Monday, August 4, 2025
Saudi Man Secretly Donates Kidney to Best Friend, Inspires Nation
A Saudi citizen named Shaaker Al Otaibi secretly gave his kidney to his best friend of 17 years, Fahad, who was dying of kidney failure. This was a bold and unselfish act of friendship.
Al Otaibi didn’t tell anyone—not even Fahad—about the donation until after the successful transplant. He revealed the story during an appearance on the TV show Sabah Al Arabiya.
“I just wanted to save his life,” Al Otaibi said. “When we found out our tissues matched, I knew it was the right thing to do.” Most Viewed: Details of new law that allows non-Saudis to own property in Saudi Arabia
The two friends had shared a close bond for nearly two decades, enduring both time and illness. But this quiet act of kindness got a lot of attention across the country, showing how important live organ donation is becoming in Saudi Arabia.
According to the Saudi Centre for Organ Transplantation, the country had 1,706 live organ transplants in 2024, showing a 4.9% rise from the previous year. Of these, 1,284 were kidney donations, and 422 were partial liver transplants.
Saudi Arabia now ranks third worldwide for live organ donors, based on data from the Global Observatory on Donation and Transplantation (GODT).
“I didn’t want fame or credit,” Al Otaibi said. “I just wanted my friend to live.” Read: Lulu worker goes from Security to Manager, wins praise
 |
| Saudi Man Secretly Donates Kidney to Best Friend, Inspires Nation |
