MAYS IBRAHIM (ABU DHABI)
The UAE has launched a month-long public consultation on proposed regulations governing the transplantation of animal and manufactured organs and tissues into the human body, marking the next step in establishing a legal framework for one of medicine's emerging fields.
The consultation, published through the government's UAE Legislation Platform, seeks feedback from healthcare professionals, specialists, businesses and the wider public on the conditions and standards that should govern such procedures.
It follows amendments to the country's organ donation and transplantation law issued on December 10, 2025, which expanded the legislation beyond human organs and tissues to include non-human organs.
The public consultation, open for one month from June 22, will gather feedback on the importance of a legislative framework, the benefits of regulating non-human organ transplants, the safety standards that should be adopted, ethical and medical risks, implementation challenges and any additional proposals to strengthen the regulations.
Speaking with Aletihad, Dr Umar Maqbool, Specialist General Surgery and Renal Transplant Surgeon at Burjeel Medical City, noted that global research shows promising progress in xenotransplantation – the transplantation of organs or tissues from an animal source into a human recipient.
Dr Maqbool noted that early regulation in the UAE will help ensure patient safety, ethical oversight, and infection control, in addition to building public trust in xenotransplantation before it becomes widely available.
"Many people think xenotransplantation is still science fiction, but experimental transplants are already happening," Dr Maqbool added. "Another common misunderstanding is that ordinary animal organs are used, when in fact they are highly genetically engineered."
Under the amended UAE organ donation and transplantation law, non-human organs and tissues may only be used when they represent the most appropriate treatment for a patient's condition and are subject to strict medical and regulatory oversight.
The legislation prohibits the removal of animal organs for transplantation without a licence from the Ministry of Health and Prevention or the relevant health authority.
Hospitals and manufacturing entities must also obtain the necessary permits before carrying out such procedures.
Specialist physicians must verify biological compatibility, explain all known and potential health risks to the patient or their legal representative, obtain written informed consent and secure approval from a dedicated committee.
The law also requires the establishment of a national database recording all non-human organs used in transplantation, including the biological composition of manufactured organs, clinical trial results and safety and efficacy data.
The UAE Cabinet has been empowered to set rules governing the movement of non-human organs and tissues between healthcare facilities within the country and across its borders.
Violations of the regulations carry penalties of imprisonment and fines ranging from Dh100,000 to Dh2 million, or either penalty, for healthcare facilities, manufacturing entities or specialist physicians that fail to comply.
Dr Maqbool expects establishing a clear regulatory framework in the UAE to encourage research by giving scientists and clinicians a structured environment to work within.
Xenotransplantation could significantly increase organ availability and reduce waiting-list deaths, he noted, offering a potential solution to the global shortage of donor organs.
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO)'s Global Observatory on Donation and Transplantation, a record 173,727 solid organ transplants were performed worldwide in 2024, up 2% from 2023.
Despite reaching a record high, WHO says transplantation still meets only a fraction of global demand, with persistent shortages of donor organs and significant disparities in access between countries.