Dubai Health leads organ donation efforts in the UAE
AED 46 million fundraising campaign to support organ failure patients launched by Al Jalila Foundation, which leads the giving mission of Dubai Health
Since 2016, Dubai Health surgeons have performed over 160 kidney transplants, with 54 of these conducted for children.
Dubai, UAE: Dubai Health has been recognized as a leader in advancing organ donation in the UAE through its continuous collaboration with the National Centre for Regulating Donation and Transplantation of Human Organs and Tissues and its national program "Hayat." These efforts have contributed to conducting more than 200 organ transplants with the noble support of over 65 families who made the decision to donate organs to save the lives of others.
This achievement is the result of ongoing collaboration with the Dubai Health Authority and the National Centre for Regulating Donation and Transplantation of Human Organs and Tissues at the Ministry of Health and Prevention. Through this shared commitment, organ donation referrals are seamlessly coordinated to uphold the highest standards of patient care, aligned with international best practices. This ensures compassionate support for donor families who choose to exercise their right to donate organs to save the lives of others.
As an integrated academic health system, Dubai Health's healthcare facilities, Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences (MBRU), and Al Jalila Foundation strengthen the objectives of the national program, Hayat, through driving initiatives that support life-saving efforts. These initiatives provide hope and ensure that patients suffering from organ failure have the chance to live healthier lives.
Organ Donation and Transplantation at Dubai Health:
Dubai Health's Rashid Hospital, recognized for its specialized trauma and emergency care services, has emerged as the leading organ donation center in the UAE, facilitating over 200 transplants, impacting lives in the UAE and beyond. This accomplishment stems from the selfless generosity of over 65 families choosing to give the ultimate gift of life. To further support these vital decisions in Rashid Hospital, Dubai Health opened a dedicated Hayat lounge. This compassionate space provides families with a private and comforting setting to discuss organ donation with healthcare professionals.
Additionally, Dubai Health offers specialized care for organ failure patients, particularly kidney transplantation surgeries and dialysis services at Dubai Hospital, Al Jalila Children's Hospital, Al Towar and Al Barsha Dialysis Centers. Since 2016, Dubai Health surgeons have performed over 160 kidney transplants, with 54 of these surgeries conducted for children.
Dr. Muna Tahlak, Chief Medical Officer of Dubai Health, said, "We are pleased to witness the collaborative efforts of our multidisciplinary teams in organ donation. With the community's continued support and the dedication of healthcare professionals, we are proud to be at the forefront of organ donation, offering hope and a second chance to many patients in need."
Dr. Zeyad Al Rais, Chair of Critical Care at Dubai Health, highlighted the significance of Dubai Health's contribution to the nation's organ donation efforts, stating, "Through our unwavering commitment to organ donation and transplantation, we have developed an integrated approach that saves lives and give hope. By collaborating with national entities, we are able to streamline organ donation processes, ensuring that each act of generosity honors the legacy of those who give and transform the lives of patients.'
Dr. Maria Gomez, Director of the National Centre for the Regulation of Human Organs and Tissues Transplantation of the Ministry of Health and Prevention, pointed out that the concerted efforts of the local and federal authorities in supporting the donation and transplantation of human organs and tissues is a fundamental requirement for developing healthcare services and one of the main pillars for the development of the Hayat program to support organ transplantation in the UAE.
Dr. Gomez also commended the crucial role of all public and private hospitals in the country, including Dubai Health hospitals. Additionally, she lauded the contributions of other public and private hospitals working alongside local health authorities, including the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi, Mubadala, Emirates Health Services, Sharjah Health Authority, and the private sector nationwide.
Offering Hope to Kidney Failure Patients
For those navigating the organ transplantation journey, Dubai Health remains dedicated to providing the highest quality of care and hope. Al Jalila Foundation launched the second edition of its kidney transplantation fundraising campaign, Your Donation Saves Lives. The 2024 campaign successfully raised over AED 46 million to support more than 65 kidney failure patients with life-saving surgeries, dialysis, and post-transplantation care. The first edition of the campaign, launched in 2021, managed to fund approximately 30% of all kidney transplants in Dubai. Al Jalila Foundation, which leads the giving mission of Dubai Health, has partnered with the Islamic Affairs and Charitable Activities Department (IACAD) and Emarat al Youm to raise awareness for this cause within the community. Contributions to the campaign are being accepted through Al Jalila Foundation's A'awen program, allowing donors to support directly patients in need.
Community Education in Organ Donation
Beyond patient care, community awareness and education are central to Dubai Health's efforts to support the nation's organ donation and transplantation program, Hayat. Throughout last year, Dubai Health actively participated in global observances of kidney transplantation and organ donation. These activities included educational sessions on organ donation and transplantation and the First Middle East Ata'a Al Hayat Course on Organ Donation organized by MOHAP and hosted at MBRU. This focus on learning extends to the broader community as well. First-year medical students at MBRU created a storybook to explain organ donation to young audiences. Dubai Health hosted reading sessions for this storybook, 'Ahmed's Big Adventure,' at its Nad Al Hamar Health Center, to teach visiting children the concept of organ donation and its impact.
' Ahmed's Big Adventure' storybook is available for purchase through Al Jalila Foundation's online charity shop, with proceeds directly supporting patients suffering from organ failure. Visit: shop.aljalilafoundation.ae.
With each milestone and continued community support, Dubai Health remains committed to offering hope to patients navigating the organ transplantation journey.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Zawya
13 hours ago
- Zawya
Saudi and UAE collaboration saves life of 7-year-old through cross-border heart transplant
King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre (KFSHRC) in Riyadh has successfully performed a life-saving heart transplant on a 7-year-old Saudi child using an organ donated by a brain-dead donor in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. The complex procedure was made possible through seamless cross-border cooperation between the Saudi Center for Organ Transplantation and the UAE's National Program for Donation and Transplantation of Human Organs and Tissue (HAYAT), with full consent from the donor's family and all regulatory approvals in place. This cooperation involved precise medical and logistical coordination, starting with the organ extraction, followed by air transportation to Riyadh, and concluding with the preparation of operating theaters in record time. The transplantation was performed within a critically time-sensitive window, ultimately saving the life of a child who had no other treatment options available. The medical team at KFSHRC performed the transplantation on the child, who was suffering from advanced heart failure due to a complex congenital heart defect. After exhausting all available treatment options—including medications, respiratory support, and pacemaker implantation—without any significant improvement, the child was placed on the urgent transplant list. Time is a critical factor in heart transplant operations. According to medical standards, the period between removing the heart from the donor and transplanting it into the patient must not exceed five hours to ensure transplant success. This time constraint creates significant logistical challenges in addition to the complex medical procedures, particularly when the brain-dead donor is located in another region within the Kingdom or overseas. In such circumstances, every minute of delay becomes crucial to the operation's success. The KFSHRC Heart Centre is recognized as one of the world's leading cardiac centers, having achieved exceptional milestones including the world's first fully robotic heart transplant and robotic artificial heart pump implantation without chest incision. These unprecedented medical breakthroughs demonstrate the Kingdom's leadership in complex cardiac surgery. KFSHRC has been ranked first in the Middle East and North Africa and 15th globally in the list of the world's top 250 Academic Medical Centers for the second consecutive year and has been recognized as the most valuable healthcare brand in the Kingdom and the Middle East, according to the 2024 Brand Finance rankings. It was included in the world's best 250 hospitals and in the World's Best Smart Hospitals list for 2025 by Newsweek magazine. For more information, visit or contact our media team at mediacoverage@
Web Release
4 days ago
- Web Release
Meet Meals On Me's New High Protein Range – PROTEIN+, The Meal Plan on Every Fitness Fanatic's Radar
Let's be real, meal prepping isn't easy, especially when you're trying to balance macros, calories, and flavour with a busy schedule. Designed for those who demand the most from their meals, Meals On Me is here to take the guesswork out of eating well and make it a whole lot more flavourful with its all-new Protein+ Menu, a high protein meal plan range designed for performance. This is a meal plan that can keep up, be it at the gym, on the track, or powering through a packed schedule, all while being dietitian-approved, calorie-counted, protein-packed, and full of international favourites. Forget bland meals. Each dish in the Protein+ Menu draws inspiration from around the world, featuring crave-worthy options like Stroganoff with Wild Mushroom Tagliatelle, California Braised Beef with Chilli Pickle, Veggies & Buffalo Sauce, and Peri-Peri Chicken with Baked Potatoes & Carrots. Eat more of what you love without sacrificing your goals with your choice of chicken, beef, or fish, and all dishes delivering at least 50 grams of protein and 500 to 600 good calories. What sets the Protein+ Menu apart isn't just the nutritional edge, but how it fits into your lifestyle. Suited to lean muscle building, maintenance, or active weight loss, the menu is crafted for metabolism-boosting, muscle-repairing impact, all while tasting like something you'd actually look forward to. Plus, it's as practical as it is powerful, delivered straight to your door, with weekly plans starting from AED 570 and monthly options from AED 2040 for 2 meals and a snack /day for 6 days. Not your average high-protein plan, the Protein+ Menu offers smart fuel for people who train hard, live fully, and want food that works as hard as they do. Try it for yourself and unlock next-level nutrition by securing yours on August 18th, 2025 at When: Available from August 18th Offer: Calorie-counted, macro-balanced, and dietitian-approved high-protein meal plan Price: Weekly meal plan starting from AED 570 (2 meals and a snack per day, delivered at once); Monthly meal plan starting from AED 2040.
Zawya
14-08-2025
- Zawya
Dubai Healthcare City authority organises organ donation awareness symposium in collaboration with MoHAP
Symposium supports the national 'Hayat' programme and brings together leading experts from the organ donation and transplantation society Dubai, UAE: In recognition of World Organ Donation Day, Dubai Healthcare City Authority (DHCA), the governing body of Dubai Healthcare City (DHCC), organised an awareness symposium in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and Prevention (MoHAP) to highlight the importance of organ donation and support the National Programme for Organ and Tissue Donation and Transplantation - Hayat. Held at the Mohammed Bin Rashid Academic Medical Centre in DHCC, the symposium was part of the 'Donate for Life' campaign, reflecting DHCC's commitment to raising awareness, encouraging social compassion, and fostering a culture of solidarity. The initiative also aligned with MoHAP's nationwide awareness campaign to mark World Organ Donation Day, observed annually on 13 August. It reinforced the value of MoHAP's Hayat programme, advancing the UAE's efforts to promote altruism and save lives through organ and tissue donation. Issam Galadari, Chief Executive Officer at Dubai Healthcare City Authority (DHCA), said: "As part of our ongoing commitment to supporting national healthcare priorities and enabling constructive dialogue around high-impact medical initiatives, we are proud to join efforts with the Ministry of Health and Prevention to raise awareness of organ donation. This humanitarian act reflects noble values of social responsibility and unity. We firmly believe that improving public health outcomes is underscored by close collaboration between all the related entities and organisations." For his part, Dr. Ali Abdulkarim Al Obaidli, Chairman of the National Committee for Organ Transplantation, said that World Organ Donation Day is an annual occasion to reaffirm the UAE's national and ethical commitment to promoting a culture of donation, which he described as one of the highest expressions of humanitarian generosity and noble endeavour. Al Obaidli commended the awareness symposium organised by the Dubai Healthcare City Authority, in participation with health, education, and religious institutions, saying it shows what can be achieved when the whole community works together to raise awareness and stand beside donors and their families. He added that the National Committee will continue to develop policies and protocols to safeguard the wellbeing of donors and patients, aiming to establish a sustainable donation and transplantation system. This, he said, relies on the active engagement of society and the combined efforts of public and private entities, ultimately saving lives, offering renewed hope to patients, and bringing joy to their families. The event explored the entire transplantation journey from multiple perspectives, including medical, regulatory, ethical, and personal, offering a comprehensive understanding of the process and its profound impact. The symposium featured a unique line-up of industry experts and leaders, including Dr. Ali Abdulkarim Al Obaidli, Chairman of the National Committee for Organ Transplantation; Chief Mufti Dr. Mohamad Ayada Alkubaisi from the Islamic Affairs and Charitable Activities Department in Dubai; Ayesha Al Falahi, Senior Consultant, Organ Donation and Transplantation at the DHA; Nujood AlKhloofi, Senior Director, Organ Donation & Transplantation Program, Dubai Health; Dr. Hemant Vadeyar, Adjunct Associate Professor of Surgery at the Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences in Dubai and Consultant Gastrointestinal, hepato-pancreato-biliary and Transplant Surgeon Laparoscopic, and Robotic Surgeon at Mediclinic City Hospital; Dr. Nageswar Bandla, Organ Donation Coordinator, Hayat Programme; Dr. Maria Gomes, Director, National Regulatory Center for Donation and Transplantation of Human Organs and Tissues, UAE. A special session brough together an organ recipient and the family of a donor to share their personal experiences, reflections, and challenges throughout their journeys. Their moving testimonials highlighted the emotional dimension of organ donation, reinforcing its role in restoring hope and offering a second chance at life. The session resonated deeply with attendees and reflected MoHAP's wider efforts to promote organ donation. As part of the 'Donate for Life' campaign, a dedicated registration booth was set up at the venue, allowing attendees to sign up for the Hayat programme and help transform lives across the UAE. DHCC has played a key role in the UAE's organ donation journey. In 2015, DHCC hosted the inaugural UAE Organ Donation Forum, which served as a platform for regional and international experts to exchange knowledge and establish frameworks for national cooperation. Less than a year later, in June 2016, DHCC's ecosystem witnessed the first-ever kidney transplant in Dubai, carried out at Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences in partnership with Mediclinic City Hospital, one of DHCA's key strategic partners. Since then, DHCC has continued to lead on this front through initiatives such as the 'Live Saver Season: Be a Donor' campaign. Additionally, DHCC remains committed to enhancing its healthcare ecosystem to support organ transplantation services and partnerships. About Dubai Healthcare City Authority (DHCA): Established in 2011 by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, Dubai Healthcare City Authority (DHCA) is the governing body of Dubai Healthcare City (DHCC), the emirate's healthcare and wellness free zone. DHCA's mandate is to advance DHCC's ecosystem, operating at an intersection of healthcare, wellness, community living and regulation, and facilitating business set-up across medical care, wellness, academic and research, as well as hosting pharmaceutical, medical equipment, and support service providers. DHCA is committed to attracting local and international investments to drive innovation and improve healthcare delivery, contributing to Dubai's status as a global healthcare destination.
