The UAE is accelerating the adoption of advanced clinical diagnostics through investments in genomics, laboratory infrastructure, artificial intelligence (AI) and precision medicine, according to a new report by Frost & Sullivan prepared for World Health Expo (WHX).
The report, From Infrastructure to Innovation: The GCC’s Growing Influence on Clinical Diagnostics, forecasts that the global clinical diagnostics market will grow from US$115.7 billion in 2026 to US$152.1 billion by 2031, at a compound annual growth rate of 5.5%. The Middle East diagnostics market is estimated at US$5.4 billion in 2026.
The UAE’s Emirati Genome Programme and precision oncology services at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi are supporting the expansion of personalised healthcare. Since January 2025, genetic testing has also been mandatory for Emiratis as part of premarital screening, covering 570 genes linked to more than 840 genetic conditions.
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Mohini Mehta, Senior Consultant, Healthcare & Life Sciences, Frost & Sullivan, said: “The next frontier in diagnostics will not be defined by who adopts the most advanced technology first, but by who can integrate it into clinical practice at scale. The UAE is building that advantage by advancing genomics, laboratory infrastructure, regulatory readiness and reimbursement in parallel. By 2031, these markets could offer the global healthcare industry something far more valuable than market growth alone: a real-world blueprint for translating diagnostic innovation into accessible, sustainable and clinically meaningful care.”
Laboratory capacity is expanding alongside these developments. PureHealth’s PureLab conducted 34 million tests in 2025, a 17% increase from the previous year. Meanwhile, molecular diagnostics is projected to reach US$36 billion globally by 2031, driven by advances in cancer testing, infectious disease surveillance and companion diagnostics.
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WHX will showcase these developments through its Labs Zone, connecting diagnostics suppliers with healthcare providers, distributors and procurement teams. The event will take place from 25–28 January 2027 in Dubai, bringing together healthcare professionals and industry representatives from around the world.
Solenne Singer, Senior Vice President, Healthcare, inD, said: “Laboratories are where many of the most important decisions in healthcare begin. The UAE is showing how quickly that work can scale when infrastructure, regulation, and reimbursement develop together, and the next phase will focus on partnerships that put new diagnostics into routine use.”
