Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi will host the 10th Operation Smile UAE short-term cleft surgical programme from October 10 to 12, marking nearly a decade of collaboration between the hospital and the charitable organisation.
The three-day programme will be the 19th cleft surgical programme organised by Operation Smile UAE. Since the partnership began in 2017, nine programmes at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi have screened more than 400 patients, with 140 receiving cleft surgery.
The programmes provide more than surgical treatment, with patients also able to access dental care, nutritional support, speech and language services and psychosocial support. Patients requiring additional specialist care may also be referred to other healthcare professionals.
Click here to join our WhatsApp channel here
“Reaching our 10th surgical programme with Operation Smile UAE reflects nearly a decade of shared commitment to patients with cleft conditions,” said Dr Mahdi Shkoukani, Division Chair of Otolaryngology (ENT) at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi. “By bringing together multidisciplinary expertise and dedicated medical volunteers, we can provide comprehensive care that supports not only patients, but their families too. This milestone represents the extension of compassionate, patient-first care beyond the walls of our hospital.”
Morag Cromey-Hawke, Executive Director of Operation Smile UAE, said, “We are so grateful for the amazing support we have received from Cleveland Clinic since 2017. Our patients have experienced a level of care which would otherwise not have been available to them.”
Also read: UAE Introduces New Limits on Sodium, Sugar and Fat in Food Products
Medical volunteers from hospitals across the UAE will participate in the programme under temporary medical licences approved by the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi. The upcoming programme coincides with Operation Smile UAE’s 15th anniversary. Since its establishment in 2011, the organisation has supported surgery for more than 4,000 patients in the UAE and internationally.
The October programme is also being held as part of the UAE’s Year of Family 2026 and will continue the organisations’ focus on comprehensive, family-centred care for people living with cleft conditions. Families in the UAE seeking information about cleft care programmes can contact Operation Smile UAE’s patient coordinator for further details.
