The prevalence of chronic non-communicable diseases in Oman has been accompanied by recent rapid economic growth and changes in lifestyle choices.1 Diabetes is a growing public health challenge in Oman.1,2 Its prevalence has continued to increase over the past two decades.2 Due to this alarming trend, diabetes is currently considered a priority health problem by the Ministry of Health (MoH).2 Unless this upward trend is curbed, the prevalence of diabetes-related complications, including diabetic foot disease (DFD), is expected to rise. DFD is defined as a syndrome in which peripheral neuropathy and peripheral vascular disease may result in foot ulceration, infection, deformity, and/or lower limb amputation in patients with diabetes.3 It is one of the most debilitating and costly complications of diabetes, with a lifetime prevalence of up to 25%.3,4 Moreover, around 40–60% of all non-traumatic lower limb amputations are attributed to DFD.4 In Oman, amputation data from the MoH indicate that diabetes is responsible for about 47% of all lower limb amputations.5 Given the significance and magnitude of the problem, a number of regional diabetic foot care initiatives has been established. The Gulf Diabetic Foot Working Group (GDFWG) was founded in December 2012 by a group of multidisciplinary healthcare professionals involved in the prevention and management of DFD in the Gulf.6 It aims to improve the overall quality of diabetic foot care delivery in the region. Furthermore, the group holds an annual conference (the Gulf Diabetic Foot Conference, now in its third year) where knowledge and expertise is exchanged, and local and international diabetic foot research is presented.6 Another initiative was the launch of the Diabetic Foot Journal Middle East, a platform for disseminating locally conducted scholarly diabetic foot research.6 On a global scale, progress in diabetic foot care has been made through decades of research and international collaboration. The number of articles, published in peer-reviewed journals and indexed in MEDLINE®, on the epidemiology, pathogenesis, and management of DFD has increased over the past few decades [Figure 1]. By far, most of the volume of scholarly research on DFD comes from non-Arab countries.7 Open in a separate window Figure 1 Increasing numbers of diabetic foot-related articles, as indexed by MEDLINE®, are appearing in the literature.