UAE to offer face, hand and uterus transplants in next phase of Hayat organ donation programme

Dubai: The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is set to expand its organ and tissue transplant services, including intestine, uterus, and vascularised composite tissues like face, hand, and arm transplants, as part of the next phase of its National Programme for Donation and Transplantation of Human Organs and Tissues, "Hayat". The Ministry of Health and Prevention (MoHAP) plans to establish dedicated organ donation units within hospitals to identify potential donors, support families, and manage the entire donation process.

These units aim to increase the number of available organs and reduce waiting times for patients requiring life-saving transplants. The programme, launched in 2017, has so far saved over 1,500 patients through 1,780 successful transplant procedures, with the number of deceased donors increasing by 35.5% in 2025 compared to 2024.

Currently, nine accredited centers across the UAE conduct transplant procedures, with Abu Dhabi's Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi being the leading facility. The UAE records the highest rate of deceased donors among GCC countries, at 13.95 per million people. Clinical outcomes match those of the world's leading transplant centers, with kidney transplants having a 96.5% survival rate after one year and liver transplants achieving a 93% survival rate.

The UAE also carried out its first robotic lung transplant, placing it among a select group of countries capable of this complex procedure. A federal decree-law established rules for fair organ allocation, donor and recipient rights, and donor donation up to the fourth degree of family relationship, as well as paired donation between different families when biological compatibility is not possible.

The UAE government recognizes donors through medical insurance coverage, accommodation and travel support, recovery assistance, and certificates of appreciation. Over 10,000 healthcare professionals have been trained in organ donation, forming a national network of over 150 specialists providing round-the-clock support for donors and recipients.