ERGP_Variome_metadata.xlsx

The United Arab Emirates Genome Project (EGP) aims to comprehensively map Emirati nationals' genetic landscape. This study presents a detailed analysis of a subset comprising 43,608 individuals whose genomes were sequenced using Illumina technology. Our analysis identified 421,605,069 variants, 38% of which are previously unreported genetic variations. Of particular significance is the discovery that among the variants classified as common (43,491,009; 10%) within the studied population, 12% (5,296,683) were determined to be novel. While this cohort reflected a diverse ancestral background spanning European, Asian, and African populations, it also exhibited levels of homozygosity, particularly evident in long runs of homozygosity (ROHs). A significant difference (p<0.001) in the total lengths of ROHs was observed between third- and fourth-degree consanguineous marriages.