The separation surgery for Somali twins Rahma and Ramla has begun in Riyadh
In accordance with the directives of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, and His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Crown Prince and Prime Minister - may God protect them - the specialized medical and surgical team began this morning the operation to separate the Somali conjoined twins “Rahma and Ramla”, at King Abdullah Specialized Children’s Hospital in King Abdulaziz Medical City, affiliated with the Ministry of National Guard in the capital, Riyadh.
Details of the complex medical case
The medical team is led by His Excellency Dr. Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al-Rabeeah, Advisor at the Royal Court and Supervisor General of the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center. His Excellency explained that the twins, Rahma and Ramla, are 13 months old and arrived in the Kingdom on May 6, 2025. Their case is classified as complex, as they share a lower abdomen and pelvis, overlap their colon and rectum, and share the urinary and reproductive systems and pelvic bone.
Detailed examinations revealed that the twin “Ramla” suffers from complete kidney failure as a result of atrophy of the kidneys, which necessitates her undergoing dialysis immediately after the separation process is completed, while her sister “Rahma” suffers from atrophy in the left kidney and cysts in the right, which puts the medical team in front of delicate challenges to ensure the safety of the vital functions of the two girls.
Process stages and participating personnel
The surgery is expected to take approximately 14 hours, divided into eight delicate and precise stages. This medical achievement involves 36 specialists, including consultants, specialists, nurses, and technicians, covering the fields of anesthesia, pediatric surgery, urology, orthopedics, and plastic surgery. Dr. Al-Rabeeah indicated that the risk associated with this procedure is up to 40%, a fact that was explained transparently to the twins' parents, who expressed their complete confidence in the Saudi medical team.
The Saudi program for separating conjoined twins: a global leader
This operation comes as a continuation of the Saudi Program for Separating Conjoined Twins, which has a history spanning more than 35 years. Over these decades, the program has distinguished itself in the field of humanitarian medicine, with the medical team studying and evaluating 156 cases from various countries around the world and successfully separating 68 conjoined twins from 28 different countries. This reflects the high level of competence and accumulated experience of Saudi medical professionals.
Humanitarian and international dimensions
The significance of this event extends beyond the medical aspect, carrying profound humanitarian dimensions that underscore the Kingdom's leading role in international humanitarian work. Receiving patients from various continents, and the wise leadership's commitment to covering the costs of surgeries, treatment, and accommodation, embodies the Kingdom's noble mission of extending a helping hand to those in need without discrimination. The case of Rahma and Ramla is an extension of the strong fraternal ties that bind the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to the sisterly Republic of Somalia, and a reaffirmation of the Kingdom's commitment to supporting the Somali people in various fields.
In closing his statement, Dr. Abdullah Al-Rabeeah, on behalf of the medical team, expressed his deepest gratitude and appreciation to the wise leadership for the unlimited support provided to the health sector and humanitarian work, asking God Almighty to grant success to the operation and to bring joy to the eyes of the twins’ parents with their safety.
