Dr. Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al-Rabeeah, Advisor at the Royal Court, Supervisor General of the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center, and Head of the Medical and Surgical Team, announced the successful separation of the Somali conjoined twins, Ramla and Rahma, at King Abdullah Specialized Children's Hospital in King Abdulaziz Medical City, Ministry of National Guard, in Riyadh. The operation was performed in accordance with the directives of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, and His Royal Highness Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Prime Minister – may God protect them both.
Details of the health condition and surgical procedure
Dr. Al-Rabeeah explained that the operation was a complete success, with the twins being transferred to separate beds for the first time in their lives, amidst great joy from the medical team and the girls' family. The 13-month-old twins, Ramla and Rahma, arrived in the Kingdom on May 6, 2025. Detailed medical examinations revealed that they shared a lower abdomen and pelvis, as well as a shared colon, rectum, and pelvic bone, along with a complex overlap in their urinary and reproductive systems.
Regarding the precise condition of each twin, the head of the medical team explained that Ramla suffers from complete atrophy of both kidneys and total kidney failure, necessitating dialysis as soon as her condition stabilizes after separation. Her sister, Rahma, suffers from atrophy of her left kidney, while her right kidney functions adequately despite the presence of some cysts, requiring close medical monitoring to ensure the stability of its vital functions.
The Saudi Program for Conjoined Twins: A Global Leader
This achievement adds to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's distinguished record in the field of separating conjoined twins. The Saudi Conjoined Twins Program is one of the largest medical programs of its kind in the world. Since its inception in 1990, the program has successfully performed dozens of operations on twins from various countries, making the Kingdom a leading global medical destination in this delicate and complex surgical specialty.
This success reflects the high competence of Saudi medical professionals and the advanced equipment available at healthcare facilities throughout the Kingdom, particularly at King Abdulaziz Medical City of the National Guard. These procedures are distinguished by the participation of multidisciplinary teams, including anesthesiologists, pediatric surgeons, plastic surgeons, and nurses, who work in perfect harmony to achieve optimal results.
Humanitarian and pioneering role
This event is not merely a medical one; it carries profound humanitarian dimensions, embodying the Kingdom's mission to extend a helping hand to those in need around the world without discrimination. The King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center plays a pivotal role in coordinating and caring for these cases, further solidifying Saudi Arabia's position as a "Kingdom of Humanity." The case of Ramla and Rahma 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.
