Aydah AlAwadhi, Consultant Medical Oncologist and Division Chair of Hematology and Oncology Department at Sheikh Shakbout Medical City, Abu Dhabi, shared on LinkedIn:
”UAE National Cancer Registry 2024 – Key Highlights
9,219 new cancer cases were diagnosed in the UAE in 2024, making it the highest annual number reported to date. Of these, 8,775 (95.2%) were invasive (malignant) cancers and 444 (4.8%) were carcinoma in situ.
Key Findings
- Total cancer cases: 9,219
- Malignant cancers: 8,775 (95.2%)
- Carcinoma in situ: 444 (4.8%)
- Females: 5,078 (55.1%)
- Males: 4,141 (44.9%)
- Emirati patients: 2,137 (23.2%)
- Non-Emirati patients: 7,082 (76.8%)
Cancer Incidence
- Crude incidence rate: 77.7 per 100,000
- Age-standardized incidence rate (ASR): 120.5 per 100,000
- Female ASR: 155.5 per 100,000
- Male ASR: 105.3 per 100,000
Most Common Cancers
Overall
- Breast
- Thyroid
- Colorectal
- Non-Hodgkin lymphoma
- Leukemia
- Prostate
Among females
Breast — Thyroid — Colorectal — Uterus — Ovary
Among males
Colorectal — Prostate — Thyroid — Non-Hodgkin lymphoma — Leukemia
Pediatric Cancer
275 children (0–14 years) were diagnosed with cancer (3.1% of all malignant cases).
The most common pediatric cancers were:
- Leukemia
- Brain & CNS tumors
- Non-Hodgkin lymphoma
Cancer Mortality
- 1,629 cancer-related deaths were reported in 2024 (12.8% of all deaths).
- Age-standardized mortality rate: 33 per 100,000
Leading causes of cancer death:
- Colorectal cancer
- Breast cancer
- Lung cancer
- Pancreatic cancer
- Leukemia
Take-Home Messages
- Over 9,200 new cancer diagnoses highlight the growing cancer burden in the UAE.
- Breast cancer remains the most commonly diagnosed cancer.
- Colorectal cancer is now the leading cause of cancer-related death, reinforcing the importance of screening and early detection.
- National registry data continue to guide prevention, screening, research, healthcare planning, and cancer control strategies across the UAE.
Congratulations everyone contributing to the UAE National Cancer Registry for producing this invaluable national resource that helps shape cancer policy and improve patient outcomes across the UAE.”
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