UAE insurers must cover organ transplants and related care without time limit

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 voluntar