Farag et al. (1993) conducted a clinicogenetic assessment of 400 institutionalized mentally retarded (IQ less than 50) Kuwaiti patients during a 4-year period (1986-1990). One of the patients was found to be suffering from autism.

To understand the role of genomic variation in Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) specific to the Lebanese population, Soueid et al. 2016 carried out microarray analysis in 41 children with autism. 80 copy number variations (CNVs) were identified, of which 71% (57 CNVs) were inherited and 20% (16 CNVs) were de novo. Two CNVs – a duplication located on 16p11.2 (de novo CNV) and a deletion located on 2p16.3 (inherited CNV) – were classified as pathogenic. Another inherited CNV located on 1q43 (encompassing RYR2 gene) was classified as likely pathogenic. 15 CNVs of uncertain significance were also observed in the study group. The results were compared with controls and non-autistic developmentally delayed/intellectually disabled (DD/ID) patients. A CNV located at 10q11.22 was found to be common to all three groups. Additionally, Soueid et al. 2016 proposed PTDSS1 and AREG as potential ASD susceptibility genes.

Bitar et al., 2019 studied 19 Lebanese patients diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) to identify associated genetic variations using high resolution microarray CGH and quantitative PCR (qPCR). Prior to the application of filters and qPCR, 60–70 chromosomal aberrations were detected per patient. 22 copy number variations (CNVs) including 11 deletions and 11 duplications were validated by qPCR in 14 patients. In addition to previously described loci associated with ASD, Bitar et al., 2019 identified four novel candidate genes in their patients - PJA2, SYNPO, APCS, and TAC1. 26% of patients in this study were observed to have more than one candidate CNV suggesting a multihit genetic model.

Al-Salehi et al., (2009) described 49 autistic patients (37 males and 12 females) with a mean age of 6.3 years.  Five of the patients didn’t have any speech, and another five patients had a history of regression of language around the age of 18-24 months.  The onset of symptoms in 42 patients was before the age of 3-years.  In addition, two other patients had their onset of symptoms probably before 3-years of age.  Of the 49 patients, 44 were diagnosed with autism, and 5 with Pervasive Developmental Disorder-Not Otherwise Specified (PDDNOS).  Out of all patients, 11 had seizures, 27 had mental retardation, 22 had extreme hyperactivity, 2 had G6PD deficiency, one had Tourette syndrome, and one had cerebral palsy.  Twenty five patients were taking psychotropic medications; some of them received more than one medication.  Parental consanguinity was found in 14 patients.  Two patients had siblings with autism, and one had a sibling with Down syndrome.  Chromosomal analysis was performed in 19 patients; one of them was found to have a duplication of the long arm of chromosome 9. 

In a study of the prevalence of autism in children born to Somali parents living in Sweden, Barnevik-Olsson et al. (2008) reviewed the records of 17 children (13 males, four females), born between 1988 and 1998 (age range 7-17 years) and with a Somali background, who had a diagnosis of autistic disorder or pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified (PDDNOS). The prevalence of autistic disorder or PDDNOS was found to be three to four times higher than in the non-Somali group (0.7% vs 0.19%).

Two years later, Barnevik-Olsson et al. (2010) conducted a follow-up study (birth years 1999-2003) of the prevalence of autism in children of Somali background living in the county of Stockholm. The prevalence of autism and PDDNOS (with learning disability) was 0.98% (18/1836) in the Somali group and 0.21% (232/111555) in the group of children of non-Somali origin (p<0.001). The increased prevalence remained since their earlier study in year 2008 and became four and five times higher in children of Somali background. A clinical observation was that more than 80%, in addition to autism and learning disability, had a profound hyperactivity. The findings accord with many other studies reporting higher prevalence rates of autism in children of immigrant mothers.

Eapen et al. 2007 estimates the prevalence of Autism spectrum disorder to be 29 per 100,000 based on a clinical evaluation of 694 Emirati children using the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, 4th edition (DSM-IV). 

Al abbady et al. 2017 retrospectively studied the prevalence of autism in Dubai. Between 2011 and 2014, a total of 239 Emirati children were diagnosed with autism in hospitals and healthcare centres across Dubai.