First Successful Infant Liver Transplant Performed in Dubai
Apr 18, 2025
In a landmark medical milestone, Dubai has successfully completed its first infant liver transplant, giving 13-month-old Malek a second chance at life. The complex surgery was carried out by world-renowned liver transplant surgeon Professor Mohamed Rela and a multidisciplinary team at King's College Hospital London in Dubai, with full medical and philanthropic backing from Al Jalila Foundation, part of Dubai Health. Malek was born with biliary atresia, a rare and life-threatening liver condition, compounded by a congenital heart defect. Before the transplant, doctors at Al Jalila Children's Hospital performed open-heart surgery to repair a hole in his heart. His father became his living donor — making the procedure possible and ultimately life-saving. This groundbreaking operation aligns with Dubai Social Agenda 33, a strategic vision for global excellence in healthcare. The successful transplant marks a new chapter for organ donation and treatment options in the UAE — removing the need for patients to travel abroad for such critical care. Professor Rela, known for conducting the world's youngest liver transplant on a 5-day-old infant, praised the operation as a 'model of collaboration' between private and public sectors in Dubai. The operation's success is a signal that Dubai is ready to meet the world's most advanced healthcare challenges with precision and global standards.
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