Guide to Hospitals and Healthcare Services in the UAE

The UAE is one of the wealthiest countries in the Middle East. As a result, it offers a world-class healthcare system across the Emirates, especially in Abu Dhabi and Dubai. The country offers a mix of public and private hospitals and you can access these facilities with public or private health insurance, depending on your nationality.

Healthcare Regulation and Infrastructure

The 2021 World Index of Healthcare Innovation ranked the UAE as the 20th best healthcare country globally. In short, it has public and private health systems which are regulated at a national and emirate level. The Ministry of Health and Prevention (MOHAP) oversees healthcare nationally. Then regional healthcare authorities ensure a high standard of care within each emirate. These designated authorities include the Health Authority-Abu Dhabi (HAAD), the Dubai Health Authority (DHA), and the Emirates Health Authority (EHA).

Historically, the government subsidized public healthcare and hospitals in the UAE. However, following the growth of the private healthcare system, there are now more private hospitals than public. In fact, according to 2017 statistics, there are 98 private hospitals, compared to just 45 public ones. Notably, both private and public hospitals in the UAE offer a high quality of care. While public institutions provide more general healthcare services, private hospitals are more specialty-based.

How to Access Hospital Treatment

Public healthcare is free or highly subsidized for citizens in the UAE. They can access hospital treatment with their national Health Card (Dubai) or their Emirates ID which shows their insurance details. In contrast, foreign nationals residing in the UAE must have private health insurance to access hospital care. That said, they will still need to apply for a national public Health Card through the MOHAP to do so. However, while the fee for this is fairly reasonable, at AED 500, the benefits are limited as it only applies to some public health institutions and hospitals.

Regarding logistics, booking hospital appointments is easy, and you can do it online. Patients can access treatments without prior notice on their first visit but may require a direct referral from a doctor for a second consultation.

Emergency Treatment in the UAE

There are several emergency numbers in the UAE. However, in a medical emergency, you should call 998 for an ambulance. Both public and private hospitals accept patients for emergency treatments. Fortunately, this applies to Emirati nationals, expats, tourists, and visitors, and the intake treatment is always free. However, once the patient is stabilized, the hospital might transfer them to another facility, which is better equipped for specialized care. Therefore, any additional care requires payment, either by the patient or their insurance provider.

Featured Healthcare Providers: Zulekha Healthcare Group

The Zulekha Healthcare Group found its roots in 1964 when its creator Dr. Zulekha Daud moved to Sharjah, UAE in order to pursue her dream of serving people in need and offer affordable medical facilities to all. After years of dedicated service, Zulekha Hospital was established in Sharjah in 1992. Today the Zulekha Healthcare Group includes two multidisciplinary hospitals in Dubai and Sharjah as well as one diagnostic centre, three UAE medical centres and three pharmacies.

• Zulekha Hospital Sharjah: A full-fledged, multi-disciplinary hospital and diagnostic center with 150 in-patient beds.
• Zulekha Hospital Dubai: A 79 bed hospital established in 2004 which offers both inpatient and outpatient care covering a wide range of medical and surgical specialties.

Both facilities are specialized in following key services: Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, ICU, Dialysis, Advanced radiology and Laboratory services, Minimal Invasive surgeries, Bariatric Surgeries, Joint Replacement Surgeries, and state-of-the-art modular operating theaters.

Hospital Costs and Medical Packages

Globally, the UAE’s hospitals are highly rated. Most hospitals across the Emirates offer world-class facilities, especially in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Below are some examples of medical costs and package names based on available data: