KUWAIT — In a groundbreaking achievement, Kuwait has entered the Guinness World Records for conducting the world’s longest-distance remote robotic surgery, spanning over 12,000 kilometers between Kuwait and Brazil. The historic operation was performed on September 23, 2025, by surgical teams at Jaber Al-Ahmad Hospital in Kuwait and Hospital Cruz Vermelha in Brazil, supported by the Ministry of Health (MOH), Zain Kuwait, and the Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Sciences (KFAS).
The record-setting procedure—an inguinal TAPP (transabdominal preperitoneal) repair—was enabled by Zain’s advanced telecommunications infrastructure, which delivered ultra-fast connectivity with just 199 milliseconds latency, 80 Mbps bandwidth, and minimal packet loss. This allowed surgeons to operate robotic systems across continents in near real time, ensuring precision and safety.
At a press conference in Shuwaikh, the Guinness World Records certificate was officially presented to the Minister of Health, Dr. Ahmad Abdulwahab Al-Awadhi, alongside the surgical team and representatives from Zain and KFAS.
Minister Al-Awadhi hailed the milestone as proof of Kuwait’s global standing in digital medicine:
“This is not merely a record, but a clear message that our national healthcare system is capable of standing at the forefront globally. It demonstrates how science, technology, and determination can break geographic barriers.”
Dr. Ameenah Rajab Farhan, Director General of KFAS, praised the achievement as a triumph of innovation and national talent, highlighting its alignment with Kuwait’s vision for scientific advancement and health excellence.
Nawaf Al-Gharabally, CEO of Zain Kuwait, emphasized the role of digital infrastructure:
“Our advanced networks enabled a stable, instant connection across continents, ensuring the success of this global-first surgery. This milestone reaffirms Kuwait’s capability to lead the digital transformation of healthcare.”
The surgical team, led by Dr. Sulaiman Almazeedi, Dr. Mohannad Alhaddad, and Dr. Hmoud Alrashidi, collaborated with Brazilian surgeons Dr. Marcelo Loureiro, Dr. Ahmed Karim, and Dr. Leandro Totti Cavazzola. Together, they completed the procedures flawlessly, underscoring the feasibility of global collaboration in surgical care.
Guinness confirmed the distance between the surgeon and patient was 12,034.92 km (7,480 miles), making this the longest remote robotic surgery ever performed.
This record not only cements Kuwait’s role as a pioneer in digital medicine and tele-surgery, but also signals the nation’s readiness to leverage AI, robotics, and advanced connectivity to shape the future of healthcare in the region and beyond.
