Transplant Surgery

For people living with kidney failure, a transplant can restore health in a way that dialysis cannot, offering an alternative to lifelong dialysis. Our transplant service in Dubai performs kidney transplants for adults using kidneys from living and deceased donors. One multidisciplinary team supports you and your family from the first consultation through surgery and long-term follow-up.

What is transplant surgery?

Transplant surgery replaces an organ that is no longer able to function with a healthy organ from a donor. It focuses mainly on abdominal organs such as the kidney, liver and pancreas.

A transplant may be considered when an organ can no longer recover and other treatments are no longer providing enough support. For people living with kidney failure who are suitable for surgery, a kidney transplant can offer better quality of life and longer life expectancy compared with remaining on dialysis. It can also reduce the time, dietary and fluid restrictions associated with dialysis.

Timing is important. People with advanced kidney disease can be referred for transplant assessment before dialysis is needed, giving the team time to explore the available options. In some cases, a pre-emptive transplant can take place before dialysis begins, particularly when a suitable living donor is available. Kidneys from living donors also tend to start working sooner and last longer than kidneys from deceased donors.

Throughout the process, your transplant surgeon, nephrologist and wider transplant team work together to assess your suitability, explain your options and support you through surgery and long-term follow-up.

Who is referred for a transplant?

You are not booked directly into transplant surgery. You are usually referred by the nephrologist already looking after your kidneys. A transplant may be considered when your kidneys can no longer recover, and other treatments are no longer enough. You also need to be well enough for major surgery, recovery, and the lifelong medication needed afterwards.

The transplant team will carry out a full assessment, considering the potential benefits and risks for you individually. There is no fixed upper or lower age limit, but certain conditions may make transplantation unsafe, such as untreated cancer, an uncontrolled active infection, or significant untreated heart or lung disease. Every person is assessed individually, and not everyone will be suitable for a transplant. Your team will explain the results of your assessment and the options available to you.

What to expect

The first step is a full assessment with the transplant team to understand your health and whether transplantation is suitable for you. This usually includes blood tests, tissue typing and antibody screening, crossmatching to check compatibility with a potential donor, and scans and heart and lung checks to make sure you are fit for surgery. Your case is then reviewed by the transplant committee before you proceed to donation or are placed on the national waiting list.

If you have a potential living donor, they will have their own separate and confidential assessment to make sure donation is safe for them. If suitable, the transplant can be planned in advance. If there is no living donor, you will be placed on the UAE national waiting list for a kidney from a deceased donor. Waiting times vary depending on factors such as your blood group and antibody levels, and you will continue dialysis and regular monitoring while you wait.

During surgery, the donor kidney is usually placed in the lower abdomen and connected to your blood vessels and bladder, while your own kidneys normally remain in place. After your transplant, you will take medicines to prevent rejection and infection and have regular blood tests and follow-up appointments. These visits are frequent at first and gradually reduce as you recover. Your team will guide you on your medicines, activity, diet, vaccinations, and returning to everyday life.

Living kidney donation in the UAE

Living kidney donation is regulated in the UAE to protect donors. Donors must be blood relatives of the recipient up to the fourth degree, with proof of the relationship required. They are generally between 18 and 65 years old, although exceptions may apply.

Donors undergo their own confidential medical and psychological assessment and can withdraw at any point before surgery without giving a reason. Buying, selling or trading organs is illegal, and donors cannot receive money, gifts, loans or favours in return for donating.

If you are considering becoming a living donor, you need to contact the transplant team yourself. The transplant coordinator will explain the process and what donation involves.

Deceased donor kidney transplants

Deceased organ donation in the UAE is coordinated nationally through the Ministry of Health and Prevention's Hayat programme. Donor kidneys are allocated according to national criteria rather than hospital preference.

UAE residents can register their wish to become an organ donor through the Ministry of Health and Prevention's organ donation service.

Transplant surgery at Mediclinic

Our transplant service is based at Mediclinic City Hospital in Dubai Healthcare City, providing kidney transplants for people living with kidney failure using kidneys from living and deceased donors. Mediclinic City Hospital performed Dubai's first deceased donor kidney transplant in June 2016.

The programme is accredited by the Saudi Center for Organ Transplantation (SCOT) and licensed by the Dubai Healthcare City Authority and the Ministry of Health and Prevention. Care is provided by a multidisciplinary team of nephrologists, transplant surgeons, urologists, cardiologists, transplant coordinators, pharmacists, dietitians and psychologists, who support you throughout treatment and long-term follow-up. Living donors receive their own careful assessment and support.

Liver and pancreas transplants are not currently performed at Mediclinic City Hospital. If you require these services, your specialist can refer you to an appropriate centre. Mediclinic City Hospital does, however, provide specialist care for advanced liver disease and liver cancer.

Speak to our team

Referrals are made through your nephrologist or hospital kidney specialist. If you would like to ask about kidney transplantation or living donation:

Telephone: 800-KIDNEY Email: dialysiscentre@mediclinic.ae Hours: Sunday to Friday, 8am to 6pm