What Al Basar International Foundation does

Al Basar International Foundation is a UK-registered charity (charity number 1160758) founded in 1989 that delivers free ophthalmic care to underserved populations across Africa and Asia, focused primarily on the treatment of preventable blindness caused by cataracts, glaucoma, retinopathy, and related conditions. The organisation runs a network of 30 eye hospitals under the Makkah Eye Hospital brand in countries including Nigeria (Kano, Ibadan, Bauchi), Sudan (Atbara), and Yemen (Aden), supplemented by mobile outreach eye camps that travel to remote communities and conduct screenings, distribute prescription glasses, and perform cataract surgeries. It also operates school eye screening programmes and an ophthalmic training college in Sudan, and in May 2024 performed the first corneal transplants in Nigeria at its Kano facility.

Name

Al Basar International Foundation

Legal name

Al Basar International Foundation

Website

https://albasar.org.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1989

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Al Basar International Foundation is a UK-registered charity operating 30 eye hospitals and mobile outreach camps across Africa and Asia to deliver free cataract surgery, glaucoma care, and eye screenings to underserved communities.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Charitable Ophthalmic Care

NAICS

Voluntary Health Organizations (813212), Grantmaking and Giving Services (8132)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

International & Local Implementing NGOs (HLAJAKAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Comprehensive Eye Exams & Vision Care (HLAKAKAA), International & Global Public Health Aid Administration (Government Donors) (HLAJALAO)

Keywords

• Charitable eye care
• Cataract surgery
• Ophthalmic services
• Eye hospital network
• Outreach eye camps

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Charitable Donations: The organisation operates entirely on charitable donations from individuals and organisations. Donations fund cataract surgeries, hospital construction, outreach camps, school screening programmes, and medical supplies. The UK entity is registered as a charity (1160758) and participates in the Gift Aid scheme to claim back 25p tax relief per £1 donated.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Al Basar International Foundation is a registered charity that delivers free ophthalmic care to underserved communities across Africa and Asia. It operates a network of 30 eye hospitals (Makkah Eye Hospitals) and runs mobile outreach eye camps that perform cataract surgeries, treat glaucoma and other complex eye conditions, distribute prescription glasses, and conduct school vision screenings. All services are provided at no charge to patients and are funded entirely through charitable donations.

Product overview

Al Basar International Foundation operates a unified charitable eye care service offering rather than a traditional product platform. The organization provides an integrated portfolio of eye care services including: Outreach Programmes (mobile eye camps delivering free cataract surgeries and eye treatments), Eye Hospitals (the Makkah Eye Hospital network with 30 facilities across Africa and Asia), School Screenings (free vision screenings in rural schools with glasses distribution), Special Programmes (treatment for complex conditions including glaucoma, retinopathy, cataracts, strabismus, and low vision), and Glaucoma Treatment services. These services are delivered through a combination of permanent hospital facilities, temporary outreach camps, and school-based screening programmes, with all services provided free of charge to underserved communities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Makkah Eye Hospitals: Specialized eye hospitals providing comprehensive ophthalmic services including cataract surgery, glaucoma treatment, and corneal transplants

Products and services

• Outreach Programmes Mobile eye camps that travel to remote communities providing free cataract surgeries, eye examinations, consultations, medicines, and eyeglasses. Aimed at vulnerable populations in underserved regions of Africa and Asia.
• Eye Hospitals (Makkah Eye Hospitals) A network of 30 eye hospitals across Africa and Asia providing specialist outpatient consultations, cataract surgeries, glaucoma treatment, corneal transplants, and other ophthalmic procedures. Facilities include Makkah Eye Hospital in Kano, Makkah Specialist Eye Hospital in Ibadan, Makkah Eye Hospital in Bauchi, Makkah Hospital in Atbara (Sudan), and Makkah Eye Hospital in Aden (Yemen).
• School Screenings Free eye screening programmes conducted in rural schools across Nigeria, Bangladesh, Sudan, and other countries, providing free glasses distribution, early detection of vision problems, and referrals for further treatment.
• Special Programmes Targeted programmes offering free treatment for complex eye conditions including glaucoma, retinopathy, cataracts, strabismus, and low vision, along with distribution of glasses and eye medications in hard-to-reach areas.
• Cataract Surgery Programme Free sight-restoring cataract surgeries, typically taking 15 minutes per procedure, performed at hospitals and outreach camps. 70,000 surgeries were performed in 2025 alone.
• Glaucoma Treatment Treatment and management of glaucoma including medication, laser therapy, and surgical interventions to prevent sight loss, offered free of charge to patients.
• Diabetic Eye Disease Screening Free diabetic retinopathy screenings and treatment in underserved communities, including laser treatments and surgeries to manage diabetes-related eye conditions.
• Corneal Transplant Services Corneal transplant services performed at Makkah Eye Hospital in Kano, Nigeria - the first corneal transplant department in Nigeria, run by specialist ophthalmologists.

Quantifiable outcome

• 179,000 outpatients treated in 2025 alone
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Government of Oyo State, NigeriaminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 June 2026Partnership with Oyo State government for inauguration of Makkah Specialist Eye Hospital in Ibadan. Governor Seyi Makinde stated the centre will provide specialised medical services while retaining financial resources within the state and country to prevent capital flight.
• King Salman Humanitarian Aid CentrecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 6 May 2024Collaborative partnership for blindness prevention campaigns in Pakistan, including support for campaigns in Sheikhpura, Karachi, and Khuzdar. Campaigns included cataract removal surgeries, lens implantations, and distribution of eyeglasses.
• Direct Aid Society of KuwaitcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 April 2024Supported two free medical campaigns in Shouk and Kassala, Sudan. In Shouk: 4,190 patients examined, 419 cataract surgeries, 1,250 eyeglasses distributed. In Kassala: 4,000 patients examined, 397 surgeries, 1,250 eyeglasses distributed.
• King Salman Center for Relief and Humanitarian AidcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 March 2024Al Basar collaborates with the King Salman Center on blindness prevention campaigns as part of the voluntary Saudi Light and Noor Saudi Arabia projects. Joint campaigns conducted in Pakistan including Sheikhpura (March 2024), Karachi (April 2024), and Khuzdar, Balochistan (April 2024), providing cataract surgeries, treatments, and eyeglasses to thousands of patients.
• Kuwaiti Direct Aid SocietycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Partnership with Kuwaiti Direct Aid Society supporting campaigns in Ethiopia at Al Karama General Hospital in Jijiga, providing medical assistance to 4,500 individuals with free consultations, treatments, and 377 cataract surgeries. This collaboration marks the twelfth successful medical campaign in Ethiopia since 2002.
• Local Health MinistriescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Works with local health ministries in each country to identify areas with high prevalence of eye diseases and coordinate outreach programmes. Partnerships ensure services reach communities with greatest need and align with national health priorities.
• Makkah Eye Hospital (Regional Facilities)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2024Network of Makkah Eye Hospital facilities across Africa including Kano (Nigeria), Bauchi (Nigeria), Aden (Yemen), providing specialist eye care services. Each facility serves as a regional hub for outreach programmes and advanced treatments including corneal transplants.

Scale indicators13 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Combat Blindness International: Combat Blindness International funds cataract surgeries and eye-care infrastructure in underserved regions, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. Directly comparable in mission and surgical-volume focus.
• Sightsavers: Sightsavers is a UK-registered international NGO that combats avoidable blindness through cataract surgery, neglected tropical disease treatment, and inclusive education across 30+ low- and middle-income countries. Directly comparable in mission, geographic focus, and free-service delivery model.
• Cure Blindness Project: Cure Blindness Project (formerly Himalayan Cataract Project) performs high-volume cataract surgery and builds eye-care infrastructure across Africa and South Asia. Directly comparable in focus on cataract volume and training of local clinicians.
• Light for the World: Light for the World is an Austria-based NGO delivering inclusive eye health, rehabilitation, and education programs across Africa, Asia, and Latin America. Comparable as an international NGO with hospital partnerships and outreach in low-income countries.
• Aravind Eye Care System: Aravind Eye Care System operates the world's largest eye-care provider with high-volume cataract surgery across India and emerging markets. Comparable in surgical-volume approach but operates on a cross-subsidy earned-revenue model rather than pure charity.
• LV Prasad Eye Institute: LV Prasad Eye Institute is a leading Indian eye-care network providing comprehensive ophthalmic services, training, and rural outreach. Comparable in scope and training focus but operates primarily in India with a hybrid earned-charity model.
• The Fred Hollows Foundation: The Fred Hollows Foundation restores sight in over 25 countries through cataract surgery programs, training of local surgeons, and investment in eye-health systems. Highly comparable mission and operating model, anchored in low-income geographies.
• Orbis International: Orbis operates the Flying Eye Hospital and country programs delivering cataract surgery, glaucoma care, and ophthalmic training across Africa, Asia, and Latin America. Directly comparable as an international eye-care NGO with hospital and outreach delivery.

Others

• International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness: IAPB is the global umbrella alliance coordinating blindness-prevention efforts across 250+ member organizations. Al Basar actively participates in IAPB initiatives such as World Sight Day, making IAPB an ecosystem convener rather than a direct delivery peer.

Emerging players

• Right to Sight: Right to Sight is an international coalition of ophthalmologists providing free cataract surgery and training in developing countries. Comparable in surgical focus but smaller scale and more volunteer-driven than Al Basar's hospital network.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/AlBasarUK
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@AlBasarUK
• Facebookfacebook.com/AlBasarUK
• Instagraminstagram.com/al_basaruk
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/al-basar-international-foundation-limited

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Subsidiaries6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Al Basar International Foundation