The United Arab Emirates (UAE) began its modernization project where other developed countries left off. 1 Its development projects were rapidly planned and executed. No material obstacles were there to put a brake on development, particularly human development. The human right to education, healthcare, housing and job opportunities is guaranteed to all citizens, without discrimination. There is no gender discrimination in education, which is provided to men and women on a basis of equality. Nor is there gender discrimination in respect of public services. Indeed, unusually, women outnumber men in university education. 2 It would not be an exaggeration to say that UAE women are experiencing an unrivalled golden age, at least in terms of acquiring the human rights that guarantee their dignity. While none of these programmes has been planned from the gender perspective, the state has recently proposed several initiatives to foster gender empowerment.The UAE today occupies a pre-eminent position as regards adoption of the modernization project in all its economic and social dimensions. 78

Thalassemia is a major health challenge in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), however previous studies have focused on genetics and molecular characterisation while neglecting culture and society. In this commentary, we discuss how tradition and religion in the UAE (e.g. consanguinity, endogamy, illegality of abortion and in vitro fertilisation, adoption restrictions), and limited academic research, affect the prevention and management of the blood disorder. It is suggested that changing attitudes towards traditional marriage practices, education and awareness campaigns targeting families and young people, and earlier genetic testing, are culturally acceptable solutions to curbing the high incidence of thalassemia in the UAE.

No abstract

No abstract