Health insurance coverage for organ and tissue removal and transplantation procedures has entered a new phase of regulation in the UAE. Health insurance companies became obligated to cover the costs of medical care provided to both donors and recipients from October 31, following the end of a six-month transition period.
The obligation covers various stages of the procedure, including examinations, treatment, medical follow-up and the treatment of complications, even if they appear or are discovered years after the operation. No time limit has been set on this obligation, in accordance with the executive regulations of the law on organ and tissue donation and transplantation.
Statistics from the Ministry of Health and Prevention, reviewed by Emirates Today, show that the number of registered individuals in the National Organ and Tissue Donation and Transplantation Programme, Hayat, has risen to 40,381. The total number of organ transplants performed since 2017 has exceeded 2,332, with contributions from more than 1,234 donors. The statistics also indicate that more than 4,000 patients are undergoing dialysis and awaiting organ transplants.
Since the beginning of 2025, the number of organ transplant procedures has exceeded 543.
Health services
Health insurance companies in the country began implementing their commitment to cover health services related to organ and tissue removal and transplantation procedures on October 31. This followed the expiry of the six-month period specified in Cabinet Resolution No. 61 of 2026 concerning the executive regulations of Federal Decree-Law No. 25 of 2023 on organ and tissue donation and transplantation.
The resolution was published in the Official Gazette on April 30, 2026. Article 14 stipulated that the provisions of Article 9, relating to insurance coverage, would come into effect six months after the date of publication.
The executive regulations, reviewed by Emirates Today, stipulate that insurance companies in the country must include all health services related to organ removal and transplantation procedures provided to both donors and recipients before, during and after surgery. This includes treatment for complications arising from the procedure, regardless of when those complications appear or are identified.
These services must be included within health insurance policies and related appendices issued by insurers, and their costs must be covered under all health insurance systems in force in the country. In all cases, the cost of organ transplantation includes expenses associated with the removal of the organ or tissue from a living or deceased donor, post-removal and post-transplant follow-up, and treatment of any resulting complications, without prejudice to the provisions of the Decree-Law and the decision.
Facility regulations
The regulations set out controls for licensing healthcare facilities to perform the removal and transplantation of organs, organ parts and tissues.
Among the key requirements are that the healthcare facility must have the equipment, medical supplies and infrastructure necessary to carry out removal and transplantation procedures. Facilities must also have specialised professional staff responsible for promoting awareness of the donation programme, educating the public about organ and tissue donation and transplantation, facilitating donation procedures, supporting community members who wish to donate, promoting a culture of donation, and carrying out removal and transplantation procedures.
The regulations also set out licensing requirements for specialist doctors. These include holding a licence to practise in the relevant speciality that qualifies the doctor to work in the field of organ transplantation, completing accredited training or possessing practical experience in organ and tissue removal and transplantation, and obtaining approval from the National Centre to practise organ and tissue removal and transplantation.
The duration and renewal of a doctor's licence must comply with the periods determined by the health authority and must be no less than one year and no more than three years, based on the doctor's request.
New system
The regulations require the establishment of one or more systems to register a person's wish to donate organs and tissues during their lifetime, to bequeath organs and tissues after death, or to record their refusal to donate after death.
The system must allow individuals to withdraw their decision to donate or not donate at any time. In all cases, a person's decision must be documented in writing and comply with specific controls. These include the use of an electronic form to express the wish to donate or not donate and verification through the UAE's digital identity system.
The system must also enable the formal documentation of a person's wish to donate, not donate or bequeath organs and tissues. It must ensure the accuracy and reliability of registration, confirm that the decision was made voluntarily through linkage with the individual's electronic medical record, allow withdrawal of consent at any time, and be electronically linked with health authorities and healthcare facilities across the country.
The executive regulations also establish controls for the healthcare of living donors before, during and after organ and tissue removal. Healthcare facilities are required to review the donor's medical history, including previous surgeries, chronic illnesses, medications and family medical history. They must also ensure any existing conditions are under control.
Additional requirements include updating vaccinations, conducting clinical examinations and blood tests to verify biological compatibility, carrying out medical imaging to assess the organ or tissue being donated, preparing a medical suitability report, providing the necessary guidance and care before surgery, and documenting medical procedures and follow-up care.
Speed of recovery
The regulations require compliance with anaesthesia and sterilisation standards during organ removal procedures. They also require the use of surgical techniques that contribute to faster recovery, continuous monitoring of the donor's vital signs, and keeping the donor's family informed about their condition during the operation.
After the procedure, care must include pain management, monitoring of vital signs in the recovery room, wound care, infection prevention, physical therapy where needed, an appropriate diet, psychological support, and a schedule for regular medical follow-up. Donors must also be educated on recognising signs of complications and maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
The regulations also set out healthcare requirements for transplant recipients. Before transplantation, healthcare providers must review the patient's medical history, manage chronic conditions, provide treatments that support acceptance of the transplanted organ and reduce the risk of rejection, update vaccinations, conduct clinical examinations and blood tests to verify compatibility, including blood type and inflammation markers, carry out required medical imaging examinations, and prepare a medical report confirming the patient's readiness for surgery.
Psychological support
Healthcare facilities are required to comply with anaesthesia and sterilisation standards during transplantation procedures, use surgical techniques that promote rapid recovery, monitor vital signs and medical indicators, assess transplanted organ function during surgery, intervene if abnormalities arise, and keep the recipient's family informed about their condition.
Following transplantation, facilities must conduct tests to assess organ function, provide treatments to prevent immune rejection, prevent infection, deliver wound care, offer physical therapy where required, provide an appropriate diet and psychological support, establish a schedule for regular medical follow-up, educate recipients on recognising signs of rejection and complications, encourage a healthy lifestyle, and ensure immediate medical intervention when rejection or other health complications occur.
