Emirates Haematology Conference 2026

Dr. Ah Hassan recently completed his Internal Medicine residency training and obtained the Saudi Board certification in Hematology. He is building his clinical career with a strong foundation in diagnosing and managing hematologic disorders, with a growing interest in advancing patient care and contributing to the field through continuous learning and professional development.

Dr. Ahmad Alabdulkarim is a Specialist Haematologist at Jaber Alahmad Hospital, Kuwait. He earned his MD from the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland and is board-certified by the Kuwait Board of Haematology. Dr. Alabdulkarim completed a Clinical Fellowship in Myeloproliferative Neoplasms and Myelodysplastic Syndromes at University College London Hospital and serves as a Clinical Tutor at the Kuwait Institute of Medical Specialisations, contributing to patient care and medical education.

Dr. Ahmed Alaskar is a consultant hematologist and academic leader with extensive expertise in adult hematology and stem cell transplantation. He serves as Executive Director of the King Abdullah International Medical Research Center (KAIMRC) and is a professor at King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences. His work focuses on clinical research, biotechnology development, and advancing hematology practice, with active contributions to international publications and scientific collaborations.

Dr. Ajlan Al Zaki, MD, PhD, is a consultant hematologist-oncologist and physician-scientist at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi. He specializes in hematologic malignancies and advanced cellular therapies, with a strong focus on translational research. Dr. Al Zaki trained at MD Anderson Cancer Center and Stanford University, and has authored numerous peer-reviewed publications and patents. His work centers on advancing innovative cancer therapies and improving patient access to cutting-edge treatments in the region.

Ali T. Taher, MD, PhD, FRCP is Professor of Medicine at the American University of Beirut (AUB), Director of the Naef K. Basile Cancer Institute, and Associate Vice President for Academic Centers and External Affairs. He is an internationally recognized leader in thalassemia and iron metabolism, with major contributions to prevention and clinical care in Lebanon and beyond. Dr. Taher has authored more than 540 peer-reviewed publications (h-index 84; over 32,000 citations) and has led landmark international clinical trials, including a Phase 3 study of oral mitapivat published in The Lancet. His achievements have been recognized with numerous prestigious awards, including the National Cedar Medal of Lebanon, the Sultan Bin Khalifa International Thalassemia Award, and the EHA Education and Mentoring Award. He currently chairs the EHA Scientific Working Group on Red Cells and Iron and serves on scientific committees of the American Society of Hematology (ASH).

Dr. Amar Lal is a senior Consultant in Hematology and Oncology with over 30 years of distinguished clinical and academic experience. Internationally credentialed with triple fellowships from CPSP, triple memberships of the Royal Colleges of Physicians, and ESMO certification, he has authored more than 50 peer-reviewed publications and is a respected global speaker. At Tawam Hospital, he plays a key leadership role in advancing oncology excellence and patient safety.

Dr. Arif Alam is Chief of the Hematology Division and Consultant Hematologist/Oncologist at Tawam Hospital, and Adjunct Associate Professor at UAE University. He trained in the United States, completing residency and fellowships in hematology/oncology and stem cell transplantation, and is American Board certified in Internal Medicine and Medical Oncology. With prior academic roles at Johns Hopkins and SUNY Buffalo, he has authored over 40 peer-reviewed publications.

Dr. Ashraf Warsi is a Consultant in Adult Hematology at Princess Noura Oncology Center, King Abdulaziz Medical City, Jeddah, Ministry of National Guard–Health Affairs, Western Region, Saudi Arabia. He is American Board–certified in Internal Medicine and Adult Hematology and certified by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada. He completed a Clinical Thrombosis Fellowship at McGill University, Montreal. His special interests include thrombosis, bleeding disorders, and myeloproliferative neoplasms.

Dr. Asma Al Olama is the President of the Emirates Society of Haematology and a Consultant Hematologist at Dubai Hospital. She has been actively involved in the field of hematology, particularly in the UAE, and has contributed to various initiatives and best practices in the area. Additionally, she serves as the Program Director of the Adult Hematology Fellowship program at Dubai Health.

Dr. Hadeel Mahmmoud Ammar is a Consultant in Internal Medicine, Hematology, and Pathology at Dubai Hospital, Dubai Health Authority (DHA). With over 23 years of clinical experience, she specializes in managing complex hematologic and systemic disorders. Dr. Ammar earned her MBBS from Dubai Medical College and completed her Arab Board certification with training in Syria. She is known for her patient-centered, evidence-based approach and plays an active role in clinical education and multidisciplinary care initiatives across the UAE.

Dr. Hani Yousif Osman is a UK-trained consultant physician in medicine, hematology, and oncology at Tawam Hospital. He specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of hematologic malignancies, including leukemia, lymphoma, and multiple myeloma, as well as benign blood and bleeding disorders. A graduate of University of Khartoum, he completed advanced training in the United Kingdom and has published research in his field.

Hanny Al-Samkari, M.D. is a classical hematologist and leading international clinical investigator in hemostasis, platelet disorders, and hemolytic anemias. His focus is on the development of novel therapeutics in hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia, immune thrombocytopenia, chemotherapy-induced thrombocytopenia and hemolytic anemia. He serves as global principal investigator for many ongoing studies in these areas.

Dr. Hasan Al Yaseen is a Consultant in Internal Medicine and Hematology with extensive clinical experience in the United Arab Emirates. He holds an MBBS degree from Baghdad University and has over three decades of practice in diagnosing and managing complex hematologic and internal medicine conditions. Dr. Yaseen is actively involved in advancing evidence based patient care and contributes to regional clinical research in hematology.

Dr. Hateeti has extended experience in Haematology, Oncology, and Internal Medicine, having worked for more than 25 years in the field. He was a lead physician in Haematology at Shiekh Khalifa Medical City (SKMC) for more than a decade and currently, he is a lead physician in lymphoma and benign Haematology at Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City. In addition, Dr. Hateeti was a principal investigator and co-investigator in international multi-centre medical trials and has papers published in regional medical journals. He has a special interest in lymphoma and rare haematology disorders; HLH, PNH, TTP/HUS, haematologic storage disorders like Gaucher disease, beta-thalassemia, and other hemoglobinopathies.

Dr. El-Najjar is an astute practitioner and researcher with 20 years of extensive experience in both the UAE and the UK. She has held several prominent positions exemplifying her commitment to the highest standards of clinical excellence, including working as a Consultant Hematologist at the prestigious Guy’s and St. Thomas NHS trust in central London. Additionally, she served as an Honorary Consultant at King’s College London Moreover, she has published several papers in peer-reviewed journals and presented at prominent international meetings, including the American Society of Hematology and the European Bone Marrow Transplant. As a further demonstration of her leadership capabilities, she served as the Lead Educational Supervisor for hematology core medical trainees at Guy's Hospital in partnership with the London Deanery. Dr. El-Najjar strives to provide patients with evidence-based hematology care in accordance with the latest research.

Dr. Jasmine M. Zain, MD, is a board‑certified hematologist‑oncologist and attending physician at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York and New Jersey, specializing in the diagnosis and management of lymphomas, particularly T‑cell and cutaneous T‑cell lymphomas. Her expertise encompasses CAR T‑cell therapy, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and stem cell transplantation. With decades of experience, she leads clinical care and research, including novel conditioning regimens and cellular therapies for rare lymphomas.

Dr. Jason R. Westin is a Professor in the Department of Lymphoma and Myeloma at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, where he serves as Director of the Lymphoma Clinical Research Program, Chief of Aggressive and Indolent Lymphoma, and Executive Leader of the Lymphoma & Myeloma Service Line. He leads innovative clinical trials and translational research in lymphoma, including ctDNA and advanced tumor profiling, shaping precision oncology and novel therapeutic strategies. Dr. Westin has published extensively in top-tier journals and is actively involved in ASCO leadership and mentoring.

Dr. Jesús San-Miguel, MD, PhD, is a Professor of Medicine-Hematology and Director of Clinical and Translational Medicine at the University of Navarra, Spain. Formerly, he led the Hematology Department at the University Hospital of Salamanca for over 20 years and served as President of the International Myeloma Society (2012–2019). A pioneer in multiple myeloma research, he has published over 900 papers, with major contributions to myeloma biology, minimal residual disease, and the development of novel therapies. He holds numerous national and international honors and serves on multiple advisory boards and editorial committees.

Dr. Khawla M. Belhoul is a highly experienced Consultant in Internal Medicine and Hematology with more than 25 years of clinical practice in the UAE. She is a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians (UK) and trained in hematology at Imperial College School of Medicine, London. Dr. Belhoul has played key roles in general hematology and benign blood disorders, including hemoglobinopathies, and has participated in international clinical trials and publications. She has been a featured speaker at regional and international medical conferences, contributing to advancements in hematology care and research.

Prof. Mahmoud Marashi is a Consultant Haematologist at Mediclinic City Hospital with over 30 years of experience. He established the clinical haematology service in Dubai Health Authority, managing both benign (anemias, bleeding disorders, thrombosis) and malignant (leukemias, myeloma, myeloproliferative disorders) hematologic conditions. A Professor of Medicine and Haematology, he leads undergraduate and postgraduate haematology training at Dubai Medical College, serves as Head of the Academic Department of Medicine, and is an external examiner for the Royal College of Physicians, UK.

Dr. Mark Levis is a graduate of the Medical Scientist Training Program from U.C. San Francisco and completed clinical training at Johns Hopkins University. He is a Professor of Oncology and the Director of the Adult Leukemia Service at Johns Hopkins. His clinical expertise focuses on acute myeloid leukemia, acute lymphoblastic leukemia, and chronic myelogenous leukemia. His research goals are to identify and validate novel molecular therapeutic targets in AML.

Dr. Litzow is a Professor of Hematology at Mayo Clinic. He has served as Director of the BMT Program and the Acute Leukemia Group at Mayo Clinic. He served as chair of the Leukemia Committee of the ECOG-ACRIN Group from 2013 to 2022. He was a co-chair of the Acute Leukemia Working Committee of the CIBMTR. He served on the Board of Directors for the Foundation for the Accreditation of Cellular Therapy for 9 years. He is the author of over 700 manuscripts.

Dr Marwan Shaheen is the Head of Chronic Leukemia and Myeloproliferative Neoplasms Section in the Department of Hematology, SCT and Cellular Therapy at King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre- Riyadh. He is also the Director of Long Term Follow-up program in Cancer Centre of Excellence. Dr Shaheen is certified Saudi Board of Internal Medicine and Adult Hematology then completed a fellowship in Adult Hematology and Bone Marrow Transplant at Princess Margaret Cancer Centre in Toronto, Canada. He was also the first certified Stem Cell Transplant Fellow from KFSH&RC.

Dr. Maysar Hussam Ahmed AbuEbaid is a Hematology Fellow in Dubai, UAE, with a strong background in internal medicine. She completed her residency at Mohammed Bin Rashid University and earned her MBBS with distinction from the University of Sharjah. With frontline COVID-19 experience and a 2025 publication in respiratory care, she is passionate about evidence-based medicine, research, and improving patient outcomes through collaborative clinical practice.

Dr. Mohamed Abuhaleeqa is an esteemed Consultant in Hematology, Leukemia, and Bone Marrow Transplant. With a robust medical journey that includes qualifications from prestigious institutions and a specialization in Hematology, he is a dedicated healthcare leader. Dr. Abuhaleeqa's commitment to knowledge sharing is evident through his mentoring of junior doctors and his role as the Program Director for the Hematology Fellowship Program in the UAE. His extensive qualifications include FRCPSC in Leukemia and Bone Marrow Transplant, Hematology, and Internal Medicine, and he is registered with the College of Physicians and Surgeons of British Columbia. He is an active participant in seminars, symposiums, and research in hematology and a member of respected medical associations, including ASBMT, EBMT and CIBMTR, underscoring his dedication to healthcare advancement in the UAE.

Dr. Mozah Obaid Almarshoodi is a Consultant in Benign Hematology and the Acting Head of Medical Department at Sheikh Khalifa Hospital Fujairah, specializing in blood disorders, including thrombosis, bleeding disorders, and hemoglobinopathies. She completed her Consultative Hematology Fellowship at the University of Toronto and is skilled in patient care, education, and clinical research. Fluent in Arabic and English, Dr. Almarshoodi is dedicated to improving hematology care and mentoring future medical professionals in the UAE.

Prof. Mubarak Al-Mansour is a Senior Medical Oncologist at King’s College Hospital London in Jeddah and Chairman of Adult Medical Oncology at Princess Noorah Oncology Center. With over 16 years of experience, he specializes in lymphoma and genitourinary cancers. He completed his training at the University of British Columbia and holds American and Canadian board certifications in Internal Medicine and Medical Oncology. Prof. Al-Mansour is an active academic at King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences and a leading contributor to oncology research, with multiple publications in lymphoma and solid tumors.

Dr. Muna Altarshi is a Senior Consultant at the Royal Hospital, Muscat. She earned her MD from Sultan Qaboos University and completed Internal Medicine and Hematology training at McGill University, obtaining FRCPC and American Board certifications. She completed a Bone Marrow Transplant fellowship at Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University of Toronto. Her practice focuses on lymphoma, plasma cell myeloma, and autologous stem cell transplantation. She is Associate Program Director at the Oman Medical Specialty Board and Treasurer of the Omani Society of Hematology.

Prof. Murtadha Al-Khabori is a Professor of Hematology at Sultan Qaboos University and Senior Consultant Hematologist at Sultan Qaboos University Hospital, Oman. He leads the Hematology Department and plays a key role in the national bone marrow transplant program. He completed advanced hematology and stem cell transplant training at Princess Margaret Hospital and research training at McMaster University, Canada. Prof. Al-Khabori has authored over 100 peer-reviewed publications and serves as an Associate Editor of the Oman Medical Journal. His clinical and research interests focus on acute leukemia, myeloproliferative neoplasms, and hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

Dr. Nameer Al-Saadawi is Chair of Medicine and a Consultant in Clinical Hematology with over 25 years of experience across the UAE and Sweden. He graduated from the University of Baghdad and completed advanced hematology training in Stockholm and Uppsala. His expertise focuses on malignant hematological disorders, including leukemia, myeloma, and myeloproliferative diseases, as well as stem cell transplantation, with a strong commitment to improving patient outcomes.

Dr. Naseema Gangat is a Professor of Medicine with the Division of Hematology at the Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN. She currently serves as the Education Chair, Division of Hematology and program director for the advanced hematology fellowship program. Her clinical and research interests are focused on myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPN) and acute myeloid leukemia (AML). She has authored/co-authored over a hundred papers and key contributions to the field include improving prognostication, investigating the connection between mutations and clinical phenotype, and evaluating novel therapeutics. Dr Gangat served as editor in chief of the American Society of Hematology News Daily (2021-2022), associate editor of the American Society of Hematology Clinical News (2023-2025) and is currently an Associate editor for Blood Cancer Journal.

Dr. Panayotis Kaloyannidis is a Specialist Hematologist at Burjeel Medical City with over 25 years of experience in malignant hematology and cellular therapies. He has participated in more than 2,000 hematopoietic stem cell transplants, including autologous and allogeneic procedures. His expertise includes leukemia, lymphoma, stem cell transplantation, post-transplant complications, and advanced cellular therapies such as CAR T-cell therapy and immunotherapy for hematologic malignancies.

Dr. Ranjana Advani is a Professor of Medicine at Stanford University specializing in the field of lymphoma. She holds an endowed chair (Saul Rosenberg Professor) and oversees all aspects of treatment of the vast majority of adult lymphoma patients. Her primary research interests include improving care for non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) and Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) patients by optimizing front line regimens, developing novel agents and targeted therapy for refractory and recurrent disease, advancing correlative studies involving biomarkers, and addressing long-term outcomes. She leads multi-institutional efforts as a national study Principal Investigator (PI) or Co-PI on several targeted therapies, translational and imaging studies and has published extensively in the peer reviewed literature. She is a member of the NCCN guidelines committee for Hodgkin Lymphoma (Chair) and Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma and on the lymphoma core committee for the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group. She has also served as a voting member of the ODAC (Oncology Drug Advisory Committee) to the FDA, and has completed a term as the co-chair of the National Cancer Institute Lymphoma Steering Committee.

Dr. Ruba Taha is a Consultant in Clinical Hematology at NCCCR-HMC, specializing in benign and malignant hematological disorders and stem cell transplantation. She serves as Clinical Lead of Lymphoma and Chair of the Lymphoma MDT since 2014, and is an active member of leukemia and BMT multidisciplinary teams. Dr. Taha is also a principal investigator on multiple research grants and contributes to national clinical and academic committees.

Prof. Salam Salim Alkindi is a Professor and Consultant Hematologist, at the Department of Haematology, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Sultan Qaboos University, Muscat, Oman. Prior to that, Dr. Alkindi served as the head of Hematology Department, Sultan Qaboos University Hospital, Oman. In 2002, he was a visiting physician, at the Transplant Unit, University of Washington, Medical Centre, Seattle - WA, USA. He has over 80 publications in several international peer-reviewed journals. His research interests include; hemoglobinopathies, leukemia, sickle cell disease, stem cell transplant, regulatory B cells in hemophilia patients, inherited von Willebrand disease, pulmonary hypertension in sickle cell disease patients, and chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

Dr. Salem H. D. Al-Shemmari is a hematologist-oncologist and academic at Kuwait University with extensive expertise in malignant hematology and stem cell transplantation. Trained in Canada and at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, he has led major clinical and research initiatives, including establishing oncology fellowship programs and a myeloid neoplasm reference lab. He has authored over 60 publications and continues to advance hematology through research, teaching, and clinical leadership.

Dr. Sarah Sewaralthahab is a hematologist and medical oncologist trained in the United States, currently serving as Assistant Professor of Medicine at King Saud University. She specializes in malignant and benign hematologic disorders, including lymphoma, leukemia, anemia, and thrombosis. With a special interest in obstetric hematology and women’s health, she is committed to delivering compassionate, evidence-based care and improving patient outcomes through clinical excellence and academic engagement.

Dr. Somaya Al Nuaimi is a Pediatric Consultant and Head of the Thalassemia Department at Fujairah Hospital, with over 20 years of clinical experience. She led the department to recognition as a Center of Excellence and is an Associate Professor at Ras Al Khaimah Medical University. Holding MRCPCH and Arab Board certification, she is an active educator, speaker, and certified trainer, contributing extensively to pediatric care and professional development in the UAE.

President of Emirates Nursing Association , Director of Nursing Department in Emirates Health Services, Leading the National Nursing & Midwifery Strategy in the UAE and Honorary associate professor at MBRU. Leading the taskforce committee for Cabinet Initiative (Attractiveness of Nursing Profession). Dr. Sumaya is an Awardee of Emirates Pride Medal for Mohammed Bin Rashid Government 2017; Community serving Medal 2020; Best Government Communication Campaign in promoting nursing profession (2018). “Pioneer Nurse” at the Global Health Pioneer Awards. Inducted in 2022 as fellow of American Academy of Nursing.

Valeria Santini is an Associate Professor of Hematology at the University of Florence Medical School in Florence Italy, where she received her degree in Medicine and Postgraduate diploma in hematology (cum laude). She worked as an EORTC fellow in experimental hematology from 1988 to 1991 at the Dr. den Hoed Kliniek, Erasmus University, Rotterdam. In 1999 she worked in the Department of Leukemia at MD Anderson Cancer Center, University of Texas, Houston. Her scientific interests and publications are focused on maturation induction and therapeutic targeting of epigenetics modifications, myeloid leukemias and myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS). At present Dr. Santini is responsible for the MDS and chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) program of the Hematology Unit at the University of Florence. She is a member of European Hematology Association (EHA), MDS Foundation, Italian Society of Experimental Hematology. Dr. Santini is a member of the Executive Board of the Italian Society of Hematology and the Medical Advisory Board of the Aplastic Anemia & MDS International Foundation.

Dr. AI-Shaibani completed his clinical fellowship in Allogeneic Transplantation within the Hans Messner Allogenic Transplant Program, Canada as well as additional fellowship training in both the Leukemia and Lymphoma Programs at the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre. In 2018, Dr. Al-Shaibani completed the Master Teacher Program at the University of Toronto. Dr. Al-Shaibani is appointed as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Medicine, University of Toronto.