King’s College Hospital London – Dubai has established the first dedicated paediatric and adult liver transplant centre in Dubai, building upon four decades of hepatological expertise. The facility, which opened in November 2024, represents a significant development in specialist healthcare provision within
the United Arab Emirates.
The centre is led by Professor Mohamed Rela, who brings substantial technical experience having performed over 4,000 liver transplants. His expertise includes pioneering work in paediatric liver transplantation, notably holding a world record for transplanting a liver in a five-day-old infant.
The facility implements a multidisciplinary approach, integrating hepatologists, surgeons, psychologists, and dietitians to provide comprehensive patient care. This model builds upon established protocols from King’s College Hospital London, which performs over 200 transplants annually and ranks among the world’s top three liver transplant centres.
The centre’s establishment addresses a critical healthcare gap in the region, particularly for paediatric cases involving conditions such as biliary atresia. Through partnerships with organisations including Al Jalila Foundation, the facility aims to improve access to transplant procedures for families facing financial constraints.
The initiative traces its origins to 1979, when Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan provided funding for the King’s Liver Research Centre in London. This latest development expands upon the adult liver transplant service launched in Dubai in 2023, operating under the regulatory oversight of the Ministry of Health and Prevention and Dubai Health Authority.
Dr Tashfeen Siddiq Ali, Chief Medical Officer at King’s, emphasises the centre’s preventative approach: “This Centre is not only providing treatment for liver diseases and transplant but also has a comprehensive programme for early detection and prevention of liver diseases.”
The establishment of this specialist unit aligns with the UAE’s broader healthcare development objectives, in an effort to reduce the need for international medical travel while maintaining equivalent clinical standards to those available in the UK.
