Department of Health Abu Dhabi celebrates 2100 transplants since launch of Hayat programme

The Department of Health – Abu Dhabi (DoH) has marked World Organ Donation Day by celebrating the life-changing impact of organ donation on 2,150 patients who have benefited from transplants performed in the emirate since the launch of Hayat — the National Programme for Donation and Transplantation of Human Organs and Tissue — in 2017, through June 2026.

The department said the milestone has given those patients new opportunities for life and improved their health and quality of life. Since the programme began, Abu Dhabi has been recognized for leading complex procedures that were firsts for the UAE and the wider region, and for consistently delivering transplant success rates that match the highest international benchmarks — reinforcing its position as a world-leading destination for healthcare and medical excellence.

‘Behind every transplant is a person waiting’

Dr. Rashed Alsuwaidi, Director General of the Abu Dhabi Public Health Centre, said each procedure represents both a patient’s renewed hope and a donor’s extraordinary generosity:

“Behind every transplant is a person waiting for a new chance at life, a family holding on to hope, and an organ donor whose extraordinary generosity has given others the gift of life … We continue to strengthen the emirate’s integrated transplant ecosystem by delivering the highest standards of care, harnessing the latest technologies and bringing together world-class expertise.”

A single act that can transform lives

Every transplant begins with the decision to become an organ donor. Through the Hayat programme, the DoH encourages members of the community to register as donors — an act it describes as a profound expression of humanity with the power to transform multiple lives, give hope to families, and help build a healthier, more resilient future for the nation.

Transplants in the emirate are carried out at leading Abu Dhabi facilities, including Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Khalifa Medical City, Burjeel Medical City, and Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City. On World Organ Donation Day, the DoH extended its gratitude to donors and their families, whose decisions continue to save and transform lives across the emirate.