Kuwait is no longer treating robotic surgery as a futuristic idea—it has become a tangible reality shaping the nation’s healthcare system. Over the past decade, Kuwait has emerged as a regional leader in integrating advanced medical technology, redefining surgical practices, and setting new global records in smart healthcare.
From Vision to Reality
The journey began in 2014 with the introduction of the da Vinci Xi system at the Sabah Al-Ahmad Kidney and Urology Center, marking Kuwait’s first steps into robotic microsurgery. Since then, the nation has expanded the scope of robotic-assisted operations, covering complex procedures such as:
- Prostatectomy
- Kidney tumor removal
- Cystectomy
- Correction of congenital urinary tract anomalies
- Advanced abdominal, obesity, and colon surgeries
According to official statistics, more than 1,800 robotic surgeries have been successfully performed across Ministry of Health hospitals between 2014 and April 2025. Today, Kuwait operates over seven robotic surgical systems, each offering remarkable benefits including reduced bleeding, faster recovery, smaller incisions, and shorter hospital stays.
These milestones have positioned Kuwait as a regional reference center for robotic surgeries.
Remote Robotic Surgeries: A Global Breakthrough
One of Kuwait’s most groundbreaking achievements is its success in remote robotic surgery. In a historic milestone, the Sabah Al-Ahmad Urology and Kidney Center performed the first-ever remote robotic partial prostatectomy in the Middle East.
- The operation was led by Dr. Saad Al-Dosari, who conducted the surgery from China while the patient was in Kuwait, over 7,000 kilometers away.
- The success of this operation opened the door for nine more remote robotic surgeries, including cases conducted from France and Shanghai.
In July 2025, Kuwait made headlines again when surgeons performed a partial prostatectomy in Strasbourg, France, marking the first cross-continental robotic surgery between Europe and the Middle East.
Kuwait has since achieved a global record by performing the longest-distance robotic surgery in history, spanning 12,000 kilometers between Kuwait and Brazil—a feat unmatched anywhere in the world.
Advanced Hospital Capabilities
Kuwait’s major hospitals are rapidly expanding robotic surgical practices:
- Jaber Al-Ahmad Hospital began its robotic surgery program in January 2020, performing its first radical nephrectomy and later its first standard nephrectomy with robotic assistance. By 2022, it had performed more than 100 robotic surgeries across specialties including bariatric, colon, hernia, gallbladder, and abdominal wall procedures.
- Al Farwaniya Hospital has also introduced robotic techniques for gastric sleeve surgeries and complex inguinal hernia repairs.
- In the field of orthopedics, Kuwait conducted its first fully robotic knee replacement in March 2022, using the MAKO robotic system. This innovation, now also available in private hospitals, has significantly improved outcomes for knee and hip replacement surgeries by minimizing complications and ensuring faster patient recovery.
Investment in Technology
The Ministry of Health has invested heavily in medical robotics, allocating over one million Kuwaiti dinars per device for government hospitals. This financial commitment underscores Kuwait’s long-term vision of enhancing surgical precision, reducing medical errors, and providing world-class healthcare services.
Market Growth and Economic Impact
The robotic surgery market in Kuwait is witnessing steady growth:
- The surgical robotic systems market was valued at $38 million in 2024 and is projected to reach $59.8 million by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 7.9%.
- The robotic surgery services market (training, maintenance, and software) is expected to double from $5.3 million in 2023 to $10 million by 2030.
This upward trajectory reflects Kuwait’s strategic focus on digital transformation in healthcare.
Building Self-Sufficiency
Minister of Health Dr. Ahmed Al-Awadhi has emphasized that surgical robots are now an integral part of Kuwait’s medical infrastructure. Training programs for national healthcare professionals are ongoing, aiming for self-sufficiency and localization of robotic technology.
Key Advantages of Robotic Surgery
Robotic surgeries provide several unique benefits that align with Kuwait’s healthcare goals:
- Enhanced safety with 3D stereoscopic vision and greater surgical precision.
- Reduced bleeding and complications due to smaller incisions.
- Faster patient recovery and shorter hospital stays.
- Strengthened digital medical infrastructure.
- Decreased reliance on treatment abroad.
- Future-proofing healthcare by integrating advanced medical technology.
- Elevating Kuwait’s international medical reputation as a hub for smart surgeries.
