Cord Blood Banking in the Arab World: Current Status and Future Developments

• Cord blood (CB) banks in the Arab world are new but are growing fast.
• Private CB banking options currently outnumber public storage programs.
• Private CB banks are expensive and take advantage of limited public awareness.
• Disease indicators and cultural practices support public and family-directed banks.
• Collaboration between countries is critical to cover regional population diversity.

Umbilical cord blood transplants are now used to treat numerous types of immune- and blood-related disorders and genetic diseases. Cord blood (CB) banks play an important role in these transplants by processing and storing CB units. In addition to their therapeutic potential, these banks raise ethical and regulatory questions, especially in emerging markets in the Arab world. In this article, the authors review CB banking in five countries in the region, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates, selected for their different CB banking policies and initiatives. In assessing these case studies, the authors present regional trends and issues, including religious perspectives, policies, and demographic risk factors. This research suggests strong incentives for increasing the number of CB units that are collected from and available to Arab populations. In addition, the deficit in knowledge concerning public opinion and awareness in the region should be addressed to ensure educated decision-making.