King’s College Hospital London brings advanced liver care to Dubai

UAE—King’s College Hospital London – Dubai has opened the first specialized Paediatric and Adult Liver Transplant Centre in Dubai, marking a new chapter in a 40-year legacy of advanced liver care.

This centre, part of the renowned King’s Liver Transplant Centre of Excellence in the UK, symbolises a long-standing collaboration between the UAE and King’s College Hospital London, united in their mission to make high-quality healthcare accessible.

This journey began in 1979, when the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan made a landmark donation to King’s College Hospital in London, establishing the King’s Liver Research Centre.

Since then, King’s has become a global leader in liver transplant research, performing over 200 transplants yearly and continuously advancing liver care.

Today, it ranks among the world’s top three liver transplant centres, recognized for its contributions to liver health.

Building on this solid foundation, King’s College Hospital London launched Dubai’s first adult liver transplant centre in 2023.

Now, they are expanding their commitment to the UAE by introducing the King’s Liver Transplant Centre of Excellence for both adults and children.

Professor Mohamed Rela, a globally respected liver transplant surgeon known for his expertise in paediatric cases, is at the forefront of the centre’s paediatric liver transplant program.

With thousands of successful surgeries, including a record-breaking transplant for a five-day-old infant, Prof. Rela brings unparalleled experience to King’s College Hospital London – Dubai.

His team comprises hepatologists, surgeons, anaesthetists, radiologists, psychologists, dietitians, and other experts dedicated to providing compassionate, comprehensive liver care.

The centre, supported by the UAE Ministry of Health and Prevention (MOHAP) and Dubai Health Authority (DHA), represents a solid partnership with government agencies, enabling local access to world-class liver care.

With highly trained UK consultants and specialists, the centre allows patients to receive top-tier treatment without travelling abroad.

The King’s Liver Transplant Centre of Excellence was officially inaugurated on November 4, 2024, at a ceremony at King’s College Hospital in Dubai Hills.

The event welcomed distinguished guests, including HE Ahmed Humaid Al Tayer, Chairman of Al Tayer Group; Mr Mohammed Saeed Al Raqbani, Board Member of King’s College Hospital London – Dubai; Dr Hanan Obaid, Director of the Health Policy & Standards Department at DHA; Dr Amer Al Zarooni, CEO of Al Jalila Foundation; Dr. Maria Gomez, Director of Organ Donation and Transplantation at MOHAP; and Prof. Anil Dhawan, Clinical Director of Paediatric Liver Services at King’s College Hospital London.

According to Kimberley Pierce, CEO of King’s College Hospital London – Dubai, the new centre will significantly impact families in the region, especially those whose children require liver transplants due to conditions like sickle cell anaemia.

She emphasised that the centre’s services would mean families no longer need to travel outside the UAE for critical care.

Collaborations with local charities like the Al Jalila Foundation and support programs from the DHA will help make these life-saving treatments accessible for needy families.

Pierce also highlighted the prevalence of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in the GCC, which remains a mystery as it affects young people regardless of nationality.

To address this, the hospital is conducting research in partnership with the Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences (MBRU), aiming to uncover the underlying causes of this condition.

Prof. Rela reflected on the transformative nature of liver transplants, noting how a five-day-old patient he once treated has now grown into a successful lawyer.

“You would never know she had a transplant,” he shared, adding that such operations change lives. 

Sign up HERE to receive our email newsletters with the latest news and insights from Africa and around the world, and follow us on our WhatsApp channel for updates.