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AE
United Arab Emirates
Quick Facts
- JCI hospitals
- 0
- Clinics in registry
- 0
- Regulatory body
- Ministry of Health and Prevention (UAE)
- Visa
- Reference page scaffold; editorial sourcing pending
- Timezone
- GST (UTC+4)
- Currency
- UAE Dirham
Practical information
Emergency numbers
- Police999
- Medical / Ambulance998
- Fire997
Language
Arabic
Local authorities
Sources CIA World Factbook — United Arab Emirates (accessed 2026-07-05)
Regulation, recourse and logistics
Regulatory bodies
Recourse mechanisms
- Ministry of Health and Prevention complaint route
Patients may file a complaint with the Ministry of Health and Prevention, the UAE's health regulator. The ministry publishes a Patient Bill of Rights at mohap.gov.ae/en/services/patient-bill-of-rights.
The United Arab Emirates (UAE), also known simply as the Emirates, is a country in West Asia, situated at the eastern end of the Arabian Peninsula. It is a federal semi-constitutional monarchy made up of seven emirates, with Abu Dhabi serving as its national capital. The UAE borders Oman to the east and northeast, and Saudi Arabia to the southwest. It shares maritime borders with Qatar and Iran in the Persian Gulf, and with Oman in the Gulf of Oman. In 2024, the UAE had an estimated population of over 11 million. Dubai is the country's largest city. Islam is the state religion. Arabic is the official language while English remains the most spoken language and the language of business.
*Reference text adapted from Wikipedia under CC BY-SA 4.0.*
The CIA World Factbook records a physician density of 2.99 per 1,000 population (2023), around 2 hospital beds per 1,000 (2021 est.) and current health expenditure of 5.3% of GDP (2021).
- Regulatory Body
- Ministry of Health and Prevention (UAE)
- JCI-Accredited Facilities
- 0
- Visa Notes
- Reference page scaffold; editorial sourcing pending.
- Patient Rights
- Official resource
Malpractice Framework
Reference page scaffold; editorial sourcing pending.
Healthcare System
The United Arab Emirates has enacted federal legislation to require universal healthcare. Free healthcare is provided for Emiratis, while health insurance is mandated for citizens of other countries. Employers/Sponsors are required to provide health insurance for the expatriate worker or the sponsored person. In the UAE employers must also provide health insurance for up to one spouse and three dependents, while in Dubai expats are required to provide insurance for their dependents.
*Reference text adapted from Wikipedia under CC BY-SA 4.0.*
Practical Information
Medical care in the United Arab Emirates is delivered in Arabic and English, the currency is the UAE Dirham (AED), and emergency services are reached on 999 for police, 998 for ambulance and 997 for fire. The UAE has enacted federal legislation requiring universal healthcare: free healthcare is provided for Emiratis, while health insurance is mandated for citizens of other countries, with employers and sponsors required to insure expatriate workers. The UK Foreign Office notes that regional tensions following the conflict in the Middle East remain unpredictable and that attacks in the region could resume at short notice; travellers should follow the advice of local authorities, stay away from areas around security or military facilities, monitor local and international media, keep departure plans under review and ensure travel documents are up to date. Travel insurance should cover the full itinerary, planned activities and expenses in an emergency.
Common Procedures
United Arab Emirates — Frequently Asked Questions
Who regulates healthcare in the United Arab Emirates?
The Ministry of Health and Prevention (MOHAP) is the UAE's health regulator; its website is mohap.gov.ae. The ministry publishes a Patient Bill of Rights at mohap.gov.ae/en/services/patient-bill-of-rights. The UAE has enacted federal legislation requiring universal healthcare, with free healthcare provided for Emiratis and health insurance mandated for citizens of other countries.
What are the emergency numbers in the UAE?
Dial 999 for the police, 998 for a medical emergency or ambulance, and 997 for the fire service. The UAE is on Gulf Standard Time (UTC+4). Medical care is delivered in Arabic and English, and the local currency is the UAE Dirham (AED).
Do I need health insurance in the UAE?
Under UAE federal legislation, free healthcare is provided for Emiratis while health insurance is mandated for citizens of other countries. Employers and sponsors are required to provide health insurance for expatriate workers or sponsored persons, covering up to one spouse and three dependents; in Dubai, expatriates are required to provide insurance for their dependents. Travel insurance should cover the itinerary, planned activities and expenses in an emergency.
Is it currently safe to travel to the UAE for treatment?
The UK Foreign Office reports that regional tensions remain unpredictable following the conflict in the Middle East, and attacks in the region could resume at short notice. Travellers should follow the advice of local authorities, stay away from areas around security or military facilities, monitor local and international media, sign up for travel-advice alerts, keep departure plans under review and ensure travel documents are up to date.