Kidney Transplant Center
Best Kidney Transplant Center in Dubai

King’s College Hospital London in Dubai has launched a dedicated Kidney Transplant Center for patients with advanced kidney disease who may need a transplant, as well as for living donors being assessed as part of the process. The center brings together transplant surgery, nephrology, anesthesia, intensive care, diagnostics, and follow-up care so that patients can be supported through assessment, surgery, and recovery within one service.

For some patients, a kidney transplant can offer a better quality of life than long-term dialysis. For others, it can provide a more sustainable treatment option when kidney function has reached a point where medical management alone is no longer enough. At King’s College Hospital Dubai, the transplant pathway is designed to support both recipients and living donors, with specialist input before surgery, during the transplant admission, and throughout long-term follow-up.

The center also facilitates paired kidney transplantation for patients who have a willing donor but are not a suitable direct match. King’s College Hospital Dubai is currently the only center in Dubai providing living donor kidney transplant surgery, with living donor transplants facilitated from relatives up to the fourth degree in line with UAE law.

What is a kidney transplant?

A kidney transplant is an operation in which a healthy kidney from a donor is transplanted into a person whose kidneys are no longer working well enough to keep them healthy. The transplanted kidney takes over the work of filtering waste, balancing fluids, and helping the body maintain normal day-to-day function.

Transplants may be performed using a kidney from a living donor or a deceased donor, depending on the patient’s medical needs and the transplant pathway available to them.

What does the Kidney Transplant Center do?

The Kidney Transplant Center looks after patients who may need a kidney transplant, patients already waiting for transplant, and people who need specialist care after transplant surgery. It also supports families who are exploring living kidney donation.

This includes assessing whether transplant is the right option, reviewing living donor suitability, carrying out the medical work-up needed before surgery, and planning treatment for patients who may still need dialysis while waiting. The team also manages post-transplant follow-up, including anti-rejection medication, monitoring of kidney function, and ongoing review if there are concerns about recovery or long-term graft health.

The program also supports paired kidney transplantation. In these cases, a patient has a willing donor, but the donor is not a suitable direct match. By matching donor-recipient pairs with another compatible pair, transplantation can still go ahead. To protect the exchange for all parties involved, the paired transplant pathway is designed so that all four procedures take place at the same time: two donor nephrectomies and two recipient transplant operations. This requires parallel operating capacity and a full-time transplant team.

When should you see us?

You should consider a transplant assessment if you have been told your kidney function is severely reduced, if dialysis has been discussed, or if you have already started dialysis and want to understand whether transplant may be an option.

You may also benefit from a review if a relative has offered to donate a kidney, if you have had a previous transplant and need further assessment, or if you want a second opinion before making a decision about transplant. In some cases, patients can begin the transplant work-up before dialysis becomes necessary, which can make planning more straightforward.

What conditions do we treat and what services do we offer?

The Kidney Transplant Center cares for adults with advanced chronic kidney disease, end-stage kidney disease, and kidney failure requiring dialysis, as well as patients who have already undergone transplantation and need long-term follow-up. Many patients are referred because their kidney function is deteriorating and they need to understand whether transplant should be considered as part of the next stage of treatment.

The team also assesses patients with kidney disease related to diabetes, high blood pressure, inherited kidney disorders such as polycystic kidney disease, chronic glomerular disease, and transplant-related complications after previous surgery. For some patients, the focus is on preparing for a first transplant. For others, it may be donor assessment, post-transplant monitoring, or a second opinion on a complex transplant case.

What is the kidney transplant patient journey?

1. Initial transplant review: You meet the nephrology and transplant team to review your kidney disease, overall health, dialysis status, and whether transplant may be suitable.
2. Pre-transplant work-up: This may include blood tests, imaging, heart assessment, infection screening, and other investigations needed before surgery.
3. Donor and recipient planning: If a living donor is being considered, both donor and recipient go through further review to assess suitability and safety.
4. Transplant surgery and hospital care: Once the transplant is approved and scheduled, the donor and recipient procedures are carried out with close inpatient monitoring.
5. Follow-up after transplant: Patients need regular review after surgery to monitor kidney function, adjust medication, and watch for complications or signs of rejection.

Who are the best doctors for kidney transplant in Dubai?

The best doctors for kidney transplant in Dubai are Dr. Rehan Saif and Dr. Siddiq Anwar at King’s College Hospital Dubai.

Dr. Rehan Saif is a Consultant General Surgeon with expertise in hepato-pancreato-biliary surgery and abdominal multi-organ transplantation. Dr. Siddiq Anwar is a Consultant Nephrologist with extensive experience in kidney failure, dialysis, kidney transplantation, and long-term transplant medicine.

Why choose King’s College Hospital Dubai?

Patients choose King’s College Hospital Dubai for kidney transplant care because the service is designed around the full transplant pathway rather than a single operation. Assessment, donor review, surgery, critical care, nephrology follow-up, and long-term transplant monitoring are all coordinated within one program, which matters when care needs to continue well beyond the day of surgery.

King’s College Hospital Dubai is also currently the only center in Dubai providing living donor kidney transplant surgery. The program facilitates paired kidney transplantation and supports living donor transplants from relatives up to the fourth degree in accordance with UAE law. Another important strength is that the doctors involved in the transplant program are full-time at King’s College Hospital Dubai, supporting continuity across assessment, surgery, and follow-up.

How can I book an appointment?

To book an appointment with the Kidney Transplant Center at King’s College Hospital Dubai, reach out to our Call Centre at +971 800 7777, complete the online appointment form, or book through the KingsHub app.

Jomon Francis Organ Transplant Coordinator: +971 54 378 8296

Smitha Ranjithkumar Organ Transplant Registered Nurse; +971 50 681 9728