UAE Blood Donation 2021: Unsure if you can donate blood in the UAE? Here's what you need to know

Dubai has kicked off its tenth annual blood donation drive, called ​‘My Blood for My Country’​,​​​​​ with the aim of bolstering reserves over the summer period.

It's clear that donating blood saves lives. One blood donation provides different blood components that can save the lives of up to three different people. And did you know that donating blood can actually have health benefits for the donor, too?

But myths about blood donation abound, and it’s unnecessarily putting some people off from being the life-saving hero that they could be, according to the Dubai Health Authority (DHA).

During the COVID-19 pandemic it’s never been more important to donate blood if you are able to.

Here, the Dubai Health Authority (DHA) clears up some of the most common questions about donating blood in the UAE, and shares information on how you can do it easily and safely during the pandemic.

Mothers and those who have been pregnant before ARE able to donate blood, the DHA told Gulf News: “Women who were previously pregnant can donate blood, but not plasma, which is an international quality standard to ensure the safety of patients who are going to receive the plasma. Breastfeeding women are not allowed to donate.”

All nationalities are welcome to donate blood at the Dubai Blood Donation Centre, according to the DHA.

You can donate blood after 6 months from getting a tattoo or after your last microblading procedure.

Those who have had Botox injections in a licensed clinic can donate blood after two weeks from getting the procedure.

You can donate blood after seven days from taking the first or second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.

Yes, donating blood a day before your scheduled vaccine will not affect your eligibility for taking the vaccine.

Yes, you can donate blood after getting a flu shot, you don’t have to wait for any period before donating blood. The deferral period of vaccines depends on each type of vaccine, for more information, the public can contact the DHA Contact Centre on 800342.

You will know your blood group after your first donation.

Blood group O (both positive and negative) is in more demand, as it is a universal blood group, and the most requested blood type by trauma centres and for thalassemia patients.

No, you cannot give blood if you are experiencing cold and flu, because there is a chance to transmit the infection to the recipient.

You may donate blood 7 days after you have recovered from the flu.

Anemia frequently occurs during pregnancy, and iron-deficiency anemia is the most common type. Pregnancy creates a higher demand for iron to help the fetus grow. During pregnancy, the average woman requires 350–500 milligrams of additional iron in order to prevent a deficiency. Blood donation may increase the risk of developing iron-deficiency anemia.

They are eligible to donate blood six months after delivery, if they are not breast-feeding their child, as mothers cannot donate blood if they are breastfeeding.

Yes, it is possible to donate blood for a specific person in the UAE and the type of donation is called directed donation.

For directed donation, the patient’s physician has to fill up the directed donation form with the name of the patient, patients’ blood group and the name of the hospital. The blood group of the donor will be checked in the donation centre, and if the blood group matches with the patients’ blood group, directed donation can be performed. Donated units will be reserved for that specific patient and will be issued to the specific hospital.

Yes, it is possible to donate blood for your own use and this type of donation is called autologous donation.

The requirements for autologous donation are as follows:

Blood donation is safe and will not cause the transmission of any infectious diseases. The blood donation bag is a single use, sterile set.

You can donate blood every 56 days and platelets every 2 weeks.

Donating blood saves lives. One blood donation provides different blood components that can save the life of up to three different people. Blood donation is needed as long as there are no alternatives for human blood, and it cannot be manufactured using technologies. As long as this is the case, there will always be a continuous need for healthy people to donate blood to those in need.

Regular blood donation also has many benefits for the donor himself, as blood donation activates the bone marrow cells in the donor (the place where blood cells are produced). This increases their effectiveness to produce new blood cells. It is proven that each time you donate blood; you get rid of excess iron in the body. This is important, as high levels of iron can increase the risk of heart diseases; they also cause the oxidation of cholesterol leading to damage of small blood vessels. Therefore, blood donation on a regular basis decreases the possibility of you having heart attacks and brain strokes.

It is now MORE important to donate blood during the pandemic, as there is a general misconception amongst the public and a lack of awareness about donating blood during the pandemic, which affects the availability of adequate quantities of safe and quality blood. It is crucial that healthy people continue to donate blood so that those in need can have access to the adequate amount of blood products they need at the required time.

There is no risk to donating blood during the pandemic at the DHA’s Dubai Blood Donation Centre, as the centre is taking all the necessary precautionary measures needed to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Some of the precautionary measures include:

All citizens and residents of the UAE and GCC countries, who are healthy and eligible to donate blood and are between 18 to 65 years-old.

In the UAE, blood can be donated in the following blood donation centres: