Al Ain (Arabic: ٱلْعَيْن, al-ʿayn, lit. 'The Spring') is a city in the Eastern Region of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, on the United Arab Emirates' border with Oman, adjacent to the town of Al-Buraimi. It is the largest inland city in the Emirates, the fourth-largest city (after Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Sharjah), and the second-largest in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. The freeways connecting Al-Ain, Abu Dhabi, and Dubai form a geographic triangle in the country, each city being roughly 130 kilometres (81 mi) from the other two.Al-Ain is known as the "Garden City" (Arabic: مَدِيْنَة ٱلْحَدِيْقَة, romanized: Madīnat Al-Ḥadīqah, lit. 'City of The Garden') of Abu Dhabi, the UAE or the Gulf, due to its greenery, particularly with regard to the city's oases, parks, tree-lined avenues and decorative roundabouts, with there being strict height controls on new buildings, to no more than seven floors, and according to one author, an oasis around Al-Ain and Al-Hasa in Saudi Arabia are the most important in the Arabian Peninsula. That said, the region of Al-Ain and Al-Buraimi, altogether Tawam or Al-Buraimi Oasis, is of cultural and historical importance. For example, the area witnessed events relevant to the history of Islam during the Rashidun, Umayyad and Abbasid eras, similar to Dibba and Ras Al-Khaimah. It was where Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the founder of the United Arab Emirates, spent much of his life, at least since 1927, before becoming the Ruler of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi in 1966. Though it is often held that he was born in Abu Dhabi, some hold the view that he was born in Al-Ain. Al-Ain may also be the site of the oldest mosque in the country, in the premises of the Sheikh Khalifa Mosque.
Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) is a severe autoimmune disorder affecting the central nervous system, often misdiagnosed as multiple sclerosis. The identification of aquaporin-4–IgG (AQP4-IgG) has improved diagnostic precision and enabled targeted therapies. Given the unique regional challenges in healthcare delivery across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, the Middle East and North Africa Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis (MENACTRIMS) convened an expert panel to develop evidence-based, region-specific consensus recommendations for diagnosis and management. These guidelines endorse the 2015 International Panel for NMO Diagnosis (IPND) criteria, emphasizing AQP4-IgG testing via cell-based assays. Differential diagnosis should consider multiple sclerosis, myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody-associated disease (MOGAD), and acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM). For acute treatment: initiate high-dose intravenous methylprednisolone promptly and use plasma exchange early for severe or steroid-refractory attacks. For long-term immunotherapy, monoclonal antibodies (rituximab, inebilizumab, eculizumab, ravulizumab, satralizumab, or tocilizumab) are recommended according to availability and patient factors; conventional immunosuppressants remain alternatives when biologics are inaccessible. Guidance is provided for pediatric patients and for pregnancy and breastfeeding, including planning after ≥ 12 months of disease stability and early postpartum treatment resumption. These MENACTRIMS guidelines aim to improve NMOSD outcomes across the region by promoting accurate diagnosis and timely, effective therapy.
BackgroundPharmacogenomics (PGx) can optimise cardiovascular therapy, yet routine integration in cardiology remains limited. In the United Arab Emirates, a hybrid public-private health system, the real-world PGx use is still emerging. However, there is limited understanding of how cardiologists perceive and navigate PGx implementation within such complex health system contexts.ObjectiveTo examine cardiologists' perspectives on the feasibility, barriers, and facilitators of implementing PGx using the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR).MethodsA qualitative study using an abductive analytical approach was conducted through semi-structured interviews with 15 cardiologists from public and private institutions. Participants were recruited via purposive, convenience, and snowball sampling. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and thematically analysed in NVivo. The CFIR guided the analysis across intervention characteristics, outer setting, inner setting, individual characteristics, and process.ResultsClinicians expressed strong conceptual support for PGx, especially in higher-risk scenarios, but reported limited hands-on exposure and confidence. Barriers included perceived test complexity, cost, and lack of reimbursement; insufficient laboratory capacity and EHR integration; unclear workflows and role ownership; and turnaround times misaligned with acute care. Outer-setting constraints (ambiguous policy signals and payer criteria) and inner-setting variability (resources, leadership engagement, and communication pathways) further limited uptake. Reported facilitators included multidisciplinary service models (with input from pharmacists and genetics), targeted case-based training, initial deployment in non-acute contexts, and the structured capture of results with EHR-embedded clinical decision support.ConclusionsPGx implementation in cardiology within the UAE is shaped by structural, organisational, and workforce-level gaps. Addressing these through targeted clinical guidance, improved training, stronger reimbursement mechanisms, enhanced laboratory capacity, and integrated digital decision support may enable more equitable and scalable adoption. These findings provide actionable insights for health systems seeking to operationalise PGx within diverse or hybrid healthcare contexts.
BACKGROUND:Volume-targeted ventilation (VTV) is an evidence-based, lung-protective strategy demonstrated to reduce the incidence of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) and severe neurologic injury in premature infants. While variations in VTV adoption are well-documented in North America and Europe, data characterizing its utilization across the broader Middle East remains limited. OBJECTIVE:To evaluate the utilization rates of VTV, the selection of tidal volume (VT) targets across various clinical scenarios, and the perceived barriers to VTV implementation among practicing neonatologists in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). METHODOLOGY:A cross-sectional survey was distributed to practicing neonatologists across multiple regions in the UAE. The survey assessed clinician and unit characteristics, core ventilation practices, scenario-based VT targeting, and barriers to VTV implementation. RESULTS:A total of 94 responses were analyzed. VTV was the most commonly reported invasive mode, with 78 (84.8%) of respondents classified as regular VTV users. VTV was predominantly utilized across both the acute and weaning phases of ventilation, with 60 (64.5%) respondents reporting its use. The reported median VT limits ranged from 4.0 to 6.0 mL/kg. Scenario-based responses revealed a median initial VT target of 5.0 mL/kg for a 500-g, 24-week infant with respiratory distress syndrome (RDS), 5.0 mL/kg for a term infant with meconium aspiration syndrome (MAS), and 4.0 mL/kg for an infant with congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH). High-frequency oscillatory ventilation (HFOV) was widely used (78, 97.5%); however, the use of volume guarantee (VG) during HFOV remained uncommon (28, 36.4%). Regular VTV use was significantly associated with ≥10 years of experience (P = 0.011) and practice in an academic/training level III NICU (P = 0.021). Unlike North American cohorts, the primary reported barrier to VTV adoption in the UAE was equipment unavailability rather than a lack of clinical understanding. CONCLUSIONS:The UAE demonstrates a high rate of VTV adoption, aligning with the most progressive international benchmarks. However, scenario-specific VT targeting reveals a tendency to default to standard volumes regardless of the underlying lung pathophysiology. Continued efforts should focus on optimizing equipment availability and providing targeted education on individualizing VT settings to further elevate neonatal respiratory care.
Evidence-based practice (EBP) plays a significant role in improving the quality of healthcare services, meeting customer expectations, and contributing to organizational and business success. Literature also revealed that a large percentage of nurses lack evidence-based knowledge and skills, which limits their ability to make decisions, related to their work based on sound evidence rather than opinions and further limits their level of empowerment. The study adopted a mixed-method design; the authors surveyed a convenience sample of registered nurses working at a healthcare company in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to determine their current EBP attitudes, knowledge, skills, and behaviours, followed by interviewing a purposive sample of nurses to develop an EBP capabilities framework. The quantitative results disclosed that most nurses had positive attitudes toward EBP and identified critical gaps in nurse’s EBP knowledge, skills, and behaviours. The authors proceeded with the qualitative focused group discussion and proposed an EBP capabilities framework that could fit nurse’s context and resources.
Introduction: Research projects are increasingly integrating artificial intelligence (AI), genetic, and precision medicine. The 9th Annual Al Ain Research Conference is one of the largest gatherings in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), providing a platform for researchers across various specialties and career levels to present their work. Held on May 9, 2025, at Sheikh Tahnoon Bin Mohammed Medical City (STMC) in Al Ain, the conference received 182 abstracts, which were screened for oral and poster presentations based on specific selection criteria. The submissions represented a range of specialties, including internal medicine, endocrinology, cardiology, neurology, nephrology, public health, surgery, obstetrics and gynecology, oncology, nursing, nutrition, pharmacy, and physiotherapy. This proceeding aims to disseminate the conference abstracts to the research community. Methods: The abstracts were peer-reviewed by the Scientific Committee of the 9th Annual Al Ain Research Conference. Each submitted abstract followed a structured format, including introduction, methods, results, discussion, and conclusion. Authors consented to the publication of their abstracts, which are organized alphabetically by title. Results: Based on predefined selection criteria, 18 abstracts (10.2%) were selected for oral presentations across three sessions, while the remaining 158 abstracts (89.7%) were designated for digital poster presentations. Notably, several abstracts focused on the use of AI, and an increased participation from Emirati researchers was observed. Of the 176 accepted abstracts, 108 (61.3%) are included in this proceedings volume with author consent, comprising seven (6.5%) oral and 101 (93.5%) poster presentations. The remaining 69 abstracts were excluded: 24 had been previously published, and 45 were not included due to the absence of author consent for publication. Conclusion: The 9th Annual Al Ain Research Conference showcased a diverse range of high-quality research across clinical and allied health fields, with notable emphasis on AI and increased participation from Emirati researchers. Of the 176 accepted abstracts, only 108 were included in the proceedings due to prior publication or lack of author consent, highlighting the need for clearer submission guidelines. Future conferences should enhance support for emerging research areas, improve compliance with publication requirements, and foster structured mentorship to sustain the growth of national research contributions.
