Medicine in the UAE (and in Dubai in particular) is paid. Only the ambulance service is free, and this applies to everyone: both residents and foreign tourists. The medical expenses of the local population are fully or partially covered by insurance. Residents of the country must have insurance issued by the employer.
The UAE has established strict oversight of the healthcare sector by the Ministry of Health and Prevention, abbreviated as MOHAP (Ministry of Health and Prevention). At the local level, this area is regulated by the relevant authorities, for example, in Dubai, this task lies with the Dubai Health Department – DHA (Dubai Health Authority).
To visit public medical institutions, a foreigner needs to apply for a DHA – Health Card
The share of private medical centers here accounts for almost 85% of the market, while the remaining 16-17% remain public clinics. At the same time, foreign residents may well be served in public institutions on an equal basis with local ones, but visitors still choose clinics based on their insurance more often. One reason is that there are more English-speaking professionals employed in the private sector. For many expats, it is easier and more convenient to communicate with them, especially when it comes to health, where when discussing details it is very important to come to a complete understanding with the doctor.
Important! Sometimes it makes sense to apply for both a card and a visa in order to gain access to a wider range of services and a choice of specialists. Moreover, the card can be obtained both for an adult and for a child. Today, expats most often make Health Cards for children in order to be able to administer vaccinations that are not covered by a standard policy.
In conclusion, it is worth repeating that medicine in Dubai has been one of the priority areas for the past few years. Today, there is everything to attract both domestic and foreign patients: JCI-accredited clinics with advanced technological equipment, modern infrastructure, first-class specialists who speak different languages, strict adherence to the highest quality and safety standards.
