Under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of UAE and Ruler of Dubai, Al Jalila Foundation, a philanthropic organisation dedicated to transforming lives through medical innovation, today unveiled plans to establish the UAE’s first charity hospital to help cancer patients in need. To be completed in two phases, the state-of-the-art comprehensive cancer facility will open its doors in 2023.

The 250-bed hospital, equipped with cutting-edge technology, will have the capacity to treat 30,000 patients a year, offering comprehensive services ranging from prevention, diagnosis, treatment and palliative care.

The cancer care hospital will bring together innovative expertise and highly qualified medical professionals and advanced medical technologies on par with the best in the world. It will also support cancer research and train medical practitioners to deliver world-class treatment services.

The name of the new hospital was revealed at a special event held in the presence of HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai; HH Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai; HH Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairperson of the Board of Trustees of Al Jalila Foundation; HE Mohammed Abdullah Al Gergawi, Minister of Cabinet Affairs and the Future and the Secretary-General of the Mohammed bin Rashid Global Initiatives (MBRGI); and HE Khalifa Saeed Sulaiman, Chairman of Protocols for the Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE. The hospital’s name pays tribute to the late Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum for his lifetime of service to the nation and extraordinary global philanthropic achievements that continue to touch millions of lives around the world.

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum tweeted, “Today, we announce plans to establish the ‘Hamdan Bin Rashid Cancer Charity Hospital’ to provide free cancer care for people in need. Spanning 50,000 square meters, the 250-bed capacity hospital will treat 30,000 patients a year.”

He added, “Hamdan bin Rashid was known for his humility and selfless giving that touched millions of lives. His devotion to education, healthcare and orphans continued throughout his lifetime, and the impact of his work is still seen in every corner in Dubai. His demise left a void.”

He noted, “Hamdan bin Rashid will always be remembered in our nation for giving more than he was asked, and for working silently for the service of humanity.”

“We commend Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed’s efforts to make the new hospital a reality and honour Hamdan bin Rashid’s legacy.”

Spanning 50,000 square metres, the seven-storey hospital will be Dubai’s first fully modular-built hospital equipped with the latest medical technologies.

A total of 150 beds will be created in the first phase while expansion plans implemented in the second phase will expand capacity to 250 beds.

The new hospital aims to accelerate the UAE’s efforts to be a leader in healthcare excellence and a pioneer in medical innovation shaping the future of medicine.

A Fitting Tribute
His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairperson of the Board of Trustees of Al Jalila Foundation, said: “As the UAE prepares for its Golden Jubilee and the next 50 years, there is no greater priority than good healthcare and the Al Jalila Foundation aims to play its part in providing medical excellence in the UAE – especially for the most vulnerable in society.”

He added, “The Hamdan Bin Rashid Cancer Charity Hospital will bring together innovative expertise, advanced medical technologies and wellbeing strategies to propel the UAE’s vision forward to become a leader in cancer care.” He stressed that “the hospital is a fitting tribute to the late Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid, one of the world’s greatest philanthropists, and we are proud to come together to build on his legacy to make quality healthcare within reach for all.”

Beacon of Hope
Her Excellency Dr. Raja Easa Al Gurg, Member of the Board of Trustees of Al Jalila Foundation and Chairperson of the Board of Directors of Al Jalila Foundation, commented: “We are building a state-of-the-art facility for the diagnosis and treatment of cancer with some of the world’s leading oncologists to deliver the best cancer treatment available.”

She added, “At Al Jalila Foundation, we believe that no patient should be left behind; the Hamdan Bin Rashid Cancer Charity Hospital will be a beacon of hope and we are grateful to the generosity and support of our donors that make it possible.”

Making a Difference
Dr. Abdulkareem Sultan Al Olama, CEO of Al Jalila Foundation, said: “Most people have been touched by cancer in some way. The number of people being diagnosed with cancer continues to rise and as a healthcare philanthropic organization, we feel it is our obligation to do what we can to help save lives.”

He added, “the Hamdan Bin Rashid Cancer Charity Hospital will make a real difference by providing quality healthcare to people who would otherwise be unable to access treatment.”

Cancer in the UAE
According to the World Health Organisation, cancer is the second leading cause of death globally, and is responsible for about 10 million deaths per year. Late-stage presentation and lack of access to diagnosis and treatment are common, particularly among the most vulnerable in society. In the UAE, approximately 4,500 new cases of cancer are reported every year and cancer is one of the leading causes of deaths.

Cancer Research in the UAE
Al Jalila Foundation empowers cancer researchers to push the boundaries of science to make discoveries that can be translated into improved treatment protocols. Due to the high prevalence and importance of the disease, Al Jalila Foundation has awarded 43 cancer research grants that will pave way for breakthroughs to treat this debilitating disease and ultimately, save lives. The new cancer hospital will provide the best and most advanced cancer treatment for those who cannot afford it and will work with the Mohammed Bin Rashid Medical Research Institute to advance cancer research.

Unique Building Features
The new facility will be Dubai’s first fully modular comprehensive hospital delivered through the most advanced technologies and construction techniques using plug-and-play components optimised for off-site factory production. The modular concept allows flexibility for future expansion and reduces design time by 50%, construction time by 30% and cost by 20%.  The first phase will see the construction of the first wing of the hospital with 150 beds while the second phase will see capacity expanded to 250 beds. The facility will incorporate Environmentally Sustainable Design (ESS) principles across its design and construction, whilst reducing energy use and operational cost.

In observation of World Kidney Day, Dubai Healthcare City (DHCC), Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences (MBRU), Al Jalila Children’s Specialty Hospital (AJCH), Mediclinic City Hospital and Al Jalila Foundation are launching a month-long awareness campaign around kidney disease, organ donation, and transplantation.

As part of the ‘Think Kidney’ campaign, there will be three virtual sessions amongst other initiatives that will put the spotlight on kidney health, Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD), transplantation, organ donation, contributing to support transplant programs, and patient experiences. The first session will be held in English on March 14 and will have Pritvik Sinhadc, Dubai’s first-ever recipient of pediatric kidney transplant from a live donor, his father Bhaskar who donated his kidney to his son, Dr Waldo Concepcion, Head of Al Jalila Children’s Organ Transplant Center, and Dr Farhad Janahi, Consultant Urologist & Transplant Surgeon at Mediclinic City Hospital and Assistant Professor of Surgery at MBRU, led the team that operated on Pritvik.

The second session on March 16 will be conducted in Arabic and will feature Dr Ali Al Obaidli, Chair of the National Transplant Committee, Hind Al Muhairi, a beneficiary of the kidney donation and transplantation program, and her brother Ali Al Muhairi, whose kidney Hind has received. The third will be the World Kidney Day Paeds x symposium series.
An approximate 4,500 patients are reported to be suffering from kidney failure in the UAE and initiatives like ‘Think Kidney’ are crucial in providing more information to patients, promote organ donation, and explain the significant improvements in quality of life after organ transplantation.

Jamal Abdulsalam, CEO, DHCA, said “Since 2015, we in Dubai Healthcare City have built expertise and capacity in kidney transplant. Through our enabling ecosystem and strategic partnerships, we were able to create a hub for organ transplant in DHCC with our three key players, Al Jalila Children’s, MBRU and Mediclinic City Hospital creating a unified front for organ transplantation in Dubai. In this context, our recently launched ‘Think Kidney’ Campaign will raise awareness on kidney health, transplantation and organ donation as well as highlight DHCC’s contribution in increasing access to quality care for people suffering from kidney diseases in Dubai and the UAE.”

World Kidney Day held on March 11th annually aims to raise awareness around the importance of kidney health and the contribution of these organs to the overall health of an individual along with shedding light on the frequency and impact of kidney diseases and attendant health problems across the globe.

Dr Abdulkareem Sultan Al Olama, CEO, Al Jalila Foundation, said “World Kidney Day is a global initiative that aims to raise awareness on the importance of our kidneys to our overall health. In the UAE chronic kidney disease is particularly prevalent partly due to high instances of associated illnesses like obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular disease. At Al Jalila Foundation our top priority is to transform lives through medical innovation and with the support of our donors we invest in research and provide life-saving treatment to those suffering from kidney disease. Through our A’awen program we offer patients the opportunity to undergo the latest medical procedures at world-class medical institutions, offering them renewed health and hope for the future.”

Dr Abdulla Al Khayat, CEO of Al Jalila Children’s, said “This initiative, which aims to raise awareness on kidney diseases, transplantation and donation will support Al Jalila Children’s effort in providing organ transplantation services for our young patients through our recently launched Organ transplant Center. In line with the national efforts to advance to advance organ transplantation programs, the center provides the full spectrum of care to children suffering from organ failure including disease management, transplantation evaluation, organ transplant and post transplantation care.”

As part of MBRU’s mission to advance health in the region and provide innovative medical solutions to the community, the University runs the successful MBRU Organ Transplant Program, established in June 2016, that has developed a comprehensive framework for organ transplantation in Dubai through various public and private partnerships, to meet the growing demand in the UAE. Over the years, MBRU has further refined the Organ Transplant Program through signing a tripartite MOU with Mediclinic Middle East and Al Jalila Children’s to act as one-front in supporting organ donation and transplantation efforts in the UAE, organizing the first UAE Organ Transplant Summit, and the inaugural UAE Organ Donation Forum. Until date the program has had 20 successful organ transplantation surgeries from living and deceased donors.

Matthew Dronsfield, Hospital Director at Mediclinic City Hospital, said “The renal transplant program has achieved outstanding patient outcomes since its launch in 2016. The deceased donor program has resulted in a welcome increase in the number of renal transplants being performed and this has been enhanced through the development of the living donor program in 2020. The success of the renal transplant program has been made possible through the incredible work performed by a multidisciplinary team and through collaboration between the public and private sectors in order to provide patients access to the latest treatments and follow up care. This year the Think Kidney campaign will build on the achievements so far and highlight the importance of kidney health by raising awareness so that more patients can benefit from the expertise available in Dubai.”

Dr Amer Al Zarooni, Deputy Vice Chancellor of Administration & Professional Services at MBRU said that the University is deeply committed to advancing health through comprehensive public-private partnerships and implementing quality community engagement programs that better outcomes for patients and improve the quality of life in the community. “Our goal is to advance health in the UAE and beyond. Our core values of connectivity, giving, and excellence is reflected in this collaborative ‘Think Kidney’ campaign. Our goal is to amplify the discussion around kidney health, organ transplantation, and organ donation in the UAE and bring international best practices in the field to the UAE in order for communities to live healthier lives,” he said.

To know more about the campaign go to www.thinkkidney.ae.