The era of precision medicine could be moving nearer in the Middle East after a centre that offers training in genetic testing was officially opened.
Illumina, a Californian-based biotechnology company, has inaugurated its Illumina Solutions Centre in Dubai at a time when the healthcare sector globally is increasingly focusing on precision or personalised medicine.
This cutting-edge field involves analysing an individual’s genetic characteristics to inform decisions about the most suitable treatment.
"The UAE is a hub for us in the region," Susan Tousi, Illumina’s chief commercial officer, said.
We understand less than one per cent of genetic variation related to disease. There’s so much more to be discovered through research
Susan Tousi, Illumina
"We’ve done this in a number of other locations ― we’ve opened centres in Brazil for Latin America, South Korea, outside Paris and Berlin. For us, Dubai is a really exciting opportunity."
The Illumina Solutions Centre is equipped with genetic testing equipment and offers training in diagnostic tests, such as non-invasive prenatal screening or genomic tests for cancer. The techniques that the centre offers training in are also relevant to conditions such as heart disease, diabetes and neurological disorders.
"It will be a hub where we can bring people together to not only get more familiar with the technology, but understand its impact … on improving healthcare outcomes," Ms Tousi said.
"We expect to be working with customers running small labs, with ministries of health and government customers, customers in the research space. We expect we’ll be working with hospitals in the area."
Better understanding of diseases
From left: Dr Marwan Al Mulla, chief executive, Health Sector Regulation at Dubai Health Authority, Dr Abdulla Al Khayat, chief executive Al Jalila Children’s Hospital, Susan Tousi, chief commercial officer, Illumina, Sean Murphy, US Embassy Charge d’Affaires, Sarah Al Amiri, UAE Minister of State for Public Education and Future Technology, Tariq Al Hashmi, Head of Technology Adoption, Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology, Dr Asma Al Mannaei, Executive Director for Research and Innovation, Department of Health Abu Dhabi at the official opening of Illumina centre in Dubai. Photo: Illumina
What makes the centre in Dubai particularly significant, she indicated, is that many technologies associated with precision medicine have often tended to be most widely available to populations of European descent.
Among the reasons for this is that in Europe and North America greater amounts of research funding has been available, and people from ethnic minorities have tended to be poorly represented in studies.
Yet such genetic testing and diagnostics are particularly important in the Middle East because some conditions with a genetic basis tend to be more prevalent.
Ms Tousi said the imbalance between populations across the world in how well their genetic susceptibility to disease was understood was "an issue that’s of great importance" to Illumina.
"We’re really excited to boost the … representation of the Middle Eastern genome and provide better diagnostics and much better therapies for the region," she said.
Having more data from Middle Eastern populations will lead to "much better healthcare outcomes" as well as improved drug development and therapies for disease specific to populations in the region.
The work of the centre could kick-start research projects that improve the understanding of the genetic basis of disease in Middle Eastern populations.
"We do hope this inspires large-scale research projects that give us the knowledge of what’s the genetic variation in the population," Ms Tousi said.
Precise Middle East studies
Dr Marc Haber of the Dubai campus of the University of Birmingham. Photo Marc Haber.
Scientists in the UAE say that greater investment in genetic studies specific to Middle Eastern populations will help to redress the deficit in knowledge.
Dr Marc Haber, of the Institute of Cancer and Genomic Sciences at the Dubai International Academic City campus of the University of Birmingham, said until now populations from the region had been studied "very little".
Sometimes large numbers of genes may influence an individual’s susceptibility to a particular medical condition and the mutations or genetic variants at play may differ between ethnic groups.
"If you don’t sequence these populations, you will never find those mutations specific to these populations," he said.
"You would find one that are shared [between ethnic groups], but the specific ones, you would be blind to them.
"This is very important, because complex diseases are not just [caused by] one mutation. You have thousands of mutations contributing to the specific disease."
He said the opening of the centre was "a good move from Illumina", which he described as "the largest player" in the market.
"The result of this is we’re going to have more people interested in sequencing and these people will be able to work in the research labs," he said.
"These research labs will be able to replicate what’s been done in Europe and [elsewhere] outside the Middle East. It’s a move in the right direction but it’s the first step."
Ms Tousi said science was "still at the very, very beginning" of understanding the role that genes play in the development of many illnesses.
"We understand less than one per cent of genetic variation related to disease," she said. "There’s so much more to be discovered through research."
The technologies the new centre will train people in apply not just to medicine. They may be useful, Ms Tousi said, for fields including agriculture, for example by assisting efforts to develop more drought-tolerant varieties of plants, which are of particular importance in the Middle East.
Why are asylum seekers being housed in hotels?
The number of asylum applications in the UK has reached a new record high, driven by those illegally entering the country in small boats crossing the English Channel.
A total of 111,084 people applied for asylum in the UK in the year to June 2025, the highest number for any 12-month period since current records began in 2001.
Asylum seekers and their families can be housed in temporary accommodation while their claim is assessed.
The Home Office provides the accommodation, meaning asylum seekers cannot choose where they live.
When there is not enough housing, the Home Office can move people to hotels or large sites like former military bases.
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-finals, first leg
Liverpool v Roma When: April 24, 10.45pm kick-off (UAE) Where: Anfield, Liverpool Live: BeIN Sports HD Second leg: May 2, Stadio Olimpico, Rome
Score
Third Test, Day 2
New Zealand 274
Pakistan 139-3 (61 ov)
Pakistan trail by 135 runs with 7 wickets remaining in the innings
Starring: Saja Kilani, Clara Khoury, Motaz Malhees
Director: Kaouther Ben Hania
Rating: 4/5
Dr Afridi's warning signs of digital addiction
Spending an excessive amount of time on the phone.
Neglecting personal, social, or academic responsibilities.
Losing interest in other activities or hobbies that were once enjoyed.
Having withdrawal symptoms like feeling anxious, restless, or upset when the technology is not available.
Experiencing sleep disturbances or changes in sleep patterns.
What are the guidelines?
Under 18 months: Avoid screen time altogether, except for video chatting with family.
Aged 18-24 months: If screens are introduced, it should be high-quality content watched with a caregiver to help the child understand what they are seeing.
Aged 2-5 years: Limit to one-hour per day of high-quality programming, with co-viewing whenever possible.
Aged 6-12 years: Set consistent limits on screen time to ensure it does not interfere with sleep, physical activity, or social interactions.
Teenagers: Encourage a balanced approach – screens should not replace sleep, exercise, or face-to-face socialisation.
Sharad Nair recommends three investment apps for UAE residents:
For beginners or people who want to start investing with limited capital, Mr Nair suggests eToro. “The low fees and low minimum balance requirements make the platform more accessible,” he says. “The user interface is straightforward to understand and operate, while its social element may help ease beginners into the idea of investing money by looking to a virtual community.”
If you’re an experienced investor, and have $10,000 or more to invest, consider Saxo Bank. “Saxo Bank offers a more comprehensive trading platform with advanced features and insight for more experienced users. It offers a more personalised approach to opening and operating an account on their platform,” he says.
Finally, StashAway could work for those who want a hands-off approach to their investing. “It removes one of the biggest challenges for novice traders: picking the securities in their portfolio,” Mr Nair says. “A goal-based approach or view towards investing can help motivate residents who may usually shy away from investment platforms.”
Advocate at Al Bahar & Associate Advocates and Legal Consultants, established in 1994
Education: Mr Al Bahar was born in 1979 and graduated in 2008 from the Judicial Institute. He took after his father, who was one of the first Emirati lawyers
Company Profile
Name: Thndr Started: 2019 Co-founders: Ahmad Hammouda and Seif Amr Sector: FinTech Headquarters: Egypt UAE base: Hub71, Abu Dhabi Current number of staff: More than 150 Funds raised: $22 million
Expert advice
“Join in with a group like Cycle Safe Dubai or TrainYAS, where you’ll meet like-minded people and always have support on hand.”
Stewart Howison, co-founder of Cycle Safe Dubai and owner of Revolution Cycles
“When you sweat a lot, you lose a lot of salt and other electrolytes from your body. If your electrolytes drop enough, you will be at risk of cramping. To prevent salt deficiency, simply add an electrolyte mix to your water.”
Cornelia Gloor, head of RAK Hospital’s Rehabilitation and Physiotherapy Centre
“Don’t make the mistake of thinking you can ride as fast or as far during the summer as you do in cooler weather. The heat will make you expend more energy to maintain a speed that might normally be comfortable, so pace yourself when riding during the hotter parts of the day.”
Chandrashekar Nandi, physiotherapist at Burjeel Hospital in Dubai
How to apply for a drone permit
Individuals must register on UAE Drone app or website using their UAE Pass
Add all their personal details, including name, nationality, passport number, Emiratis ID, email and phone number
Upload the training certificate from a centre accredited by the GCAA
Submit their request
What are the regulations?
Fly it within visual line of sight
Never over populated areas
Ensure maximum flying height of 400 feet (122 metres) above ground level is not crossed
Users must avoid flying over restricted areas listed on the UAE Drone app
Only fly the drone during the day, and never at night
Should have a live feed of the drone flight
Drones must weigh 5 kg or less
Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.
Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.
“Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.
“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.
Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.
From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.
Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.
BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.
Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.
Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.
“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.
“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.
“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”
The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
No one has ended a Premier League season quite like Sunderland. They lost each of their final 15 games, taking no points after January. They ended up with 19 in total, sacking managers Peter Reid and Howard Wilkinson and losing 3-1 to Charlton when they scored three own goals in eight minutes.
SUNDERLAND 2005-06
Until Derby came along, Sunderland’s total of 15 points was the Premier League’s record low. They made it until May and their final home game before winning at the Stadium of Light while they lost a joint record 29 of their 38 league games.
HUDDERSFIELD 2018-19
Joined Derby as the only team to be relegated in March. No striker scored until January, while only two players got more assists than goalkeeper Jonas Lossl. The mid-season appointment Jan Siewert was to end his time as Huddersfield manager with a 5.3 per cent win rate.
ASTON VILLA 2015-16
Perhaps the most inexplicably bad season, considering they signed Idrissa Gueye and Adama Traore and still only got 17 points. Villa won their first league game, but none of the next 19. They ended an abominable campaign by taking one point from the last 39 available.
FULHAM 2018-19
Terrible in different ways. Fulham’s total of 26 points is not among the lowest ever but they contrived to get relegated after spending over £100 million (Dh457m) in the transfer market. Much of it went on defenders but they only kept two clean sheets in their first 33 games.
LA LIGA: Sporting Gijon, 13 points in 1997-98.
BUNDESLIGA: Tasmania Berlin, 10 points in 1965-66
Results
5pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 (Turf) 1,200m. Winner: Majd Al Megirat, Sam Hitchcott (jockey), Ahmed Al Shehhi (trainer)
5.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 1,600m. Winner: Dassan Da, Patrick Cosgrave, Helal Al Alawi
6pm: Abu Dhabi Fillies Classic Prestige (PA) Dh110,000 (T) 1,400m. Winner: Heba Al Wathba, Richard Mullen, Jean de Roualle
6.30pm: Abu Dhabi Colts Classic Prestige (PA) Dh110,000 (T) 1,400m. Winner: Hameem, Adrie de Vries, Abdallah Al Hammadi
7pm: Wathba Stallions Cup Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 (T) 2,200m. Winner: Jawal Al Reef, Richard Mullen, Ahmed Al Mehairbi
