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Al Etihad
10-07-2025
- Business
- Al Etihad
Abdullah bin Zayed chairs EHCD Council meeting; Endorses Ministry of Family's strategy, reviews key Emirati family initiatives
10 July 2025 22:21 ABU DHABI (WAM) His Highness Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Chairman of the Education, Human Development, and Community Development Council (EHCD), chaired the Council's regular meeting in Abu meeting was held in the presence of Her Highness Sheikha Mariam bint Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice Chairperson of the Council endorsed the Ministry of Family's new strategy and reviewed the initial set of initiatives under the Emirati Family Growth agenda developed in collaboration with stakeholders across relevant also covered the latest developments in the UAE Genome Programme and its alignment with national family wellbeing objectives, particularly in reproductive health. The session underscored the importance of these efforts in supporting demographic goals and enhancing social Highness Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan reaffirmed that empowering Emirati families is a top national priority and a strategic investment in the UAE's future and sustainable development. 'The family is the foundation of society and the primary source of national values.'He added, 'The adoption of the Ministry of Family's strategy marks a significant step toward establishing an integrated ecosystem that supports family stability and promotes growth in nurturing and secure environments. Our focus now is on developing data-driven policies and realistic programmes in full partnership with relevant entities to ensure maximum alignment and impact.'His Highness Sheikh Abdullah highlighted the leadership's commitment to enabling youth to establish stable families through targeted incentives and support services spanning marriage, healthcare, education, and social wellbeing, emphasising the need for accelerated action and tangible outcomes that positively impact marriage and fertility rates, overall quality of life and children's health.'The Emirati Family Growth agenda is not only a demographic concern, but a broader developmental matter,' His Highness Sheikh Abdullah noted. 'Strong, cohesive and happy families are the cornerstone of a thriving society and a sustainable economy. We are not chasing numbers; we are building a foundation that nurtures confident and capable generations ready to shape the country's future.'Based on this vision, His Highness Sheikha Mariam bint Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan reiterated that the Emirati family is the bedrock of national stability and prosperity, the source of values and identity, and the core of human development.'The UAE places high importance on the family. This is rooted in the belief that resilient societies begin with strong, cohesive households,' she said. 'We are developing an inclusive framework that meets the aspirations of our youth, supports them through family formation and parenting, balances personal and professional life, and strengthens both reproductive and mental wellbeing.'She added that Emirati family growth is more than a population policy—it carries national, cultural, and humanitarian significance. 'This agenda reflects a shared national commitment to building a stable future, in which families play a key role in nurturing confident and agile generations that are prepared to navigate change and contribute to the UAE's progress.'His Highness Sheikha Mariam also reinforced that family growth is a shared national responsibility that calls for a cross-sector collaboration, spanning education, healthcare, housing, employment, and social services. 'Creating a supportive ecosystem for families requires coordinated institutional efforts that reflect the UAE's vision for a resilient society that is grounded in human values and national identity.'Emphasising national alignment and collaboration, the meeting brought together Council members, ministers, and senior representatives from federal and local government entities. Among those present were Abdulrahman Bin Mohamed Al Owais, Minister of Health and Prevention; Shamma bint Sohail Al Mazrui, Minister of Community Empowerment; Sarah bint Youssef Al Amiri, Minister of Education; Dr. Abdulrahman bin Abdulmanan Al Awar, Minister of Human Resources and Emiratisation and Acting Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research; Sana bint Mohammed Suhail, Minister of Family; Dr. Sultan bin Saif Al Neyadi, Minister of State for Youth Affairs; Dr. Mugheer Khamis Al Khaili, Chairman of the Department of Community Development – Abu Dhabi; Saif Saeed Ghobash, Secretary-General of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council; and Hajer Ahmed Altheli, Secretary-General of the Education, Human Development, and Community Development addition, among the attendees were Mansour Ibrahim Al Mansouri, Chairman of the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi; Hessa bint Essa Buhumaid, Director General of the Community Development Authority - Dubai; Ahmed Al Meel, Chairman of the Sharjah Social Services Department; Dr. Noura Al Ghaithi, Under-Secretary of the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi; Dr. Said Abdullah, Secretary-General of the Federal Demographic Structure Council; and Ahmed Fikri, Director-General of Strategic Affairs at the Crown Prince Court – Abu bint Mohammed Suhail, Minister of Family, presented the Ministry's comprehensive strategy for 2025–2027, which focuses on promoting Emirati family stability and wellbeing. The strategy is built on a deep understanding of family needs, a human-centric design of services, and a commitment to shared responsibility among also highlighted the Ministry's focus on priority social groups, including senior citizens, people of determination, and children at risk. The strategy outlines tailored approaches to support and protect this group as well as ensuring their proper social integration across multiple strategic work of the Ministry of family will ensure the empowerment of family across all stages, from formation to growth. This will assure the youth of the importance of starting a family while balancing personal and professional goals and preserving identity and also shared updates on the Emirati Family Growth file, showcasing the collaborative development of a series of initiatives and policies aimed at supporting youth as they embark on marriage and parenthood, while promoting long-term family on this file is advancing along three parallel tracks: policy and programme development, behavioral and social interventions, and reproductive health. The national agenda also includes redesigning family support services to better align with family lifecycle stages, the enhancement of beneficiaries' experience, and the expansion of preventive and guidance part of these ongoing efforts, she identified reproductive health as a key pillar of the family growth strategy, citing national synergies, especially through the UAE Genome Programme, as an advanced scientific tool for early detection of genetic conditions. The programme supports safe conception and helps families build a healthy future for their meeting was successfully concluded with renewed momentum to translate vision into action through measurable improvements in family wellbeing and quality of life. Participants underscored the need to accelerate priority initiatives under the Emirati Family Growth agenda, supported by integrated federal and local efforts across demographic, social, health, and educational spheres. The aim is to achieve tangible outcomes that strengthen family stability, support demographic balance, and advance human development while reinforcing long-term social cohesion. Year of Community Continue full coverage
Emirates 24/7
29-04-2025
- Health
- Emirates 24/7
Department of Health – Abu Dhabi, Pfizer host high-level workshop to advance real world data in healthcare research
The Department of Health – Abu Dhabi (DoH) in collaboration with Pfizer Gulf hosted a specialised workshop titled 'Harnessing the Power of Real World Data in Healthcare Research,' as part of the strategic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between the two entities in 2024. The MoU underscores a shared commitment to strengthening Abu Dhabi's position as a global hub for healthcare innovation, by advancing real world data (RWD) capabilities and enabling data-driven, evidence-based decision-making. The workshop brought together more than 60 researchers, data scientists, pharmacists, and healthcare professionals from across Abu Dhabi's leading hospitals and academic institutions to explore how real-world evidence (RWE) can be leveraged to advance research, improve health outcomes, and enable more personalized care. The event served as a platform to foster knowledge exchange and scientific dialogue, and to support Abu Dhabi's ambition to become a global centre for health and life sciences. Through the MoU, Pfizer and DoH are working jointly to enhance real-world data (RWD) capabilities, with a focus on driving local evidence generation and building research capacity that addresses both national and global healthcare priorities. Dr. Nadine Tarcha, Medical Director at Pfizer Gulf, highlighted the company's role in shaping the future of healthcare research through meaningful partnerships. 'At Pfizer, we believe real-world data is key to generating insights that complement clinical trials and accelerate patient-centred innovation. Through this collaboration with the Department of Health, we aim to empower local research, strengthen evidence generation, and improve access to better health outcomes.' The workshop agenda included a range of expert-led discussions on the use of RWD from national databases, differences between RWE and traditional clinical trials, study design and bias, regulatory considerations, and governance models for data access. A panel discussion was also held featuring representatives from the Department of Health, the UAE Genome Programme, M42, and global Pfizer RWE leaders to explore the potential of Abu Dhabi's Trusted Research Environment in advancing scientific discovery. This initiative is part of a broader effort under the MoU to foster long-term public-private partnerships that enhance Abu Dhabi's global competitiveness in biomedical research, genomics, and precision medicine. It reinforces both entities' commitment to advancing data-driven solutions that improve health outcomes in the UAE and beyond. Follow Emirates 24|7 on Google News.
Al Etihad
28-04-2025
- Health
- Al Etihad
DoH, Pfizer host high-level workshop to advance real world data in healthcare research
28 Apr 2025 15:06 ABU DHABI (WAM)The Department of Health – Abu Dhabi (DoH), in collaboration with Pfizer Gulf, hosted a specialised workshop titled 'Harnessing the Power of Real World Data in Healthcare Research', as part of the strategic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between the two entities in MoU underscores a shared commitment to strengthening Abu Dhabi's position, as a global hub for healthcare innovation, by advancing real-world data capabilities and enabling data-driven, evidence-based workshop brought together more than 60 researchers, data scientists, pharmacists, and healthcare professionals from across Abu Dhabi's leading hospitals and academic institutions to explore how real-world evidence can be leveraged to advance research, improve health outcomes, and enable more personalised event served as a platform to foster knowledge exchange and scientific dialogue, and to support Abu Dhabi's ambition to become a global centre for health and life sciences. Through the MoU, Pfizer and DoH are working jointly to enhance real-world data capabilities, with a focus on driving local evidence generation and building research capacity that addresses both national and global healthcare Nadine Tarcha, Medical Director at Pfizer Gulf, highlighted the company's role in shaping the future of healthcare research through meaningful partnerships, 'At Pfizer, we believe real-world data is key to generating insights that complement clinical trials and accelerate patient-centred innovation. Through this collaboration with the Department of Health, we aim to empower local research, strengthen evidence generation, and improve access to better health outcomes.'The workshop agenda included a range of expert-led discussions on the use of real-world data from national databases, differences between real-world evidence and traditional clinical trials, study design and bias, regulatory considerations, and governance models for data access.A panel discussion was also held featuring representatives from the Department of Health, the UAE Genome Programme, M42, and global Pfizer real-world evidence leaders to explore the potential of Abu Dhabi's Trusted Research Environment in advancing scientific discovery. This initiative is part of a broader effort under the MoU to foster long-term public-private partnerships that enhance Abu Dhabi's global competitiveness in biomedical research, genomics, and precision medicine. It reinforces both entities' commitment to advancing data-driven solutions that improve health outcomes in the UAE and beyond.
Gulf News
23-04-2025
- Health
- Gulf News
Over 1,000 Emiratis benefit from mandatory pre-marital genetic testing in UAE
Abu Dhabi: The Emirates Health Services (EHS) has reported that over 1,000 Emiratis have benefited from mandatory pre-marital genetic testing since its nationwide roll-out at the start of this year. At least 1,020 citizens underwent testing by April 11, 2025 The initiative is a key part of the UAE's national efforts to prevent genetic disorders, reduce their spread, and promote healthier families across the country. In a recent statement, EHS revealed that the genetic screening programme, which identifies potential genetic incompatibilities between couples, has already flagged 31 cases. These couples were given genetic counselling to help them make informed decisions about childbearing and pregnancy planning, ensuring they can proactively address potential health risks for their future children. UAE Genome Programme This testing initiative is also aligned with the broader objectives of the UAE Genome Programme and the National Genome Strategy. The programme seeks to establish a comprehensive genetic database of Emirati citizens, which will contribute to scientific research and shape future strategies for early medical interventions, thereby improving public health outcomes in the UAE. What is genetic test The genetic test, which is provided at EHS health centres, screens for the most prevalent genetic conditions affecting Emiratis. It examines 570 genes linked to more than 840 medical conditions, delivering accurate results quickly. This inclusion of genetic testing in pre-marital screenings marks a significant step toward strengthening the country's preventive healthcare initiatives and ensuring responsible family planning. Where to go Currently available at 22 health centres across various Emirates, the service is expected to expand in response to growing demand, ensuring better accessibility for all Emirati citizens. EHS is committed to enhancing service coverage to reach more individuals, empowering couples with the knowledge necessary for planning healthy families. Why it matters Premarital genetic testing is designed to protect public health by detecting potential health risks before marriage. It serves to identify genetic diseases, hereditary conditions, and other health concerns that may be passed to offspring, particularly in consanguineous marriages or when a family history of genetic disorders exists. The screenings help reduce the incidence of serious congenital anomalies and inherited conditions like thalassaemia, sickle cell anaemia, G6PD deficiency, early-onset blindness, hearing impairments, and other conditions that can affect a child's physical and mental development. This proactive approach not only alleviates the psychological and emotional burden on families but also enables timely intervention, early diagnosis, and preventive care, which ultimately contributes to healthier future generations.
Khaleej Times
14-03-2025
- Health
- Khaleej Times
UAE: 2,400 couples undergo premarital genetic screening; 92% found compatible
Around 2,400 couples have undergone premartial genetic screening so far with 92% found to be compatible, as part of the UAE's Genome Programme, it was announced on Friday. Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Khaled bin Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, who is also the Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council, chaired a meeting of the Emirates Genome Council, and the council approved programmes for newborn genetic screenings, expanded genetic screening for adults in the UAE Genome Programme, personalised fertility and cardiovascular genetic screening.. The Premarital Genetic Screening Programme was implemented from January 1, 2025 by the Ministry of Health and Prevention, in collaboration with the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi, Emirates Heath Services, Dubai Health Authority, and strategic partners. To date, it has supported 2,428 couples, finding more than 92 per cent genetically compatible through comprehensive genetic screening of 570 genes linked to more than 840 genetic disorders. Couples who required additional support were provided personalised genetic counselling to assess and diagnose risk factors and offer potential solutions to support family planning decisions. The programme aims to safeguard community members from hereditary diseases and empower couples to utilise genetic data to make informed decisions in family planning, preserving the health and wellbeing of community members and ensuring a healthier future for generations to come. New population screening programmes The Abu Dhabi Crown Prince endorsed new population screening programmes that expand the utilisation of genomic data and accelerate genome-driven personalised healthcare in the UAE. The programmes include newborn genetic screenings, enhanced screenings of adult participants in the Emirati Genome Programme, provision of personalised fertility programmes, and cardiovascular genetic screening. The newborn genetic screening programme will assess genetic conditions with available treatments and early intervention options for infants, assessing 733 genes to test for more than 800 conditions. Population disease screenings, for adults participating in the Emirati Genome Programme, aim to further identify actionable and relevant conditions for UAE nationals, by assessing 94 genes linked to more than 50 genetic conditions. The personalised fertility programme assesses 186 genes linked to more than 130 genetic conditions, to provide personalised medicine recommendations and treatments for couples. Cardiovascular screenings will provide genetic diagnosis and treatment, as well as early prevention, for cardiovascular related conditions through the assessment of more than 800 genes linked to more than 100 genetic conditions. T2T Emirati Reference Genome study Sheikh Khaled was briefed on the completion of the landmark Telomere-to-Telomere (T2T) Emirati Reference Genome study aimed at advancing precision medicine for communities in the UAE. The study, by the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi, in collaboration with Khalifa University and M42, bridges critical gaps in genomic data and provides a vital resource that enhances the ability to compare with other reference genomes, supporting the advancement of disease research, pharmacogenomics and the development of Emirati-specific targeted therapies. Emirati Genome Programme progress The Abu Dhabi Crown Prince was also updated on the progress of the Emirati Genome Programme, which has collected more than 700,000 genetic samples from citizens across the nation, marking significant progress towards the overall target of 1 million. In addition, the Emirati Genome Programme has completed the collection of 100,000 samples from participants from different nationalities for a new initiative that leverages the UAE's advanced genomic capabilities. The project, in collaboration with M42, helps reduce gaps in genomic data globally by providing insights into genetic mutations affecting over 2.5 billion people across different ethnicities, with the aim to drive further collaboration on precision medicine research and solutions. The Emirati Genome Programme is a key project under the National Genome Strategy and will support the transformation of healthcare services in the UAE by providing high-quality genetic data that enables researchers, physicians and scientists to identify the causes of genetic diseases, understand the type of genetic mutations, anticipate susceptibility to some diseases, and develop effective personalised healthcare plans.
