New Thalassemia & Sickle Cell Centre Opens in Abu Dhabi

Post by : Layla Badr

Photo: Abu Dhabi Media Office

Under the support of Sheikha Shaikha bint Saif bin Mohamed Al Nahyan, wife of His Highness Sheikh Sultan bin Khalifa Al Nahyan and Chairperson of the Emirates Thalassemia Society, a new special medical centre has opened in Abu Dhabi. The centre, called the Thalassemia and Sickle Cell Centre, is now part of Burjeel Medical City, one of the top hospitals in the UAE. This centre aims to change the way care is provided to people with inherited blood diseases like thalassemia and sickle cell disease.

The opening event was attended by several important guests. These included Sheikh Khalifa bin Sultan bin Khalifa Al Nahyan, Dr. Shamsheer Vayalil, who is the Founder and Chairman of Burjeel Holdings, Omran Al Khoori, a Board Member, along with many leaders from Burjeel Holdings. Members of the Emirates Thalassemia Society and the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi were also present.

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During the ceremony, Sheikha Shamma bint Sultan bin Khalifa Al Nahyan gave a special speech. She said that her mother’s dedication to helping thalassemia patients has shown her how love, vision, and hard work can make a big difference in people’s lives. She added that this new centre will give both patients and their families the care and support they truly need.

The new Thalassemia and Sickle Cell Centre is made to help people living with these blood disorders by providing complete, kind, and high-quality care. The team working at the centre includes doctors and experts from around the world who have years of experience treating both children and adults with these conditions.

The centre has many special features:

• It offers full outpatient services and has a transfusion unit that works seven days a week.

• It provides extended transfusion services through other Burjeel hospitals across the UAE.

• It uses advanced MRI scans to check for iron overload in the heart and liver.

• It can also do molecular genotyping tests inside the hospital to understand the patient’s genetic condition.

Because thalassemia and sickle cell disease are more common in the MENA region, this centre hopes to close the gaps in long-term care. Since it is located in a hospital that has many advanced medical services, patients can easily be referred to other specialists if needed. This makes treatment more complete and easier to manage.

Prof. Khaled Musallam, who is the Group Chief Research Officer at Burjeel Holdings and also the Director of this new centre, said that their goal is to make this centre a regional leader in care and research for rare blood diseases. He explained that what makes this centre truly different is the mix of global medical experience, newest treatments, and care that follows the best international guidelines—many of which are created by the same experts working at the centre. He also said they are not just focused on treating the disease, but also on helping patients live better lives with care that is designed just for them.

The centre also has a group of international advisors who are top experts in this field. They make sure that the care provided follows global standards, like those from the Thalassaemia International Federation, but with changes made to suit patients in the UAE and the wider region. The centre supports patients at every stage of life, from childhood to adulthood, and offers special transition programs as patients grow. Treatments are available for both transfusion-dependent thalassemia (TDT), non-transfusion-dependent thalassemia (NTDT), and sickle cell disease.

The centre will also work with the Center for Research on Rare Blood Disorders (CR-RBD), which is also based at Burjeel Medical City and led by Prof. Khaled Musallam. Together, they will help patients join international clinical trials, giving them access to new treatments and even possible cures for their conditions.

This new centre is a big step forward in offering better health and hope to people living with thalassemia and sickle cell disease in the UAE and beyond.

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