King Faisal Specialist Hospital, Riyadh – United Arab Emirates
About Dr. Abdullah Aljefri, MD
Dr. Abdullah Aljefri is a Consultant in Pediatric Hematology/Oncology and Stem Cell Transplantation with decades of experience managing non-malignant blood disorders, sickle cell disease, thalassaemia, and paediatric haematopoietic transplants for international families seeking the best pediatric hematology / oncology care in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. He is Associate Professor at Alfaisal University and a recognised leader in paediatric bone marrow transplantation in the Middle East.
- Consultant, Pediatric Hematology/Oncology/Stem Cell Transplantation with over 25 years of clinical experience
- Extensive research record in paediatric bone marrow transplantation and haemoglobinopathies
- Associate Professor at Alfaisal University, Riyadh
- Expert in pediatric bone marrow transplant with cohorts of 600+ transplanted patients
- Achieved 92% overall survival in β-thalassaemia stem cell transplant outcomes
Qualifications & Credentials
Medical Degrees
- MBBS — Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery
- Pediatrics Residency
Fellowships & Special Training
- Fellowship — Pediatric Hematology/Oncology
- Fellowship — Pediatric Stem Cell Transplantation
Certifications & Accreditations
- Saudi Commission for Health Specialties (SCFHS) — Consultant
- Associate Professor — Alfaisal University, Riyadh
Areas of Expertise
Major Conditions Treated
- β-Thalassaemia Major (Transfusion-Dependent)
- Sickle Cell Disease
- Aplastic Anaemia
- Fanconi Anaemia
- Congenital Amegakaryocytic Thrombocytopaenia
- Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia (ALL) in Children
- Acute Myeloid Leukaemia (AML) in Children
- Paediatric Neuroblastoma
- Hodgkin and Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma (Paediatric)
- Haemoglobinopathies
- Bone Marrow Failure Syndromes
- Immune Deficiency Disorders Requiring Transplant
Sub-specialties
- Non-Malignant Blood Disorders: Comprehensive care for thalassaemia, sickle cell disease, aplastic anaemia, and bone marrow failure — a trusted pediatric hematology specialist in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
- Paediatric Stem Cell Transplantation: Allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplantation from matched related, unrelated, and haplo-identical donors for paediatric malignancies and non-malignant conditions.
- High-Risk Neuroblastoma Programme: High-dose chemotherapy with autologous stem cell rescue as part of the KFSHRC pediatric transplant programme.
Advanced Procedures & Treatments
- Allogeneic Haematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation (Matched Related, Unrelated, Haplo)
- Autologous Stem Cell Transplantation
- Second Allogeneic HSCT (for graft failure)
- TBI-Based Conditioning Regimens
- Cord Blood Transplantation
- Iron Chelation Therapy (Deferasirox)
- Post-Transplant Cyclophosphamide GvHD Prophylaxis
- Bone Marrow Biopsy and Aspiration in Children
Professional Experience
Current Affiliation
- King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Centre (KFSHRC), Riyadh — Consultant, Pediatric Hematology/Oncology and Stem Cell Transplantation, Department of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology (Present)
Academic & Research Roles
- Associate Professor — Alfaisal University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
- Faculty — Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Fellowship Program, KFSHRC
- Contributor — Saudi Arabian Pediatric Hematology Oncology Society (SAPHOS)
Key Achievements
- Over 25 years of clinical practice in paediatric hematology/oncology
- Extensive peer-reviewed publication record in paediatric hematology and transplantation
- Contributing author on landmark KFSHRC studies involving 600+ paediatric transplants over 23 years
- Co-authored β-thalassaemia transplant outcomes: 92% overall survival and 77% event-free survival
- Published on pediatric HR neuroblastoma with 3-year OS of 68.5% using ASCT
- Co-authored national travel burden study for childhood cancer patients in Saudi Arabia
Awards & Recognitions
National & International Awards
- Information not publicly available.
Professional Memberships
- Saudi Arabian Pediatric Hematology Oncology Society (SAPHOS)
- American Society of Hematology (ASH)
- European Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation (EBMT)
- Saudi Society of Hematology
Research & Publications
Published Papers (Selected)
- AlJefri A, Siddiqui K, AlGhadeer B, ..., Ayas M. "Successful Second Hematopoietic Stem Transplantation Using TBI-Based Conditioning for Children with Transfusion-Dependent β-Thalassemia." Transplantation and Cellular Therapy. 2025. DOI: 10.1016/j.jtct.2025.01.494.
- Al-Jefri A, Siddiqui K, Al-Oraibi A, et al. "Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation Stabilizes Cerebral Vasculopathy in High-Risk Pediatric Sickle Cell Disease Patients." 2022 Feb.
- Alsultan A, Aljefri A, Ayas M, et al. "Travel burden and geographic access to health care among children with cancer in Saudi Arabia." East Mediterr Health J. 2020;26(11):1355-1362. DOI: 10.26719/emhj.20.020.
- Khan S, Siddiqui K, ..., AlJefri A, Ayas M. "Outcomes of blood and marrow transplantation in children less than 2-years of age: 23 years of experience at a single center." 2022 Dec.
- AlSaedi H, AlJefri A, AlFawaz I, et al. "Pediatric high risk neuroblastoma with autologous stem cell transplant – 20 years of experience." 2021.
- Jastaniah W, Aljefri A, Ayas M, et al. "Prevalence of hereditary cancer susceptibility syndromes in children with cancer in a highly consanguineous population." Cancer Epidemiol. 2018;55:88-95.
Ongoing Research & Clinical Interests
- Haematopoietic stem cell transplantation in paediatric haemoglobinopathies
- Sickle cell disease cerebral vasculopathy outcomes post-HSCT
- Hereditary cancer susceptibility in consanguineous populations
- Paediatric high-risk neuroblastoma autologous transplant outcomes
Estimated Treatment Costs
| Procedure / Consultation | Estimated Cost (INR) | Estimated Cost (USD) |
|---|---|---|
| Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Consultation | ₹2,000 – ₹5,000 | $25 – $60 |
| Chemotherapy (per cycle, pediatric) | ₹25,000 – ₹1,50,000 | $300 – $1,800 |
| Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplant (Pediatric) | ₹20,00,000 – ₹40,00,000 | $24,000 – $48,000 |
| Autologous Stem Cell Transplant (Pediatric) | ₹12,00,000 – ₹22,00,000 | $14,500 – $26,500 |
| Iron Chelation Therapy (monthly) | ₹15,000 – ₹50,000 | $180 – $600 |
| Bone Marrow Biopsy (Pediatric) | ₹10,000 – ₹25,000 | $120 – $300 |
*Indicative estimates only. Actual costs subject to hospital pricing, case complexity, and insurance. Contact Cancer Rounds for a personalised quote.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What advanced technologies does Dr. Abdullah Aljefri use in Pediatric Hematology / Oncology treatment?
Dr. Abdullah Aljefri uses allogeneic and autologous haematopoietic stem cell transplantation, TBI-based conditioning regimens, haplo-identical donor transplantation with post-transplant cyclophosphamide, cord blood transplantation, and advanced iron chelation. Virtual consultations and remote second opinions are also available to international paediatric patients. Contact Cancer Rounds for a detailed technology overview.
2. What conditions does Dr. Abdullah Aljefri specialize in treating?
Dr. Abdullah Aljefri specialises in non-malignant paediatric blood disorders including β-thalassaemia, sickle cell disease, aplastic anaemia, Fanconi anaemia, and bone marrow failure syndromes, as well as paediatric leukaemias, lymphomas, and neuroblastoma requiring stem cell transplantation. International families seek his expertise as a pediatric hematology oncologist in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
3. How do I book an appointment with Dr. Abdullah Aljefri?
Appointments with Dr. Abdullah Aljefri can be booked directly through the Cancer Rounds website or by contacting their international patient department for priority scheduling.
4. Can international patients receive treatment from Dr. Abdullah Aljefri?
Yes. Cancer Rounds provides full assistance for international patients seeking treatment from Dr. Abdullah Aljefri, including medical visa invitation letters, airport transfers, and local accommodation coordination.
5. What support is available for international patients?
International patients benefit from a dedicated concierge service provided by Cancer Rounds, including language interpretation, financial counselling, and pre-travel virtual consultations to review medical records before arrival.
6. Does Dr. Abdullah Aljefri offer second opinions for Pediatric Hematology / Oncology cases?
Yes. Second opinion consultations for Pediatric Hematology / Oncology can be arranged via Cancer Rounds for families who wish to review their child's diagnosis or treatment plan with an expert pediatric hematologist oncologist in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
