This study examines how certain genetic variations, which can affect how people respond to medications, are unique or more common in people from the United Arab Emirates (UAE). We examined the DNA from 100 healthy individuals from the UAE, focusing on 100 genes that are important for understanding how our bodies handle drugs. We found 1,243 different genetic variations, many being rare or even unique to the Emirati population. This is important because these variations can influence the effectiveness and safety of medications for different people.

The study also identified specific genetic combinations and variations that are particularly important for medical treatment, suggesting that people from the UAE might respond differently to certain drugs than people from other parts of the world. This highlights the need for personalized medicine, which considers a person’s unique genetic makeup when prescribing drugs.

However, the study has some limitations. For example, it didn’t look at parts of the genes that don’t directly code for proteins but can still influence how genes work. It also might not fully represent the entire genetic diversity of the UAE due to the small number of people studied. This suggests that more research is needed to get a complete picture of how genetic variations affect drug response in different populations, including those in the UAE.