Saudi Arabia Begins Separation Surgery for Moroccan Conjoined Twins
According to details released about the procedure, the separation surgery will be conducted in six stages and is expected to last approximately 10 hours.
Saudi Arabia has begun a complex separation surgery for Moroccan conjoined twins Saja and Doha at King Abdullah Specialized Children’s Hospital in Riyadh, marking another significant humanitarian medical initiative undertaken by the Kingdom.
The operation is being carried out under the directives of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, reflecting Saudi Arabia’s continued commitment to providing specialised medical treatment to children from around the world.
According to details released about the procedure, the separation surgery will be conducted in six stages and is expected to last approximately 10 hours.
A multidisciplinary medical team comprising 23 consultants, specialists, nurses and technical personnel is participating in the operation, with expertise spanning anesthesiology, pediatric surgery and plastic surgery.
The complex procedure requires careful coordination among surgical teams to separate the twins while safeguarding their vital organs and ensuring the best possible medical outcomes.
Saudi Arabia’s Long History of Separating Conjoined Twins
King Abdullah Specialized Children’s Hospital, located within King Abdulaziz Medical City in Riyadh, has emerged as a major centre for complex pediatric surgeries, particularly the separation of conjoined twins.
The hospital plays a central role in the Saudi Conjoined Twins Programme, a humanitarian medical initiative that has treated children from different countries, often at the Kingdom’s expense.
Saudi Arabia’s experience in conjoined-twin separation dates back to 1990, when a successful operation involving Saudi twins was performed in Riyadh.
Over the following decades, the programme expanded its international reach, providing specialised surgical care to twins from Asia, Africa and other regions.
Under the leadership of renowned pediatric surgeon Dr. Abdullah Al-Rabeeah, Saudi medical teams have developed extensive experience in complex separation procedures involving shared organs, blood vessels and other critical anatomical structures.
Among the programme’s notable cases have been separation surgeries involving twins from Pakistan, Yemen, Sudan, Nigeria and other countries.
These operations have helped establish Saudi Arabia as an internationally recognised centre for highly specialised pediatric surgical care.
Saudi Humanitarian Medical Services Beyond Its Borders
Saudi Arabia’s humanitarian medical initiatives extend well beyond the treatment of conjoined twins.
Through the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre (KSrelief), the Kingdom has supported medical and surgical programmes across countries affected by conflict, poverty, displacement and humanitarian emergencies.
Saudi medical teams have undertaken volunteer missions providing specialised treatment in fields including cardiac surgery, ophthalmology, urology, reconstructive surgery and general healthcare.
In Yemen, Saudi-supported humanitarian programmes have provided emergency medical assistance, surgical services and healthcare support to vulnerable communities affected by years of conflict.
In Sudan, KSrelief has supported specialised surgical missions and the delivery of medical assistance to populations facing severe humanitarian challenges.
The Kingdom has also extended healthcare assistance to communities in Syria, Nigeria and several other countries through medical missions, equipment supplies and humanitarian partnerships.
These initiatives form part of Saudi Arabia’s broader humanitarian engagement, combining advanced medical expertise with international relief efforts.
Surgery Highlights Saudi Arabia’s Medical Expertise
The separation surgery for Moroccan twins Saja and Doha represents another important undertaking for Saudi Arabia’s specialised pediatric medical teams.
The six-stage procedure will test the coordination and expertise of the participating surgeons and medical professionals, while reinforcing the Kingdom’s longstanding role in providing complex medical treatment to children regardless of nationality.
