Dr. Essa M. Aleassa

Dr. Essa M. Aleassa is a Staff Physician in the General Surgery Department at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi's Digestive Disease Institute. An Emirati surgeon with 15 years of clinical experience, he is recognized internationally for his contributions to transplant surgery and complex abdominal procedures. He trained in general surgery at the University of Manitoba in Canada, then pursued advanced fellowship training in hepatopancreatobiliary (liver, pancreas and biliary duct) surgery and abdominal transplant surgery at Cleveland Clinic in Ohio under pioneer-level surgeons.

Dr. Aleassa specializes in liver and pancreas transplantation, hepatopancreatobiliary surgery, gastrointestinal cancers (including stomach, liver and pancreatic cancers), and advanced minimally invasive surgical techniques. He manages complex conditions such as pancreatitis, adrenal disease and biliary cancers, using keyhole and imaging-guided approaches where appropriate. He has published in major surgical journals and co-edited a textbook on near-infrared fluorescence imaging in surgery.

Prior to joining Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, he served as Assistant Professor of Surgery at the United Arab Emirates University, where he also taught residents and fellows. He is fluent in English and Arabic, making him accessible to a broad patient population in the UAE.