Health Coverage & Medical Facilities in Dubai
Visitors
Anyone who is in Dubai on a visit visa is entitled to free emergency treatment at the following three government hospitals:
Al Wasl Hospital
04 324 1111
Dubai Hospital
04 271 4444
Rashid Hospital
04 337 4000
Visitors who wish to use private hospitals or clinics are able to do so as these all cater to pay-per-visit/treatment patients and also those who are fully insured.
Residents
Expatriates with a residence visa must have a minimum amount of insurance coverage. For most people, this coverage will be through private medical insurance which is provided by, or subsidized by, their employer. If you don’t have medical insurance, you must apply for a health card. The health card will only entitle you to low-cost medical care at government hospitals and clinics. Although the health care is good, the buildings and equipment are older than they are at private institutions, waiting times are much longer, and there are fewer English-speaking doctors. Any in-patient treatment will be in shared wards where the other patients typically do not speak much English and where visiting times are restricted.
Health card
Application forms can be obtained from your employer or from one of the following public hospitals:
The Iranian Hospital
04 344 0250
Al Barah Hospital
04 271 0000
Maktoum Hospital
04 222 1211
Rashid Hospital
04 337 4000
The forms must be completed in Arabic and submitted along with the following documents:
- a copy of your passport and a valid visa or copy of visa application
- a covering letter from your employer
- 2 passport photographs.
Before the card is issued, you will undergo a medical examination.
The health card costs AED 300 per year which covers the cost of the medical examination.
Once your card is issued, you will be supplied with a list of hospitals and clinics that you can use.
Private medical insurance
Those wishing to use private hospitals and clinics will need private medical insurance. Local and international insurance companies are able to provide a wide range of packages offering differing degrees of coverage. This will usually be arranged for you and subsidized by your employer.
The three most well-known providers of private medical insurance are:
The Alliance Insurance Company
http://www.alliance-uae.com
Emirates Insurance Company
http://www.eminsco.com
Abu Dhabi National Insurance Company (ADNIC)
http://www.adnic.ae
There is a wide range of private medical care in the city and this number is growing. The most popular general hospitals are:
American Hospital Dubai
general medical and surgical hospital
Oud Metha
Tel: 04 336 7777
http://www.ahdubai.com
Canadian Specialist Hospital
multi-specialty private hospital
Oud Metha
Tel: 04 336 4444
http://www.csh.ae
Cedars – Jebel Ali International Hospital
general medical hospital
Jebel Ali
Tel: 04 881 4000
http://www.cedars-jaih.com
Emirates Hospital
with cosmetic surgery and dermatology centers, gynecology department, and a 24-hour clinic
Jumeirah
Tel: 04 349 6666
http://www.emirateshospital.ae
Welcare Hospital
general medical and surgical hospital
Al Garhoud
Tel: 04 282 7788
