Cancer is the second leading cause of death in the world, with over 8 million fatalities annually . Despite advances in both prevention and treatment options, the cancer burden continues to rise globally, fuelled by an ageing population and increasing lifestyle-related risk factors . The prevalence of cancer in the Middle East is high and growing . The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that within the next 15 years, the Middle East is likely to experience the highest increase in cancer incidence among WHO regions, with predicted increases as high as 100–180% [3, 4]. Recent improvements in multi-regimen modalities have resulted in significant increases in disease-free survival rates [5, 6], but do not address the supportive care needs of oncology patients. There is a large body of literature documenting that cancer patients are at risk for adverse physical, psychological, spiritual and social problems throughout the course of their diagnosis and treatment . Physical complaints, including illness and disability, psychological concerns manifested as fear of pain or death and social issues, such as family dynamics, all affect cancer patients, with levels of accompanying distress that vary from patient to patient . The distress can interfere substantially with comfort, quality of life and the ability to make suitable decisions or to adhere to treatment . Negative patient and family experiences can also be a reflection of health care delivery systems that do not account for patient and family needs . Patient needs affect all types and stages of cancer . Supportive care needs also differ across countries and cultures . Among ethnically diverse groups of patients, culture has been shown to influence perceptions and coping mechanisms related to disease management . Therefore, cultural beliefs and values can serve as important determinants of clinical outcomes following cancer diagnosis and treatment .