Information last checked: November 2026. Processes, forms and portals change, so please confirm current details with your insurer, provider or the relevant health authority before acting.
The UAE has a large private healthcare sector and many hospitals that treat international patients. This guide is not about where to go, which is a decision for you and your doctors. It is about the practical groundwork that makes the journey smoother.
First, decide if travel is right
Ask your current doctor whether travelling is appropriate for your condition and what to arrange before you fly. A remote review of your records by a UAE specialist, before you commit, can also clarify whether the trip is needed; see our second opinion guide. Where timing matters clinically, rely on your doctors, not on a travel schedule.
Prepare your records
Assemble what a UAE specialist will need to review your case:
- Summaries and reports from your treating doctors, in English where possible (or officially translated, if a provider asks)
- Test and imaging reports and the images
- Pathology reports, if applicable
- A current medication list with generic names and doses
- A timeline of diagnosis and treatment so far
Send these ahead so the consultation uses its time for decisions, not retrieval. Our guide to organising medical records helps. Once you are treated in the UAE, you may also be connected to the emirate’s health information exchange; see your medical records in the UAE.
Choosing a provider
- Check the facility is licensed by the relevant authority (DHA in Dubai, the Department of Health in Abu Dhabi) and the doctor’s licence on the regulator’s lookup.
- Ask how many patients with your condition the team treats, and what follow-up they offer after you leave. Ask for the answer in writing.
- Ask who will be your single point of contact, and how quickly they respond across time zones.
- Be wary of anyone who promises outcomes, or presses you to travel before you have seen a clinical plan.
Estimates and insurance
- Request a written estimate that lists what is included (consultation, tests, procedure, hospital stay, implants, medication, rehabilitation) and what is not.
- Ask what happens to the cost if the plan changes once you are assessed in person.
- Check with your own insurer whether treatment in the UAE is covered, whether pre-authorisation is needed, and whether the provider is in network, or whether you will pay and claim.
- Ask about payment terms and deposits, and keep every receipt and invoice.
Visas and official requirements
Entry and visa requirements depend on your nationality and situation and change from time to time. Check them on the official UAE government portal or with the provider’s international patient office, and not from a third-party website. AAHC does not arrange visas, flights or accommodation, so we cannot advise on these.
Family and logistics
- Decide who is travelling with the patient, and whether they will need to make decisions on the patient’s behalf. If so, ask the provider what authorisation they require.
- Plan for the unexpected: extra days, a follow-up scan, a delayed flight home.
- Ask about interpreters if your language differs from your care team’s.
- Agree who updates the family at home, and how often.
Follow-up after you return
Before you leave, ask for a full discharge summary and reports, and a written follow-up plan. Ask which local doctor at home should receive it and arrange that handover. Find out who to contact from abroad with questions, and how quickly they respond. Many difficulties arise in the weeks after returning home, when nobody is sure who is coordinating. Our international patient support helps organise records, appointments and agreed non-clinical support during a stay in the UAE. We are not a medical tourism company and we do not arrange travel.
A planning timeline
| When | What to do |
|---|---|
| Before deciding | Talk to your doctors about travel; consider a remote opinion |
| 4–8 weeks out | Assemble and send records; get written estimate; check insurance and official entry requirements |
| 2–4 weeks out | Confirm schedule, contact person, who is travelling, payment terms |
| In the UAE | Keep a log of appointments and decisions; keep every report and receipt |
| Before you fly home | Collect discharge summary, images, follow-up plan and contact details |
| After returning | Hand over to your home doctor; confirm who coordinates follow-up |
If you are also new to living in the UAE, see how healthcare works here.
Sources and further reading
- M42: International Patient Services (example of a hospital-group service)
- UAE Government portal: visas and entry
- Dubai Health Authority
- Department of Health, Abu Dhabi
This article offers general, non-clinical information only. It is not medical, legal or insurance advice. Always speak to your doctor or healthcare provider about clinical questions. In a medical emergency, call 998.
