Dr. Abdulsalam Al Taie, founder and head of the Al Taie Center for Laparoscopic and Obesity Surgery (www.altaiecenter.com), is widely regarded as one of the UAE’s most experienced and trusted weight-loss surgeons Under his leadership, the Dubai and Abu Dhabi clinics – opened in 2003 as the country’s first dedicated bariatric center1 – have become regional benchmarks in obesity care. In that pioneering year Dr. Al Taie performed the UAE’s first minimally invasive gastric bypass and sleeve gastrectomy procedures. Since then, he and his team have collectively completed well over 50,000 bariatric surgeries2, underscoring both the center’s experience and its reputation for high patient success rates.
“We don’t just perform surgeries — we change lives. Our mission is to restore confidence, improve health, and deliver long-term results,” said Dr. Abdul Salam Al Taie.
Credentials and Career Highlights
Dr. Al Taie’s credentials are distinguished. He earned his medical degree in Iraq and completed advanced surgical training in the UK, obtaining his Fellowship of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh (FRCS) in 1994 with outstanding distinction3. He subsequently worked at leading hospitals in the UK before returning to the Middle East. From 1995 to 2003 he served as the Chief Consultant Laparoscopic and Bariatric Surgeon at Baghdad University’s Medical College. In 2003 he moved to the UAE, where he has practiced ever since – notably as “the first and still leading laparoscopic and bariatric surgeon” in Dubai and Abu Dhabi4. Over a 35-year career he has become known for surgical excellence in minimally invasive techniques and for mentoring a team of obesity specialists across the Emirates.
Pioneering Obesity Surgery in the UAE
In 2003 Dr. Al Taie made medical history by performing the UAE’s first Roux-en-Y gastric bypass and its first laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy. These groundbreaking procedures introduced new treatment options for severe obesity in the Gulf region. Today, the Al Taie Center offers a full spectrum of modern bariatric surgeries – including gastric sleeve, standard and mini gastric bypass, Omega-loop and SADI/SASI bypass – all performed laparoscopically. The clinic also provides complex revisional and revision surgeries for patients with prior failed operations, as well as reversal procedures when needed. Such breadth of services, combined with more than 50,000 successful weight-loss operations to date, has cemented the center’s reputation as one of the UAE’s top bariatric programs.
Al Taie Center’s Integrated Care Model
Alongside surgical innovation, Dr. Al Taie has championed a holistic, patient-centered philosophy. “Weight loss is not just about surgery – it’s about transforming lives through comprehensive care,” he explains5. In practice, this means the Al Taie Center is organized as a one-stop obesity care hub. Under his direction, the clinic houses multiple specialty units – including dietetics, plastic surgery, cardiology, pulmonology, gynecology, psychology, and physical therapy – to address every aspect of a patient’s health. This multidisciplinary model ensures that each patient receives personalized support before, during, and after surgery. As Dr. Al Taie notes, “Every patient is unique… we tailor procedures to their anatomy, health status, and lifestyle goals to ensure lasting success. This approach has earned the Al Taie Center praise in the press as “the UAE’s most comprehensive obesity treatment hub,” combining cutting-edge surgical techniques with ongoing nutritional and psychological guidance.
Dr. Al Taie’s leadership and patient-focus have not gone unnoticed. Media profiles routinely highlight the clinic’s high standards and excellent outcomes, calling the Al Taie Center “a beacon of innovation and excellence” in UAE healthcare. His former patients and colleagues alike praise the thorough aftercare and long-term support provided, contributing to an industry-leading patient satisfaction rate. Thanks to Dr. Al Taie’s pioneering work and the clinic’s strong reputation, many local and international patients consider him among the UAE’s top bariatric surgeons. As the healthcare sector continues to confront the country’s obesity challenges, Dr. Al Taie and his team remain at the forefront – transforming lives through surgical expertise and comprehensive care
More Than Surgery: A 360° Approach to Health
What sets Al Taie Center apart is its comprehensive, holistic care model. The clinic integrates dietitians, psychologists, plastic surgeons, cardiologists, and physiotherapists into the weight loss journey — offering patients a customized, one-stop treatment experience.
Recent media features have praised this model:
- “A beacon of bariatric innovation and whole-patient care,” wrote The CEO Magazine.
- APN News called Dr. Al Taie’s work “life-changing, with exceptional follow-up care and success stories.”
- Business Upturn described him as “a benchmark in surgical expertise.”
- Sangri Today highlighted his center’s leadership in gastric sleeve solutions.
- Hello Entrepreneurs showcased the clinic as a premier gastric bypass destination in the UAE.
- Al Bayan covered the center’s consistent growth and success in helping patients overcome obesity.
Sources: Clinic and media profiles of Dr. Abdulsalam Al Taie and Al Taie Center (altaiecenter.com) and news features (Khaleej Times, CEO Magazine)
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