that carrying a genetic variant is not the same as having a disease.

Clear information and professional counselling can help families understand their circumstances and make informed decisions about their future.

UAE Focuses on Preventive Genetic Healthcare

The UAE's expanding genetic screening programmes reflect a focus on preventing inherited diseases and improving early diagnosis.

Medical professionals say continued investment in counselling, public awareness and screening infrastructure will be important as genomic medicine develops.

For couples planning marriage and children, understanding family history and completing recommended medical and genetic screening can provide important information about potential inherited health risks.