At a conference in New England, Rohan Simon, the associate director of a UAE-based contract research organization, spoke about the growing opportunities for clinical research in the UAE. The country’s clinical research field is expanding quickly, supported by new regulations. As of late October, there are 77 ongoing clinical trials in the UAE, thanks to government support and partnerships between public and private sectors.
Simon highlighted the Emirati Genome Programme, which aims to sequence the genomes of Emiratis to help develop personalized healthcare. This is especially useful for identifying patient populations for rare disease studies. He noted that the UAE’s healthcare culture, where patients respect doctors’ advice, helps with recruiting participants for clinical trials.
The UAE government is keen on investing in new pharmaceutical companies to boost local research. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the region significantly increased its clinical trials to test vaccines, and there is a desire to continue this progress.
Overall, the UAE presents a promising landscape for clinical research, driven by supportive government policies and cultural factors that facilitate trial participation.