On World Organ Donation Day Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi reaffirms its commitment to the national Hayat initiative to build on organ donation success

● As the UAE’s first multi-organ transplant center, Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi has conducted 664 life-saving transplants since the program’s inception in 2017 ● Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi reaffirms its commitment to raising awareness and supporting the noble cause of organ donation through the Hayat initiative

Marking world Organ Donation Day, Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, part of the M42 group, announces a significant milestone in its journey as the UAE’s first multi-organ transplant center. Since the program’s inception in 2017, Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi has performed 664 life-saving transplants, made possible by countless hero donors who gave patients the greatest gift of all: the chance of a new, healthy life.

Over the years, the center has seen significant growth in its organ transplant volume and has revolutionized medical care by conducting a wide range of complex transplant procedures, including kidney, liver, lung, heart, and pancreas transplants from both living and deceased donors. The hospital has also achieved several UAE firsts in multi-organ transplants. These milestones include pioneering procedures such as combined lung–liver transplants, liver–kidney transplants, heart–kidney transplants, and kidney–pancreas transplants. As of July 2024, the hospital has conducted 131 transplants so far this year, with ongoing procedures scheduled throughout the coming months.

In support of the UAE government's efforts to promote organ donation registration and raise awareness about its life-saving benefits, Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi is dedicated to transforming patients' lives through cutting-edge medical care and a strong commitment to organ donation.

As the hospital continuously grows its multi-organ transplant center, it takes pride in its caregivers, who are certified as organ transplantation coordinators, and it hosts the only heart failure-certified nurse outside North America. It also houses the UAE’s first Intensive Care Unit dedicated to combined solid organ transplants, as well as the country’s only lung transplant center.

Dr. Bashir Sankari, Chair of the Surgical Subspecialties Institute at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, said, “Each successful transplant represents a new chapter in a patient’s life. Our dedicated multidisciplinary team’s expertise and commitment have made these life-saving procedures possible, bringing renewed hope and healing to countless families. Our transplant program not only saves lives but also inspires advancements in medical research and technology. We are committed to providing the highest standard of care and continuously improving our capabilities to better serve our community and beyond.”

Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi’s success is closely tied to the Hayat initiative, a National Program for Organ Donation and Transplantation led by the Ministry of Health and Prevention (MoHAP). In 2023, Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi installed its first Hayat booth to raise awareness on organ donation. The initiative has been instrumental in raising awareness and encouraging organ donor registration across the UAE.

According to the Ministry of Health and Prevention (MoHAP), a total of 26,565 donors have registered in the Hayat program with more than 4,000 patients waiting for donors.

In its collaboration with Cleveland Clinic U.S., the hospital has enabled multidisciplinary teams to also pioneer complex related living donor liver and kidney transplants. This innovation has since attracted international patients seeking specialized care to Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi.

Furthermore, earlier this year, the hospital led the second edition of The Annual UAE Organ Donation and Transplantation Congress, uniting global organ and tissue donation and transplantation programs with healthcare professionals, policymakers, and researchers, aiming to support the implementation of innovative solutions to prevent organ failure.

In partnership with the Ministry of Health and Prevention, Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi remains steadfast in its mission to promote organ donation through the Hayat initiative, enabling UAE residents above 21 years old to register to donate their organs in the case of brain death.

Visit the hospital to register as a donor at the booth, and to know more about the Transplant Center, visit https://www.clevelandclinicabudhabi.ae/en/institutes-and-specialties/transplant-center/pages/default.aspx

To book an appointment at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, call 800 8 CCAD (2223) visit https://www.clevelandclinicabudhabi.ae/en/pages/default.aspx or download the Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi Patient Portal App.