Dubai doctors save 65-year-old European tourist’s life after severe heart attack on cruise ship

A medical team in Dubai saved the life of a 65-year-old European traveller who had suffered a severe heart attack on a cruise ship docked in the city. She was transported by ambulance to a private hospital in Dubai within minutes, which helped save her life.

The patient arrived at the hospital having lost consciousness due to severe bradycardia, which put her at risk of cardiac arrest.

A specialist medical team led by Dr Abdullah Al Hajri, an Emirati physician and consultant cardiologist based in Dubai, received and treated the patient immediately upon her arrival.

Dr Al Hajri, who operated on the tourist, said: "The traveller’s condition was critical, and her advanced age made it even more challenging. However, we implemented an urgent treatment plan, and she underwent surgery to implant a dual-lead pacemaker with special specifications to ensure its battery would remain active for an extended period. This contributed to her full recovery and stabilisation of her condition.”

Dr. Al Hajri confirmed that the speed of the response and the immediate medical intervention played the biggest role in saving the patient's life. He noted that the tourist had left the hospital the following day in good health and without any complications, continuing her journey home.

He added that the UAE boasts superior medical services characterised by integrated healthcare that resolves medical cases in record time according to the highest international standards. He thanked Dubai Ambulance and the authorities responsible for health regulation in Dubai for their efforts and expertise in dealing with such critical cases.

For her part, the tourist expressed her deep gratitude to the medical team and the Dubai Ambulance for their speedy response and the high quality of care she received. She praised the world-class standard of healthcare in the UAE, saying that it had saved her life and stabilised her health in critical situations.

The patient’s family confirmed that the tourist’s health situation reflects the UAE’s health system’s ability to efficiently deal with emergency cases. This is thanks to the ambulance and emergency teams’ readiness, as well as the integration between health authorities. This enhances the UAE’s position as a leading destination for medical services and tourism.