Dubai: The Ministry of Health and Prevention (MoHAP), in collaboration with health authorities across the UAE, has showcased the latest developments and achievements of the National Programme for Organ and Tissue Donation and Transplantation, known as 'Hayat,' at Arab Health 2025. This event is considered the Middle East's largest and most significant healthcare congress, held at the Dubai World Trade Centre from January 27th to 30th.
According to Emirates News Agency, the programme was featured on the unified national platform "Emirates Health," aiming to foster a culture of organ donation both during life and posthumously. It seeks to streamline and coordinate national efforts to support patients with organ failure, improve patient quality of life, and ease family burdens as part of the UAE's goal to develop a world-class healthcare system in line with the "We the UAE 2031" vision.
In 2024, the UAE witnessed considerable advancements in organ and tissue donation, with 352 organs transplanted, marking a 22% increase over 2023. This achievement positions the UAE at the forefront of the region in organ utilisation rates, leading the GCC countries in the organ transplantation index, with a total of 956 organs transplanted since the programme's inception in 2017.
Health authorities have bolstered their healthcare capabilities, training over 400 certified specialists to diagnose brain death, ensuring accurate donor eligibility assessments per the highest medical standards.
Dr. Amin Hussain Al Amiri, Assistant Undersecretary for the Health Regulation Sector, emphasised that the achievements of the Hayat programme are being showcased at Arab Health 2025 to raise community awareness and promote a positive culture about organ donation. Al Amiri highlighted that the exhibition, which attracts thousands of health sector specialists and stakeholders, offers a dynamic platform to share the programme's impactful successes. In 2024 alone, 338 patients benefited from life-saving organ transplants from 110 donors, embodying the UAE's spirit of solidarity and humanitarianism.
He further detailed the successful transplantation of 187 kidneys, 100 livers, 39 lungs, 21 hearts, 3 pancreases, and two liver segments. The UAE has emerged as a leading model in organ donation and transplantation, both regionally and globally, having established a comprehensive national programme that combines medical excellence with a humanitarian approach.
Dr. Al Amiri continued, "What sets our experience in organ and tissue donation apart is the seamless integration of efforts from health institutions and strategic partners in developing an advanced digital system that ensures transparency and efficiency while promoting a supportive culture for organ donation."
Dr. Ali Abdulkarim Al Obaidli, Chairman of the National Committee for Organ Transplantation, noted that the programme's presence at various specialised exhibitions and events has led to a significant increase in registrants, supported by the UAE's state-of-the-art healthcare infrastructure. Al Obaidli pointed out that the "Hayat" programme is the fastest-growing of its kind globally, achieving a 41.7% growth rate over the past five years, per findings from the World Transplant Congress in the United States.
He added that the awareness campaigns organised by the ministry, in collaboration with government and private institutions, have contributed to a notable increase in registrants for the "Hayat" programme, reaching a total of 31,145 individuals. This achievement crowns MoHAP's ongoing efforts to raise community awareness about the vital role of the "Hayat" programme in saving lives, reinforcing national visions aimed at achieving health sustainability and ensuring a happy community with a high quality of life.