The Saudi Conjoined Twins Separation Program Continues Its Global Humanitarian Mission

Riyadh – BETH | Tuesday, July 29, 2025 (04 Safar 1447 AH)

In implementation of the directives of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and HRH Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz – may God preserve them – the Jamaican conjoined twins "Azaria and Azura Ellison", accompanied by their family, arrived at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh on a medical evacuation aircraft belonging to the Ministry of Defense.

Upon arrival, the twins were transferred directly to King Abdullah Specialized Children’s Hospital at King Abdulaziz Medical City – Ministry of National Guard Health Affairs, where their condition will be thoroughly assessed to determine the feasibility of a separation surgery.

🌍 Saudi Arabia’s Humanitarian Mission Beyond Borders

Dr. Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al-Rabeeah, Supervisor General of the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief) and head of the medical and surgical team of the Saudi Conjoined Twins Separation Program, expressed his profound gratitude to the Kingdom’s leadership for this initiative, which reflects:

Saudi Arabia’s global medical leadership, and

Its unwavering commitment to helping children around the world facing complex medical conditions.

He highlighted the cumulative expertise of the Saudi medical team, which has successfully conducted numerous separation surgeries, establishing the Kingdom as a global reference in this rare specialty.

🏥 Saudi Conjoined Twins Separation Program: A Medical Pioneer Since 1990

Launched in 1990 (1411 AH), the program is the first and only of its kind in the world, dedicated to receiving conjoined twin cases from across the globe.

By 2023 (1445 AH), the program had assessed and studied more than 124 cases from 23 countries across three continents.

It has successfully performed 59 separation surgeries, totaling over 600 cumulative surgical hours, with the longest operation lasting 23.5 continuous hours.

💵 Comprehensive Coverage and Post-Surgery Care

The Saudi program is the most comprehensive worldwide, as the Kingdom fully covers:

All separation surgery costs, which range between SAR 300,000 and SAR 1 million.

Post-operative medical care and rehabilitation.

Accommodation for the twins’ parents, ensuring they remain close to their children throughout the entire treatment process.

Care and follow-up continue even after the children return to their home countries, providing lasting support for their health and well-being.

🧑‍⚕️ Saudi Expertise Leading a Rare Medical Specialty

All surgeries under the program are performed at King Abdullah Specialized Children’s Hospital, under the Ministry of National Guard Health Affairs, by a multidisciplinary team of:

Over 35 surgeons, physicians, technicians, and nurses per operation.

Most recently, the team successfully separated the Syrian conjoined twins "Celine and Elin Al-Shiblip", in a complex surgery led by Dr. Abdullah Al-Rabeeah, reflecting Saudi Arabia’s world-class medical expertise.

✨ BETH Summary

The Saudi Conjoined Twins Separation Program is not merely a medical achievement; it is a testament to the Kingdom’s global humanitarian leadership.
From Riyadh, another chapter of hope is being written—a message that says:
Life is worth living, and Saudi Arabia has the power to give it back.