- Greater vigilance, early detection, New Age treatments are helping the battle against cancer in the UAE, one individual at a time!
Myra B*, a dynamic athlete and horse rider, was diagnosed with cervical cancer at the age of 22, thanks to a routine screening. Her coach and trainer had insisted on a check-up after noticing that she was unusually weak and fatigued.
Myra was fortunate, as the cancer was caught in its earliest stages. A combination of therapy and HPV vaccination played a crucial role in saving her life. At 30 today, Myra, now a mother of a cherubic baby boy, is no longer competing in show jumping but has taken on the role of mentoring and teaching younger enthusiasts in the sport. In conversation with HEALTH, Myra said, “I am eternally grateful to the people around me who cared enough to insist on early screening. Thanks to their vigilance and a team of excellent oncologists and gynecologists, I am standing here healthy, strong, and cancer-free.”
Every year on February 4, the world pauses to reflect, remember, and recommit on World Cancer Day, a global initiative uniting communities, policymakers, patients, and caregivers against one of humanity’s toughest adversaries.
In the UAE, where healthcare innovation continues to push boundaries, this year’s theme “United by Unique” feels particularly powerful. It’s a reminder that cancer is not merely a disease of the body, but a deeply personal journey of resilience, shaped by every individual’s story.
The Grim Numbers
The UAE National Cancer Registry paints a revealing picture. In 2023, the country recorded 7,487 new cancer cases, up from just over 4,600 in 2019. Experts say this increase reflects both improved diagnostic capacity and changes in population lifestyles, including ageing, obesity, and environmental risk factors.
Breast cancer remains the most common, with 1,456 new cases, primarily affecting women in their 40s and 50s. Thyroid (794 cases) and colorectal cancers (588 cases) follow closely behind. Skin carcinoma and prostate cancer round out the top five.
Overall cancer incidence stood at 105.4 cases per 100,000 people, higher among women (139.1) than men (90.1) due to gender-specific risk factors and screening initiatives that target women more consistently.
Cancer accounted for 12.4% of all deaths in 2023, making it the third leading cause of mortality in the country, after cardiovascular and respiratory diseases.
Humaid Al Shamsi, a leading medical oncologist, Head of the Emirates Oncology Society, and senior author of the study, said that “…we have the tools, talent and vision. What we need next is coordinated execution to become a global leader in equitable, high-quality cancer care.
The Cancer Story Beyond Statistics
While what is stated above is cold, hard statistics, the cancer story is deeply human.
“Every cancer journey is profoundly personal,” says Dr Deborah Mukherji, oncologist and member of the Emirates Oncology Society. “But our strength lies in unity. Each diagnosis reminds us of the need for awareness, empathy, and access to world-class care.”
Her words echo across the UAE’s growing network of cancer centres, each redefining what personalized medicine looks like in practice.
Precision Medicine
Among the UAE’s most promising advances is precision oncology, an approach that customizes treatment based on a patient’s unique genetic and molecular profile.
In Abu Dhabi, the Personalised Precision Medicine Programme for Oncology, launched by the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi, has already guided treatment for hundreds of Emirati patients using genetic screening of 47 key cancer-related genes.
Reaffirming its commitment to advancing oncology care, the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi has issued guidelines for testing of breast and ovarian cancer–associated genes, aimed at strengthening early diagnosis, treatment strategies, and preventive care.
Launched in 2022 by DoH in collaboration with Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi and G42 Healthcare, the Personalized Precision Medicine Program for Oncology is designed to elevate genomic screening, disease prevention, diagnostic accuracy, and data-driven therapeutic decision-making for breast cancer patients. Beyond reducing the risk of recurrence, the initiative reflects DoH’s broader vision of harnessing breakthrough technologies to shape the future of healthcare and establish Abu Dhabi as a global life sciences innovation hub.
“By understanding the molecular drivers of each patient’s cancer, we can design targeted therapies that are more effective and less toxic,” says Stephen Grobmyer, Chair of the Oncology Institute at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi. “This is a shift from reactive care to predictive, proactive care.”
Hospitals such as Mediclinic and the newly expanded Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City are also investing in AI-driven molecular profiling, immunotherapy, and robot-assisted surgeries, anchoring the UAE’s position as a regional hub for innovative oncology.
Early Detection, The Best Cure
Despite these high-tech strides, one truth endures: early detection saves lives.
Breast cancer, the most common in women globally, can see five-year survival rates above 90% when caught in its initial stages. This insight fuels the Pink Caravan, a mobile screening initiative of the Friends of Cancer Patients that regularly travels across all seven emirates to promote breast cancer awareness and provide accessible mammography.
In addition, AI-based lung cancer screening programmes, such as those piloted at SEHA hospitals and Mubadala Health facilities, are helping identify disease in high-risk individuals years before symptoms appear.
Human Stories, Collective Resolve
At its heart, World Cancer Day isn’t about statistics — it’s about people.
It’s about a father whose wife found a lump early through community screening. It’s about a schoolteacher whose thyroid cancer was discovered at a treatable stage. And it’s about the countless caregivers, families, and health workers who form a silent network of hope behind every patient.
Cancer touches every life differently, say oncologists. But when we unite care, research, and compassion, we ensure no one faces it alone.
The UAE’s vision for cancer care is both ambitious and attainable. With the rollout of genomic mapping, national screening programs, and expanded oncology training, the nation is steadily moving toward a future where cancer is not a verdict, but a challenge met with wisdom, science, and collective will.
As World Cancer Day reminds us each year, the fight against cancer is global — but in the UAE, the spirit is distinctly that of innovation, inclusion, and unyielding hope.
