Saudi man reunited with biological family after baby swap with Turkish infant in 2003

Cairo: A young Saudi man, who was at the centre of a baby swap with a Turkish infant more than two decades ago, has recalled the early years of his life and how he was reunited with his biological family after living for four years with the Turkish family.

In 2003, Yaqoub Al Manjam was mistakenly switched at birth with a Turkish baby named Ali at a hospital in Najran, southwestern Saudi Arabia. The mix-up occurred because the two babies were born just 10 minutes apart.

According to media reports, the Turkish mother began to notice differences in the child's appearance after returning to Turkey. The family eventually returned to Saudi Arabia and underwent DNA testing in Riyadh, which confirmed that their child had been switched with a Saudi baby.

Both children were soon reunited with their biological families.

In a recent online video, Yaqoub recalled that the Turkish family did not immediately explain the situation to him or ask him to leave. Instead, they introduced his Saudi family to him gradually, first as family friends.

"They introduced me to my Saudi family as if they were friends. Afterwards, they told me they were my family," he said.

Yaqoub admitted that the discovery affected him psychologically at first, but he gradually adapted. He later returned to Turkey to pursue university studies in electrical and electronic engineering.

Since the incident, the two families have maintained a close relationship.