UAE Expands Support for Organ Donors With Medical, Travel and Family Benefits

The UAE has introduced a comprehensive support framework for organ donors and their families, offering medical coverage, travel and accommodation assistance, follow-up care and other benefits as the country continues to strengthen its national organ donation and transplantation system.

The measures are set out under Ministerial Decision No. 91 of 2026. The framework covers living donors, people who have expressed a wish or made a bequest to donate after death, and relatives of deceased donors.

Medical Support for Living Donors

Living donors can receive coverage for medical tests, examinations and procedures connected with donation. Support includes hospital admission, accommodation and healthcare services required during the transplant process.

Care continues after surgery, with medical follow-up designed to monitor donors’ recovery and longer-term health. The national system places donor safety at the centre of the process, including medical-history reviews, physical and psychological assessments, blood and compatibility testing, imaging and pre-operative counselling.

Travel, Accommodation and Recovery Assistance

The framework can also provide accommodation near the treating hospital and assistance with travel and transportation costs linked to the donation process. Where required, donors may receive home-care support during recovery as well as assistance related to absence from work.

Support for Families of Deceased Donors

Relatives of deceased donors may receive psychological and social support following donation. The framework also provides for official recognition of the donor’s humanitarian contribution, including certificates, medals and letters of appreciation.

Priority if a Donor or Eligible Relative Later Needs a Transplant

Eligible donors and certain relatives may receive priority if they later require an organ or tissue transplant. This does not guarantee an organ: priority remains subject to medical condition, compatibility, clinical need and assessment by the National Centre for Regulation of Human Organ and Tissue Donation and Transplantation and relevant health authorities.

Eligible groups include living donors and relatives up to the fourth degree, people who have expressed a wish or made a bequest to donate after death and certain relatives, as well as relatives of deceased donors.

Hayat Programme Has Saved More Than 1,500 Lives

The new support measures come as the UAE reports major progress under its National Programme for Donation and Transplantation of Human Organs and Tissues, known as Hayat.

According to the Ministry of Health and Prevention, organ transplantation from deceased donors has helped save more than 1,500 patients in the UAE since the programme was launched in 2017 through June 2026. The programme recorded 549 deceased donors and facilitated 1,780 organ transplants, including kidneys, livers, lungs, hearts and pancreases.

Nine Accredited Transplant Centres

Organ transplant services are available through nine accredited centres in the UAE. The national system is overseen by the Ministry of Health and Prevention through the National Centre, which regulates donation, organ retrieval, preservation, allocation, transportation and transplantation.

A Framework Built Around Safety and Humanitarian Support

The UAE says the expanded framework is intended not only to increase organ availability but also to ensure that donors and their families receive appropriate care and recognition. Allocation of organs continues to be based on medical criteria, compatibility and clinical priority.

Key Benefits at a Glance
•    Medical and insurance coverage for donation-related tests and procedures
•    Post-surgery medical monitoring and follow-up for living donors
•    Travel, transport and accommodation support linked to donation
•    Home-care and recovery assistance where required
•    Psychological and social support for families of deceased donors
•    Official recognition of deceased donors’ humanitarian contribution
•    Conditional transplant priority for eligible donors and specified relatives if they later need an organ or tissue