This milestone reflects the UAE's leadership in organ transplantation, achieved through the combined efforts of federal and local entities and collaboration with health and academic sectors. It aligns with the UAE's "We the UAE 2031" vision, aiming to position the nation prominently on the global stage.
Coinciding with World Organ Donor Day on August 13th, this achievement underscores the UAE's commitment to being a model for excellence both regionally and globally. It results from continuous government efforts to raise awareness about organ donation, supported by the nation’s advanced medical infrastructure, skilled professionals, and strategic international partnerships.
The Hayat Programme adheres to the highest international standards and is a key component of the UAE’s strategy to enhance the global competitiveness of its health sector. Recently, 11 visits from approximately 20 international experts were conducted to review organ transplantation facilities, facilitating knowledge transfer, capacity building, and validation of the UAE’s healthcare readiness.
This global recognition adds to the Hayat Programme’s accomplishments, including being named the fastest-growing organ donation programme worldwide over the past five years, with a remarkable 417% increase in organ donation and transplantation. The UAE’s success in promoting organ donation culture contributes to the Wellbeing Index and reinforces values of sustainability and community solidarity.
The programme has provided renewed hope to patients in need of organ transplants, showcasing the UAE’s health system's efficiency and technological capabilities. In May 2024, the World Health Organization’s General Assembly adopted recommendations for building sustainable organ donation programmes, many of which have been integrated into the UAE’s new federal law, highlighting the country’s proactive approach.
MoHaP, in collaboration with health sector partners, regularly conducts campaigns to educate the community about organ donation, emphasizing how individuals can save lives and prevent organ failure diseases. The Ministry also participates in exhibitions and community events to showcase the programme’s benefits, sharing testimonials from patients who have regained hope through successful transplants.
Dr. Ali Abdulkarim Al Obaidli, Chairman of the National Committee for Organ Transplantation, emphasized that the Hayat programme is a national initiative aimed at promoting organ and tissue donation in line with global practices, providing care for patients with organ deficiencies. He highlighted that organ donation not only offers hope to patients and their families but also enhances community health and individual quality of life, supporting disease prevention.
Dr. Al Obaidli also noted the positive evaluations by international experts of the UAE’s kidney transplant programmes, affirming MoHaP’s commitment to excellence and reinforcing the UAE's leadership in organ transplantation. The ministry’s licensed facilities provide life-saving treatments without the need for patients to travel abroad.
Dr. Maria Gomez, Director of the National Centre for Regulating Donation and Transplantation of Human Organs and Tissues at MoHAP, called on citizens and residents to register their intent to donate organs, contributing to disease prevention and offering hope to those awaiting transplants. She highlighted the programme’s success, marked by a ceremony on World Organ Donor Day, and ongoing efforts to raise awareness through events in collaboration with local health authorities.
The Hayat programme has registered 26,825 individuals willing to donate, with over 255 becoming donors. A single donor can save up to eight lives, with living donors able to donate kidneys and liver parts to relatives and non-relatives, while post-mortem donors can contribute vital organs and tissues.
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