Healthcare in Dubai for expats: how it works

Elena Kasimtseva — GP, gastroenterologist, Medical Director of GMS Clinic

The system in brief

Healthcare in Dubai is private and regulated by the Dubai Health Authority (DHA). Every legitimate clinic and every doctor holds a DHA licence — you can ask for the number or find it on the clinic's website. Standards are high and so are prices, which is why insurance sits at the centre of the system.

Insurance

Health insurance is mandatory for Dubai residents — the basic plan is paid by your employer or visa sponsor. At the clinic this plays out in one of two ways:

• Direct billing — the clinic bills your insurer or its assistance company directly. You pay only the co-payment, if your policy has one.
• Pay & claim — you pay at the clinic, receive the documents (invoice, medical report in English) and submit them to your insurer for reimbursement.

Visitors work the same way: travel policies are handled through assistance companies. At GMS we bill directly through LGA Assistance and AP Companies — see Insurance.

What a doctor costs without insurance

Across Dubai, a specialist consultation typically runs from AED 400 to well over AED 1,000, depending on the clinic and specialty. Ours are AED 600–900, and the entire price list is published on the site — you can check before you come, which is less common here than it should be.

Typical situations

• Feeling unwell, a cold, an infection — start with a GP; they will refer you onward if needed. If getting there is hard, a doctor can come to you.
• Routine prevention — an annual check-up; there are separate programmes for men, women and children.
• Children — a pediatrician: age-based check-ups, vaccinations on the international schedule, school certificates.
• Emergency — call 998; government emergency departments treat everyone regardless of insurance status.

Language and paperwork

English is the working language of medicine here: reports, prescriptions and certificates are issued in English and accepted by insurers, schools and other clinics. Discussing your health is easier in your own language though — at GMS every doctor consults in English and Russian.

Sources

• Dubai Health Authority — official site

FAQ

What is the difference between direct billing and pay & claim?

With direct billing, the clinic bills your insurer or its assistance company and you pay only the co-payment, if your policy has one. With pay & claim, you pay at the clinic, receive an invoice and a medical report in English, and submit them to your insurer for reimbursement.

Can visitors use travel insurance?

Yes. Travel policies are handled through assistance companies, and at GMS we bill directly through LGA Assistance and AP Companies.

What language are medical documents in?

English. Reports, prescriptions and certificates are issued in English and accepted by insurers, schools and other clinics. At GMS every doctor consults in English and Russian.

This article is for information only and does not replace a consultation. If you have symptoms, see a doctor.

Book an appointment