Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi provides advanced laser therapy for patients with epilepsy and brain tumors

Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi announced the provision of laser interstitial thermography (LITT) for certain cases of epilepsy and brain tumors, becoming the first hospital in the Arabian Gulf region to offer this type of advanced treatment. The launch of this service strengthens Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi’s position at the forefront of centers for treating epilepsy and advanced brain diseases, and expands access to the latest surgical options for patients in the UAE and the region.
LITT is an innovative MRI-guided surgical procedure designed for carefully selected patients with focal epilepsy that does not respond to medications. This minimally invasive procedure relies on the use of a high-precision laser probe to target the area responsible for epileptic seizures, while preserving the surrounding healthy tissue and minimizing its impact.
Unlike traditional open brain surgery, this procedure requires a very small opening rather than a large incision, allowing most of the scalp hair to be preserved. During the procedure, the laser probe is inserted into the target area under direct MRI supervision, allowing doctors to remove the tissue causing seizures with high precision. This approach reduces surgical intervention and its impact on tissues, while speeding up the pace of recovery, as most patients leave the hospital within one to two days after the procedure.
Dr. Georges-Pascal Habre, CEO of Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, said: “The launch of the first epilepsy program using LITT technology in the Arabian Gulf region reflects Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi’s continued commitment to providing the latest transformative technologies and advanced specialized care to the region. As the healthcare sector increasingly moves towards precision and minimally invasive techniques, innovations such as this technology are redefining the boundaries of possibilities available to patients with complex neurological conditions.”
At Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, this type of operation is performed using advanced surgical robotic systems and the latest navigation software, which enhances the accuracy of laser probe guidance. This is an essential factor to achieve successful treatment results while reducing risks and complications.
For his part, Dr. Florian Roser, Chief Medical Officer and Head of the Department of Neurosurgery at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, said: “The introduction of LITT technology in the hospital allows complex areas of the brain to be targeted with extreme precision, while reducing the physical impact of surgery on patients. Providing this capability in the region represents an important step towards the development of epilepsy care and the future of minimally invasive brain surgery.”
Studies have shown that this technique is able to achieve results similar to traditional surgery in reducing epileptic seizures in selected patients, with the possibility of reducing surgical risks, reducing the length of hospital stay, and accelerating recovery.
Dr. Mohamed Ayman Heikal, a consultant neurologist at the Neurological Institute at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, said: “LITT combines precision, minimally invasive, and advanced imaging techniques in a way that can significantly improve patients’ experience. For carefully selected cases, this approach provides effective seizure control with a faster return to normalcy compared to traditional methods.”
This technique also provides flexibility in the long-term management of epilepsy, as in some cases treatment can be repeated in adjacent areas of the brain if seizures return, without the need for major open surgery. Although the primary use of this technology focuses on the treatment of epilepsy, it can also be applied in selected brain tumors, expanding its use in advanced neurological treatments.
Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi is the first Level IV epilepsy center in the country, providing the highest levels of care for patients with treatment-resistant epilepsy. The Epilepsy Program is the first of its kind in the Middle East that offers 24/7 epilepsy monitoring, comprehensive care, advanced diagnostics, drug treatments, and surgical options.
The introduction of Laser Interstitial Thermography (LITT) technology expands the scope of these advanced treatments, strengthening the Neurological Institute’s position as a regional leader in epilepsy and advanced brain care. This achievement reflects its ranking as the No. 1 neurological institute in the region in the inaugural 2026 edition of Newsweek’s list of the best specialized hospitals in the Middle East.