UAE: What is Abu Dhabi's 'Hayat' program? How it enabled 1,090 life-saving organ transplants since 2017

In a landmark achievement that underscores Abu Dhabi’s rise as a centre of advanced medical care, the Emirate has successfully completed over 1,000 organ transplants through its national organ donation programme ‘ Hayat ’. As of 2024, a total of 1,090 transplants have been carried out across leading transplant centres, demonstrating the UAE’s growing capacity in life-saving medical procedures and its commitment to pioneering healthcare solutions.

TL;DR:

• 1,090 organ transplants completed in Abu Dhabi since 2017
• 290 transplants in 2024, including heart, liver, kidney, lung, and pancreas
• Hayat’ programme promotes organ donation for UAE residents aged 21+

A historic milestone in transplant medicine
Abu Dhabi’s journey in organ transplantation has reached a critical milestone, with 1,090 organ transplants performed between 2017, when the ‘Hayat’ National Programme for Donation and Transplantation of Human Organs and Tissue was launched, and 2024. The announcement was made on World Organ Donation Day (13 August 2025), highlighting the Emirate’s expanding capabilities in complex medical procedures.

The year 2024 alone saw a record 290 transplants, which included:

• 142 kidney transplants
• 117 liver transplants
• 22 lung transplants
• 7 heart transplants
• 2 pancreas transplants

Leading centres and medical breakthroughs

These procedures were carried out across four advanced transplant centres, all contributing significantly to the overall success of the programme:

Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi (CCAD)

Established in 2017 as the UAE’s first multi-organ transplant centre, CCAD performed an impressive 241 transplants in 2024 alone. Among its standout achievements:

• First combined heart-lung transplant in the UAE
• First combined lung-liver transplant in the region (2023)
• First triple-paired kidney exchange in the UAE
• Houses the UAE’s only lung transplant programme and the only ICU dedicated to multi-organ transplant patients

Sheikh Khalifa Medical City (SKMC)

A subsidiary of PureHealth, the largest healthcare platform in the Middle East, SKMC continues to enhance its transplant capabilities:

• Over 114 kidney transplants performed in 2024
• Expanding liver transplant programme for both adult and paediatric patients
• Reinforces its position as a centre for world-class care and improved patient outcomes

Burjeel Medical City (BMC)

BMC has quickly risen as a key player in transplant innovation, with multiple national firsts:

• First paediatric living donor liver transplant in the UAE
• First ABO-incompatible kidney transplant
• Youngest paediatric liver transplant performed on a five-month-old patient

Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City (SSMC)

SSMC combines clinical care with research and academic excellence:

• Delivered 10 international conference presentations in the field
• Won Best Abstract Award at ISODP 2023 in Las Vegas
• Performed the UAE’s first COVID-positive organ donation

Ranked second in the UAE for the number of utilised organ donors in 2022

About the 'Hayat' programme

Launched in 2017, Hayat is the UAE’s National Programme for Donation and Transplantation of Human Organs and Tissues. It was established following a Federal Decree Law passed in 2016 to position the UAE as a global role model in organ and tissue donation.


Key Features of the Programme:

• Encourages both living and deceased donor registration
• Allows donation from deceased donors with the consent of their families
• Open to all UAE nationals and residents aged 21 and above

Hayat’s Goals Include:

Regulating organ and tissue donation and transplant processes

Providing care to patients with organ deficiencies

Improving health and quality of life across communities

Saving lives by promoting donor registration through the Hayat platform

The programme serves as both a humanitarian initiative and a regulatory framework, aiming to develop a safe, ethical, and efficient transplantation ecosystem across the nation.

FAQs
1. Who can register for the Hayat programme?
Any UAE national or resident over the age of 21 can register to become an organ donor.

2. Can organs be donated after death?
Yes. Deceased organ donation is possible with prior donor registration and family consent.

3. Which organs and tissues can be donated?
Organs like the heart, lungs, liver, kidneys, pancreas, and tissues such as corneas, bones, and skin can be donated.

4. How can one register as a donor?
Registration is available via the official Hayat platform, which is accessible online.

5. What impact does one organ donor have?
A single donor can save up to 8 lives and enhance over 75 more through tissue donation.