05-07-2025
Sheikh Mohammed Funds Dh7m Treatment to Save Syrian Girl
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, has stepped up to cover the Dh7 million cost of life-saving treatment for a two-year-old Syrian girl battling spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), a rare genetic disorder.
The move came after the girl's uncle shared an emotional plea on social media, asking for help to fund her urgent medical care. Her treatment will take place at Al Jalila Children's Hospital in Dubai—one of the few places in the world equipped to handle such cases.
A Family's Plea Answered in Days
Yaqeen Kankar's family had been struggling to find a diagnosis for her critical condition. Doctors warned that without the expensive gene therapy, she might only have a few months to live.
But just three days after their online appeal, the family got the call that changed everything.
'Sheikh Mohammed is like a father to all children,' said Yaqeen's father, Ibrahim Kankar. 'We never imagined this would happen so quickly. Now my daughter has a chance at a normal childhood.'
Advanced Care at Dubai's Al Jalila Hospital
Al Jalila Children's Hospital welcomed Yaqeen for testing and began preparing for Zolgensma, a one-time gene therapy that's considered one of the world's most expensive treatments.
Doctors are closely monitoring her condition to ensure the best possible care during the process.
SMA attacks motor neurons in the body, making it difficult for children to move, eat, or even breathe without help. With timely treatment, children like Yaqeen can live fuller lives.
