Search for gender selection in Abu Dhabi and you will find confident answers in both directions, many of them written by clinics with something to sell. Most of that confusion comes from two very different questions being treated as one.
The first is medical. Some serious inherited conditions affect boys and girls differently, and for couples who carry one, the sex of an embryo can matter to their child’s health. The second is personal, and it is about preferring a boy or a girl. Anyone searching for PGD gender selection in Abu Dhabi deserves a clear account of both, starting with what the test actually is.
PGD, PGT and What the Letters Mean
PGD stands for preimplantation genetic diagnosis, and it is the older name. Clinics and guidelines now mostly use PGT, preimplantation genetic testing, as the umbrella term. The Department of Health Abu Dhabi’s clinical guideline uses both, describing testing for a single-gene condition as preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGT-M).
There are three main types. PGT-M looks for a specific single-gene condition. PGT-SR checks for structural rearrangements in the chromosomes, and PGT-A screens for a missing or extra chromosome. Each needs IVF, because the embryos have to be created in the laboratory first. After fertilisation, a few cells are taken from each embryo in a procedure called embryo biopsy and sent to a genetic laboratory, and the results guide which embryo is transferred. The preimplantation genetic testing page sets out the three types side by side.
Where the Sex of an Embryo Genuinely Matters
Some genetic conditions are carried on the X chromosome. Women have two X chromosomes and men have one, and that difference is what makes these conditions behave unevenly. In a male, a single altered copy of the gene can be enough to cause the condition, so X-linked recessive disorders affect boys far more often than girls. Haemophilia is the best known example. Because a father passes his Y chromosome to his sons, he cannot pass an X-linked condition to them.
This is where the sex of an embryo becomes a medical question rather than a preference. The Department of Health guideline lists X-linked genetic disorders among the reasons PGT-M may be considered. The American Society for Reproductive Medicine, which describes non-medical sex selection as ethically controversial, treats selection to avoid a sex-linked disorder differently, because in that case the choice is tied directly to a medical need.
When Embryo Testing Is Worth Considering
Sex-linked conditions are only one part of the picture. The same guideline lists other situations where PGT-M may be considered. These include couples who are both carriers of the same recessive condition, couples who are related by family, and couples with a child or relative affected by a single-gene disorder. Carriers of a structural chromosome rearrangement may be offered PGT-SR.
For many Emirati couples, the first sign of a shared risk now comes before marriage. Since early January 2025, premarital screening for Emiratis across the UAE has included a genetic test covering 570 genes linked to more than 840 conditions. A result showing that both partners carry the same variant does not decide anything by itself, but it is exactly the kind of finding worth taking to a fertility assessment before trying to conceive.
Counselling Comes Before the Cycle
Embryo testing for an inherited condition is planned well before IVF begins. The Department of Health guideline recommends that the work-up with the genetic laboratory and genetic counselling take place before the treatment cycle. ASRM likewise advises that anyone interested in PGT-M should be offered a consultation with a genetic counsellor.
Those conversations are where the real decisions are made. A counsellor explains how the condition is inherited, what the test can and cannot detect, and what each possible result would mean for your options. UAE law also requires the written consent of both spouses before an embryo is tested, since Federal Law No. 7 of 2019 permits genetic diagnosis before implantation in order to identify genetic diseases.
What the Test Cannot Promise
PGT reduces a risk. It does not remove every uncertainty. ASRM notes that technical limitations can occasionally lead to an embryo being misdiagnosed, which is why it recommends that prenatal testing be offered in pregnancies conceived after PGT-M, both to confirm the embryo result and to check for other conditions.
Embryo biopsy itself is a reasonable thing to ask about too. The Department of Health guideline acknowledges that long-term effects are still being studied, while noting that recent studies have not shown blastocyst biopsy to harm the embryo when it is done correctly. Your specialist should be able to walk you through both points before you agree to testing.
The Question of Choosing a Boy or a Girl
Couples sometimes discover that the question of sex arises even when they never asked it. According to ASRM, PGT-A results generally report the embryo’s sex chromosomes, while PGT-M results generally do not, although many laboratories screen for chromosome number alongside a single-gene test. ASRM’s view is that patients should be told this before testing, and that clinics should have clear policies on how such information is handled and whether it plays any part in transfer decisions.
Choosing an embryo’s sex for personal reasons is a separate matter, and it is not one a blog post can settle for you. UAE federal law describes the purpose of embryo genetic diagnosis as identifying genetic diseases, and the detailed rules sit in implementing regulations applied by the health authority. Claims found online, in either direction, are not a substitute for that. If this question matters to you, ask the clinic to explain in writing what it is permitted to offer and what its policy is on sharing an embryo’s sex, and do so before a cycle begins.
Where Trust Fertility Fits
Trust Fertility is a DOH-licensed fertility centre (licence MF7820) inside Burjeel Medical City in Mohamed Bin Zayed City, Abu Dhabi, and part of the Burjeel Holdings healthcare network. It offers IVF and ICSI together with PGT-A, PGT-M and PGT-SR. Reproductive medicine is led by Dr. Walid Reda Sayed, Consultant Reproductive Endocrinologist and Group Medical Director, and the laboratory by Dr. Irfan Aslam, Group IVF Laboratory Director, whose team carries out embryo biopsy and genetic testing.
For couples with a known or suspected inherited condition, the starting point is a consultation that looks at family history and any screening results before any testing is planned. Every situation is different, and whether PGT is right for you depends on the risk you are actually facing.
Take the Next Step
If an inherited condition runs in your family, or premarital screening has shown a shared carrier result, a specialist and a genetic counsellor can explain what it means before you make any decisions about treatment.
Speak to a fertility specialist at Trust Fertility, or book a consultation to talk through genetic testing and whether it applies to you. Every situation is different, and the right plan starts with understanding yours.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What should we know about gender selection in Abu Dhabi?
Embryo genetic testing is permitted in the UAE to identify genetic diseases, and an embryo’s sex can be medically relevant when a couple carries a sex-linked condition such as haemophilia. Selection for personal reasons is governed by implementing regulations and the health authority, not by what websites claim, so ask the clinic to explain in writing what it is permitted to offer.
2. What is the difference between PGD and PGT?
PGD, preimplantation genetic diagnosis, is the older term. PGT, preimplantation genetic testing, is now the umbrella term and covers PGT-M for single-gene conditions, PGT-SR for structural chromosome rearrangements and PGT-A for chromosome number.
3. Can PGT show the sex of an embryo?
PGT-A results generally report the sex chromosomes, while PGT-M results generally do not, although many laboratories add chromosome screening to a single-gene test. ASRM advises that patients are told this before testing and that clinics have clear policies on how the information is handled.
4. Do we still need testing in pregnancy after PGT-M?
ASRM recommends that prenatal testing be offered after PGT-M, because technical limitations can occasionally cause an embryo to be misdiagnosed. Prenatal testing confirms the result and can also check for other conditions.
