SEHA's Sheikh Khalifa Medical City (SKMC) Reinforces Leadership in Congenital Heart Disease Through Complex, Life-Changing Cardiac Cases

Abu Dhabi, 4 June 2026 - SEHA, a subsidiary of PureHealth, continues to advance its position as a regional leader in congenital heart disease care, with SEHA's Sheikh Khalifa Medical City (SKMC) successfully managing a series of highly complex paediatric and adult cardiac cases—demonstrating that world-class, specialised treatment is available locally in the UAE. 

Behind each clinical milestone is a story of resilience, precision, and trust. At just three years old, Rahma has already faced more challenges than most. Born with an exceptionally complex congenital heart condition affecting multiple structures of her heart, her early life was defined by uncertainty and repeated hospitalisations. Through a series of carefully staged, high-risk cardiac surgeries performed within her first year of life, SEHA's SKMC’s multidisciplinary team navigated each phase of her condition with meticulous planning and coordination. Today, Rahma has reached a stable clinical stage, with strong cardiac function and oxygen levels—an outcome that reflects both medical excellence and extraordinary resilience.  

Her journey is one of several that highlight a broader shift in patient confidence towards receiving highly specialised care closer to home. 

For 28-year-old patient Maryam, cardiac care had always meant traveling abroad. Having undergone two major heart surgeries in the United States earlier in life, she later faced a new and potentially life-threatening complication: a left ventricular outflow tract pseudoaneurysm. This time, however, she made a different decision. Trusting the growing capabilities within the UAE, she chose to undergo her complex corrective surgery at SEHA's SKMC. The procedure was successfully performed, marking not only a positive clinical outcome, but also a significant moment in reinforcing confidence in locally delivered, world-class cardiac care.  

In another case, a 35-year-old patient was referred to SEHA's SKMC’s Adult Congenital Heart Disease service with a rare and high-risk combination of congenital conditions, including Cor Triatriatum, severe mitral valve regurgitation, and advanced pulmonary arterial hypertension. Managing such complexity required advanced surgical expertise and highly coordinated perioperative care.

SEHA's SKMC team successfully performed resection of the abnormal cardiac membrane along with mitral valve repair, leading to a strong recovery and measurable improvement in her condition, demonstrating the center’s capabilities in managing even the most challenging adult congenital cases. 

Commenting on these cases, Dr. Rizwan Ahmed, Consultant Cardiologist at SHEA's Sheikh Khalifa Medical City, said: “Congenital heart disease presents a complex and continuously evolving challenge, requiring individualised treatment strategies across a patient’s lifetime. These cases reflect not only the complexity of the conditions we manage, but also the depth of expertise, multidisciplinary collaboration, and advanced infrastructure available at SHEA's SKMC. Most importantly, they highlight a growing trust among patients in accessing highly specialised care within the UAE.”

Adding to this, Dr. Benedict Raj, Consultant Pediatric Cardiac Surgeon at SHEA's SKMC, said: 
“Managing complex congenital heart disease, especially in young children, demands long-term planning, precision, and continuous follow-up. Rahma’s progress is a powerful example of what can be achieved through staged surgical approaches and coordinated care. Seeing patients reach stability and improved quality of life is the ultimate goal for every member of the team.” 

For patients and families, the impact extends far beyond clinical outcomes. 

Reflecting on her daughter’s journey, Rahma’s family shared: “From the very beginning, we knew the road would be difficult. What made the difference was the care and compassion we received at every stage. Today, seeing her stable and moving forward gives us hope we once thought was out of reach.”  

Similarly, patients emphasised the reassurance of receiving complex care close to home surrounded by family support, within a healthcare system they trust. 

These cases collectively underscore SEHA’s commitment to delivering advanced, patient-centered care aligned with international standards while strengthening the UAE’s position as a destination for highly specialised cardiac treatment.

As a cornerstone of SEHA’s network, Sheikh Khalifa Medical City continues to serve as the backbone of Abu Dhabi’s healthcare system, delivering advanced care at scale and ensuring patients have access to world-class expertise close to home, while driving continued investment in clinical excellence, multidisciplinary expertise, and long-term patient outcomes that are transforming individual lives and redefining how and where complex care is delivered.