Surgical separation of Moroccan conjoined twins begins in Riyadh

Acting on the directives of King Salman bin Abdulaziz and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the medical and surgical team of the Saudi Conjoined Twins Program began the separation surgery for Moroccan conjoined twins Saja and Doha, aged 13 months, on Monday morning at King Abdullah Specialist Children's Hospital in King Abdulaziz Medical City, Ministry of National Guard, Riyadh.

Dr. Abdullah Al-Rabeeah, Supervisor General of King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center and head of the medical team, said in a press statement that the twins arrived in Saudi Arabia on April 24, 2026. After their admission to King Abdullah Specialist Children's Hospital, the team conducted thorough examinations and held several meetings, concluding that the twins are joined at the chest and abdomen, sharing membranes of the heart, liver, and intestines.

He added that tests revealed a laryngeal issue in one of the twins, which required endoscopic intervention to treat the congenital defect.

Dr. Al-Rabeeah noted that the operation is planned in six stages and is expected to last about 10 hours, with the participation of 23 consultants, specialists, and nursing and technical staff in anesthesia, pediatric surgery, plastic surgery, and other supporting specialties. He described the procedure as highly complex, with a success rate of over 70 percent.

He highlighted that this is the fourth separation surgery for Moroccan conjoined twins and the 73rd operation under the Saudi Conjoined Twins Program, which since 1990 has cared for 159 sets of twins from 28 countries across five continents.

Dr. Al-Rabeeah, on behalf of himself and the medical team, expressed gratitude and appreciation to King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for their ongoing support and attention to the program. He prayed for the success of the operation and for the good health of the Moroccan twins.