UAE organ transplantation law

The UAE’s Organ Transplantation Law which was amended by a Presidential Decree of 2016 allows for deceased and living donors organ transplant. Organs that can be transplanted are the heart, kidneys, liver, lungs, pancreas, intestine and thymus. Tissues include bones, tendons, cornea, skin, heart valves, nerves and veins.

Worldwide, kidneys are the most commonly transplanted organs, followed by the liver and then the heart. Cornea and musculoskeletal grafts are the most commonly transplanted tissues; these outnumber organ transplants by more than tenfold.

Commenting on the deceased organ transplant in the nine year old, Dr Ali Obaidly, director of UAE’s National organ transplant Committee, told “So far, nine cases of deceased organ transplants have taken place in the UAE. The nine deceased donors from Mafraq Hospital Abu Dhabi, donated various organs such as lungs, livers, kidneys, heart, tissue, bone marrow etc. Of these organs, four kidneys went to children. Three of the kidney recipients were from Abu Dhabi. Bana Nizar, who received the deceased donor’s kidney was the fourth child in UAE and the first in Dubai to receive the organ.”

Dr Obaidly also expressed his gratitude and appreciation for the donor family. “They decided to rise above their personal loss and grief and converted it into a blessing by giving this gift of life to those who needed them. I think we need to appreciate the positive attitude of both the national and expatriate community in the UAE which will encourage more cadaver organ transplant and make UAE a leader in organ transplantation in the region.”