A 43-year-old Indonesian expat named Nur was saved by a life-saving liver transplant in Abu Dhabi after a compatible organ was found in Kuwait. Nur, who has lived in the UAE for 14 years working for an Emirati family, suddenly developed acute liver failure, prompting an urgent search for a donor across the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).
With no suitable liver available locally, a GCC-wide alert was issued, and a matching liver was identified in Kuwait. The operation was orchestrated by Burjeel Medical City, in collaboration with the National Centre for Organ Donation and Transplant at the Ministry of Health and Prevention (MOHAP), along with other regional entities.
Dr. Rehan Saif, director of the Burjeel Abdominal Multi-Organ Transplant Program, described the situation as a “race against time.” He explained in a Khaleej Times report that Nur’s condition, caused by seronegative hepatitis, had rapidly deteriorated to acute fulminant liver failure, with a high risk of mortality without a transplant. “The patient met the criteria for a super-urgent liver transplant, requiring immediate intervention,” Dr. Saif said.
The operation was complex and involved the coordination of medical teams across two countries. Dr. Gourab Sen from Burjeel Medical City flew to Kuwait to retrieve the donor liver, while a specialised team in Abu Dhabi prepared Nur for the transplant.
A private charter aircraft was arranged to transport the liver to Abu Dhabi, where the surgical team, led by Dr. Saif and Dr. Johns Shaji Mathew, performed the 14-hour-long procedure. The operation was successful, with Dr. Johns highlighting the importance of minimizing ischemic time — the period the liver is out of the body — for the success of the transplant.
Post-surgery, Nur has made a full recovery and has been discharged from the hospital. Her sister, Laelatul Fitri, expressed the family’s gratitude, saying, “We are thankful to Almighty Allah for the blessing and that my sister can lead a healthy life now.”
The Emirati family Nur worked for also played a crucial role in her recovery, ensuring she received immediate medical attention. “She is like family to us, and we are grateful to the medical professionals and authorities involved in her care,” said Reem Hasan Albaloushi.