The UAE floating hospital docked in Al Arish has fitted prosthetic limbs for 64 Palestinian amputees since the Step of Hope initiative expanded, the Emirates News Agency reported this month. Patients received comprehensive medical assessments followed by custom manufacturing and fitting of the devices aboard the vessel along with physiotherapy and mobility training. The programme relies on 3D scanning of residual limbs by teams inside Gaza with data transmitted to specialists at the hospital for precise production.
According to the Emirates News Agency the Step of Hope programme launched in June to tackle the needs of civilians who lost limbs in the Gaza conflict with an initial target of 30 to 40 fittings that has since grown. Yusuf Al Nuaimi a specialist in physiotherapy and medical rehabilitation told Khaleej Times that the project operates under directives from UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and builds on three pillars that include the floating hospital a field hospital in Gaza and medical evacuations for critical cases. Each prosthetic requires 12 to 18 days to manufacture with full delivery targeted within 21 days while patients use temporary devices and begin strengthening exercises immediately.
The floating hospital began operations on February 24 2024 and had completed more than 5 000 surgeries by late 2025 as part of the UAE’s broader relief operations The National reported. It functions as a cornerstone of Operation Gallant Knight 3 which has delivered medical aid since the conflict intensified in October 2023. Medical teams maintain close coordination between Gaza and the Egyptian port to overcome access barriers created by the ongoing hostilities.
Step of Hope also aims to strengthen Gaza’s own capacity by constructing local factories for prosthetic manufacturing establishing storage warehouses and expanding funding for existing workshops a statement from the Emirates News Agency indicated. This phase seeks to shift from emergency response toward sustainable on-the-ground rehabilitation that reduces future dependence on external facilities. Several UAE organisations including the International Charity Organisation Sharjah Charity International The Big Heart Foundation and Dar Al Ber Society have joined the effort to unify resources.
Mohamed Al Sharif the official spokesman for Operation Gallant Knight 3 said in a statement carried by the Emirates News Agency “Step of Hope embodies the UAE’s unwavering commitment to alleviating the suffering of our Palestinian brothers and sisters.” The full care package incorporates psychological and social support alongside physical rehabilitation to assist patients in resuming normal activities. Free follow-up services for adjustments and maintenance extend for three months after fitting.
Specialist crews at the hospital continue to develop personalised rehabilitation schedules matched to each patient’s progress according to updates compiled by The National. The vessel’s advanced equipment supports complex surgeries that complement the prosthetics programme. This latest total of 64 beneficiaries reflects the sustained scale of UAE medical assistance across the region.
