RAK Hospital has introduced advanced Y-DNA ancestry testing in the UAE, enabling men to trace their paternal lineage back five to seven generations through a simple saliva test.
According to the hospital, the test compares DNA with global populations to identify ethnic composition, admixture, relatives, and migration history. The analysis focuses on the Y chromosome, passed exclusively from father to son, allowing scientists to map paternal ancestry with remarkable detail.
“Ancestry testing is not just science — it’s a journey into your past,” said Dr Hafiz Ahmad, head of the molecular division at RAK Hospital, quoted by Khaleej Times. “With Y-Haplogroup testing, we can trace paternal roots, explore migration paths, and connect people to their historical heritage in a way never done locally before.”
Based on data from RAK Hospital’s Next Generation Sequencing Lab, Haplogroup J1 (J1-P58) has emerged as the dominant Arabic haplogroup, accounting for 40 to 75 percent of populations across the Arabian Peninsula. Around 34 percent of UAE males tested belong to this haplogroup, alongside J2, E1, and R1, showing strong genetic connections to populations in the Middle East, North Africa, and South Asia, Ahmad explained.
He added that the ancestral signatures identified in Emiratis are also found in individuals from Tunisia, Algeria, Egypt, Syria, Iraq, Iran, and India, underscoring the UAE’s historic role as a crossroads of trade and migration.
Dr Raza Siddiqui, executive director at RAK Hospital, said: “There’s something profoundly exciting about connecting with your past. Our combined Ancestry and Y-Haplogroup tests let people experience this personal journey of discovery, making history feel alive and deeply personal.”
RAK Hospital’s CEO Dr Ashendu Pandey added: “Humans have always been curious about their origins, but today technology allows us to explore this curiosity like never before. We can uncover detailed insights into lineage, migration, and genetic heritage that were impossible to access a decade ago.”
Hospital officials noted that the test uses next-generation sequencing combined with proprietary algorithms, providing patients with an interactive map that traces paternal ancestors’ journeys across continents.
