World Blood Donor Day: Dubai’s Kindness Team has saved over 25,000 lives

Dubai: What began as a simple idea to spread awareness about blood donation by a group of expatriates in Dubai ten years ago has grown into a life-saving mission that has saved more than 25,000 lives.

In 2015, Indian expats Shihab Theruvath, Anwar Wayanad, and Salam Kanyappady, driven by a shared sense of community responsibility, founded the Kindness Blood Donation Team. Their goal was to spread awareness about the need for blood donation and to organise convenient donation drives across the city.

“We realised that many people didn’t know how many lives they can save, and even though they knew, many didn’t know where or how to do it regularly,” said Shihab Theruvath, who works in Dubai’s health sector.

“That’s when we felt we had to do something to create a simple way for people who wanted to donate to actually get the chance to do it.”

To make the process more accessible, the team began leveraging WhatsApp, creating groups based on locations in Dubai to mobilise volunteers quickly and efficiently. Now, the Kindness Team has now grown into one of Dubai’s most active community networks for blood donation.

“Work schedules often held people back from donating. So, we brought the drives to them, organising campaigns in different parts of the city. The response has been overwhelming,” said Anwar Wayanad, who is also in the health sector.

The team soon grew with more volunteers from diverse professional backgrounds. Among them are Dibeesh Nalappadam Gangaadharan, a graphic designer, Vaisakh Suresh Nambiar, who works with a limousine company, Ramshood Chettumkuzhi, a receptionist, and Suhail Kopa, who works in document services.

Together, these expats hailing from the south Indian state of Kerala continue to organise regular donation campaigns and spread the message that “one drop of blood can save a life.”

During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, when lockdowns and public fear about the coronavirus led to dwindling blood supplies, the Kindness Team stepped up. In coordination with the Dubai Blood Donation Centre and with support from the Dubai KMCC Kasargod District Committee, the team ran multiple successful campaigns that helped keep blood stocks stable during a critical time.

“It was a time of fear, but it was also a time when we saw the best of humanity,” recalled Salam, a finance manager and entrepreneur, who is known for donating blood regularly along with his wife, Riyana Salam.
“We were just a team of volunteers, but we managed to gain the trust of people to continue donating blood during the pandemic.”

Since then, their mission has expanded. The team has collaborated with several community organisations and alumni groups.

“Over the years, we have received overwhelming support from donors of various nationalities. In close coordination with the Dubai Blood Donation Centre, we have been organising regular, well-structured blood donation campaigns, covering different areas of Dubai and making it convenient for donors to participate.”

Since one unit of blood can save up to three lives, the volunteers said, the over 250 blood donation campaigns that they have conducted over the past decade would have saved more than 25,000 lives.

“We extend our heartfelt gratitude to the Dubai Blood Donation Centre under Dubai Health for their unwavering support in helping us turn our vision into a reality, as well as to the dedicated team of volunteers and our committed donors who continue to drive this mission forward,” said Anwar.

In recognition of their efforts, the Kindness Team has received several certificates of appreciation from the Dubai Health Authority. Their volunteers encourage others to donate not just on special occasions like birthdays or UAE national events, but as a regular act of compassion. Many donors have now taken the next step by donating platelets and red cells as well.

As part of World Blood Donor Day 2025, the team marked the occasion by organising a youth-led blood donation campaign, with the theme: Give Blood, Give Hope: Together We Save Lives. Held on Friday, the campaign involved student volunteers, aiming to inspire the next generation of donors.

Blood donation is a voluntary act that can save lives. Adhering to guidelines ensures the safety of both donors and recipients.

Individuals aged 18 to 65 are generally eligible to donate blood, provided they meet specific health criteria. Donors should weigh at least 50 kg, with those aged 21 and under required to weigh 55 kg or more.

A valid Emirates ID is mandatory, as tourists and visitors are not permitted to donate. Donors must be in good general health, having had adequate sleep (at least four hours) and a healthy meal within four hours prior to donation. Pregnant women and breastfeeding mothers are advised against donating blood to ensure their health and the well-being of their child.

Certain conditions may temporarily or permanently disqualify individuals from donating blood. Temporary deferrals include recent travel to malaria-endemic countries (30 days), flu-like symptoms, or recent dental procedures.

Permanent deferrals apply to individuals with a history of malaria, jaundice after the age of 11, or communicable diseases such as HIV or hepatitis. Additionally, those who have undergone major surgery or received blood transfusions in the past six months are not eligible.

World Blood Donor Day (WBDD) is observed annually on June 14 to honour blood donors and raise awareness about the need for safe blood donation. Established in 2004 by major health organisations, it commemorates the birthday of Karl Landsteiner, who identified blood groups. The day highlights the life-saving impact of voluntary blood donation.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), one unit of donated blood can save up to three lives.

This is because a single unit of whole blood can be separated into different components—red blood cells, plasma, and platelets—each of which may be used to treat different patients with varying medical needs.

Red cells can help trauma or surgical patients with blood loss. Plasma is used for patients with liver disease or clotting disorders. Platelets are critical for cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy.