The Emirati Genome Programme: How G42 and M42 Are Mapping the UAE’s DNA
The United Arab Emirates is nearing completion of one of the world’s most ambitious biomedical projects : the sequencing of nearly its entire citizen population’s DNA.
At the heart of the initiative are G42 , the state-backed AI group, and its healthcare subsidiary M42Dealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom → , which together oversee the Emirati Genome Programme . Since its launch six years ago, the programme has processed more than 750,000 samples , surpassing the UK BiobankDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom → to become the world’s largest national genomic database.
The project’s operational scale is led by Albarah El-KhaniDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom → , who manages M42’s sprawling 51,700-square-foot sequencing facility in Abu Dhabi. The site houses 15 NovaSeq X Plus machines provided by Illumina , capable of processing 128 samples simultaneously, and dedicated areas for DNA extraction, plasma separation, and cryopreservation.
El-Khani describes the facility as “massive” — a symbol of how the UAE has industrialised genome sequencing to a degree unmatched elsewhere. M42 plans to expand further with a biobank ten times larger than its current site and to begin sequencing the UAE’s non-citizen residents.
For the UAE, the genome programme is not only a public-health effort but also a cornerstone of its strategy to transition from a petrostate to a global hub for AI and biotechnology .
G42 , led by CEO Peng XiaoDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom → and backed by sovereign and international investors, views genomics as both a foundation for precision medicine and a potential export industry.It has already signed agreements to develop similar genomic infrastructures in other countries and is in talks with pharmaceutical firms to license anonymised data for research and drug discovery .
Domestically, M42 is integrating genomic information into Malaffi , the country’s electronic health-records system, creating digital “ genomic passports ” to support personalised care and preventive medicine. The programme also includes mandatory premarital genetic screening for Emirati couples and is credited with identifying high-risk cases of inherited disease.
Officials say this integration of genomics with healthcare policy aims to tackle regional health challenges, including congenital disorders and underrepresentation of Middle Eastern populations in global genetic research.
Authorities insist participation in the genome programme is voluntary and regulated by a 2023 federal data-protection law, though ethicists and rights advocates have raised concerns over transparency and potential misuse of genetic data. M42 maintains that participation is based on informed consent and that participants can withdraw their data at any time.
Like similar projects elsewhere, the commercial model for large-scale genomics remains uncertain. M42 has undergone leadership changes but continues to invest heavily in scaling operations and coupling genomics with AI-driven analytics.
Source:
Bloomberg
J.V.
