Emirati father donates late daughter’s organs, saving three lives

Dubai: An Emirati father has donated the organs of his five-year-old daughter, turning personal tragedy into a lifeline for three people in need, according to Ali Abdulkarim Al Obaidli, Chairman of the National Committee for Organ Transplantation, Emarat Al Youm reported. 

Dr. Ali Al Obaidli said the father’s decision embodied “the highest meanings of mercy and generosity,” noting that the National Programme for Organ and Tissue Donation and Transplantation, “Hayat” has become one of the fastest-growing organ-donation systems in the world in terms of public participation and awareness.

According to Dr. Al Obaidli, the father said words that “touched every heart”: “I was attached to my daughter, and God chose her. Because I love her so much, I want her to leave a lasting impact.” Her organs were successfully transplanted into three patients, all of whom had been waiting urgently for a match.

Another case he shared involved a two-week-old infant whose parents insisted on donating her kidneys after her death. The organs went to a 48-year-old woman with long-standing kidney failure, ending her years of dialysis and allowing her to begin a new chapter of life.

“These families have become ambassadors of giving,” Dr. Al Obaidli said, adding that their courage and compassion helped build the momentum behind Hayat, now considered a national success story and a point of pride for the UAE in international medical circles.

Since its launch in 2017, the UAE has performed more than 2,034 organ transplants, and more than 36,000 people have registered as donors, numbers officials say reflect strong public trust in the country’s medical and legislative frameworks.

He noted that the UAE now performs all major organ transplants, including heart, lung, pancreas, liver and kidney surgeries, as well as complex combined operations that many international centers decline due to their difficulty.

This progress, he said, stems from an integrated system built on clear legislation aligned with Islamic fatwas, extensive medical training, more than 10,000 healthcare professionals trained, and a deliberate effort to build public confidence before promoting mass registration.

Dr. Al Obaidli emphasised that worldwide, only about 10 percent of organ-transplant needs are met. Rising chronic diseases, aging populations and limited technical capacity in many countries contribute to the gap.

He also pointed to a global “donation paradox”: while 70-90 percent of people support organ donation in principle, far fewer actually register. “People want to help others,” he said, “but they need information at the right moment to turn this feeling into action.”

He stressed the importance of preventive health as well, noting that many causes of organ failure are preventable. “A person is more likely to need a transplant in their lifetime than to become a donor,” he said. “Strengthening a culture of prevention and donation benefits everyone.”

The UAE’s rise, he said, came not only from numbers but from strategy. Unlike some countries that launched donor-registration drives before building medical capacity, the UAE prioritized infrastructure, training and public trust first, a sequence he credited with the program’s success.

The International Registry in Organ Donation and Transplantation recently highlighted the UAE’s rapid growth compared with other nations, placing it among the most promising global models for sustainable transplant systems.

Dr. Al Obaidli urged the public to register with the Hayat program, noting that the process takes less than a minute and can change  or save  a life.

“Organ donation,” he said, “is the greatest gift one can offer after death. It gives life to those who await it and leaves a legacy of goodness that endures.”