At a conference in New England, Rohan Simon, an associate director at the UAE’s first contract research organization, discussed the rapid development of clinical research in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The country’s clinical trials sector is growing, supported by new regulations and increasing government involvement. As of October 25th, there are 77 ongoing clinical trials in the UAE.
Simon highlighted the Emirati Genome Programme as a key tool for developing personalized healthcare by analyzing the genetic information of UAE citizens. This program is particularly significant because the UAE’s population consists of 90% expatriates and 10% local Emiratis, offering diverse genetic data.
The cultural respect for doctors in the UAE also facilitates patient recruitment for clinical trials. The UAE government is actively investing in pharmaceutical research, aiming to sustain the progress made during the COVID-19 pandemic when the region conducted extensive vaccine trials.