OBJECTIVE To determine the serum IgE level in population and its association with allergic diseases in Al-Ain, United Arab Emirates (UAE). METHODS This is a prospective descriptive hospital-based study. METHODS Al-Ain Medical District, Tawam Hospital, United Arab Emirates. METHODS Patients who were seen at Tawam Hospital for skin, allergic and respiratory diseases during 1996. RESULTS The study was based on 228 patients. The sample consisted 95 (41.7%) males and 133 (58.3%) females. The mean and standard deviation of age were 25.89 +/- 15.87 years with range 1 and 72 years. The present study revealed that there were no statistically significant differences between serum IgE level and age groups, gender, clinical diagnosis and respiratory symptoms (p > 0.05). Of 59.2% of patients clinically diagnosed were possible IgE related. There was statistically significant differences between serum IgE level and cut (p < 0.030). There was a positive correlation between clinical diagnosis and cut. CONCLUSIONS Consistencies and discrepancies between our findings and those from other studies with respect to allergic diseases and IgE level which support the hypothesis that allergic diseases are a multi-factorial diseases related to both familial and environmental influences.