Kuwait has set a new Guinness World Records title for the farthest intercontinental remote robotic surgery, after surgeons at Jaber Al-Ahmad Hospital in Kuwait performed a procedure on a patient in Brazil over a distance of more than 12,000 kilometers.
The achievement was announced during a press conference at Zain’s headquarters in Shuwaikh. Attendees included the Minister of Health Dr. Ahmad Abdulwahab Al-Awadhi, Director General of the Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Sciences (KFAS) Dr. Ameenah Rajab Farhan, Zain Kuwait CEO Nawaf Al-Gharabally, and members of the surgical team.
Guinness World Records officially recognized the record following surgeries conducted on September 23, 2025. The operations involved surgical teams from Jaber Al-Ahmad Hospital and SCOLLA at Hospital Cruz Vermelha in Brazil using advanced robotic systems connected via high-bandwidth networks provided by Zain Telecommunications and supported by KFAS.
“This accomplishment underscores Kuwait’s pioneering role in the field of remote digital surgery, relying on the latest medical technologies and Zain’s state-of-the-art telecom infrastructure to deliver a global first,” according to a joint statement from organizers.
Dr. Ahmad Abdulwahab Al-Awadhi said: “Kuwait’s inclusion in the Guinness World Records with a medical and technological achievement of this magnitude is not merely a global record. It is a clear message that our national healthcare system is capable of standing at the forefront globally.”
He added: “Our medical professionals have proven that when will is paired with science and technology, it breaks geographic barriers and makes Kuwait a global platform for medical innovation. This success is the fruit of the wise guidance and continued support of the nation’s leadership, and it reflects a collective effort that brought together medical, technical, and administrative teams in partnership with Zain and the Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Sciences, so that the human being remains the goal and purpose of everything we do.”
Dr. Ameenah Rajab Farhan stated: “It gives me great joy to write these words, words of innovation that span continents and transcend distances, as we celebrate a national achievement that places Kuwait on the map of global medical leadership with a world record in robotic surgery. The distance between the surgeon and the patient exceeded 12,000 kilometers, which feels almost like fiction. It is an accomplishment that embodies the value of innovation when coupled with national medical excellence and advanced connectivity infrastructure, all in service of human health.”
She also noted: “The Ministry of Health team, in partnership with the Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Sciences and Zain, has proven that creativity, knowledge, and technology can come together to create historic impact. This success is not merely a technical feat or a record, but a clear message that investment in science and innovation directly improves people’s lives and health.” She emphasized alignment with national leadership’s vision for scientific advancement.
Nawaf Al-Gharabally said: “This achievement is not only a world record. It is a serious step toward a thriving digital future in which we harness technology to serve people, from Kuwait to the world. It also reflects the purpose we have embraced at Zain to deliver ‘Lasting Connections and Better Lives,’ showcasing technology’s impact on people’s lives, under our new 4WARD strategy led by Zain Group Vice Chairman and CEO Bader Nasser Al-Kharafi, whose unlimited support was pivotal to this success.”
Al-Gharabally highlighted collaboration among institutions as key: “We are delighted to be an active part of this global medical achievement. Zain’s contribution alongside national institutions reaffirms our leadership in driving digital transformation in the healthcare sector. It is compelling evidence that Kuwait has the talent and capabilities to lead a new era in which geographic borders give way to technological innovation.”
Saud Al-Fawzan from SADITA Holding/AUMET commented: “We are honored today to receive the Guinness World Records title for world’s longest remote surgery. This achievement affirms that future begins when we break boundaries and harness creativity.”
On September 23rd operations were carried out using advanced robotics over an international network engineered by Zain Telecommunications; network performance showed average latency below 0.2 seconds (199 milliseconds), bandwidth averaging 80 Mbps per connection path between continents—factors critical for real-time control required during such procedures.
The procedures were successful without complications or significant delay due largely to robust technical infrastructure built specifically for this project through cooperation among healthcare providers Edge Medical/AUMET scientists along with support from government agencies like KFAS.
