Khaberni - Dr. Ali Al Obaidli, the chairman of the National Committee for Donation and Transplantation in the UAE, stated that the achievements of the national program for organ and human tissue donation and transplantation "Hayat," contribute to establishing the UAE’s global position in the field of humanitarian medicine, noting the vital role the "Hayat" program plays in enhancing the sustainability of the healthcare system in the Emirates and reducing reliance on external solutions.
This was stated during a briefing titled “Hayat Program for Organ Donation” within the annual meetings of the UAE government 2025, which concluded their activities last Thursday, in the capital Abu Dhabi. The briefing included several topics related to the legislative and regulatory aspects of the program, its health impacts, and its societal and humanitarian dimensions, in addition to the economic and strategic aspect, and the role of the private sector in supporting the program to achieve its goals.
2034 Transplant Operations
Dr. Ali Al Obaidli revealed that more than 2034 organ transplant operations have been performed since the inception of the program, while the number of organ transplants conducted since the beginning of the year 2024 until now has exceeded 354 operations, and the number of organ donors has reached more than 397 donors.
He explained that the organ transplantation operations in the country have surpassed 2034 organs, and more than 10,000 technical and administrative staff have been trained within and outside the country. The UAE has achieved first place globally in the annual growth rate of donors per million people.
Dr. Ali Al Obaidli mentioned that the "Hayat" program offers significant pathways for the success of the UAE’s directions in the fields of health and disease prevention. It opens the door for the UAE to international partnerships in this field through providing its services in training and offering specialized services to a larger number of patients around the world, following the recommendations issued by the World Health Organization for the year 2024 regarding cooperation among nations based on mutual benefit and solidarity in the field of organ and tissue transplantation.
Strengthening Cooperation
He stated that the issuance of World Health Organization recommendations for disease prevention that cause renal failure by the year 2025 also opens the door for the country to share its experiences in this field, thereby establishing pathways of international cooperation and exchanging expertise to develop innovative visions and solutions for handling these diseases.
He affirmed that the presence of a large number of diverse expatriate communities within the UAE, reaching over 200 nationalities, gives the country an additional advantage in this field and establishes a stronger foundation for partnerships and cooperation with other countries.
Dr. Al Obaidli emphasized the importance of developing plans to expand specialized mission programs to attract and prepare highly qualified national technical personnel to join this humanitarian field, aiming for the program’s sustainability and accelerated achievement of its goals.
He pointed out the transparency and trust that distinguish the organ donation program's operations, as the UAE has approved organ and human tissue transfer and transplantation operations according to the provisions of Federal Decree-Law No. (25) for the year 2023 on the donation and transplantation of human organs and tissues. This law applies to operations conducted within the state or its free zones and aims to regulate the transfer, transplantation, and preservation of human organs and tissues, develop them, prevent trafficking in human organs and tissues, protect the rights of individuals from whom or to whom organs or tissues are transferred, regulate the process of organ and tissue donation, and prevent exploitation of a patient's or donor’s need.
