Abu Dhabi’s healthcare system consists of an extensive network of hospitals, clinics and medical facilities throughout the emirate. Visitors who become ill during their stay in Abu Dhabi can be assured of receiving the highest quality healthcare at any of the emirate’s private and public hospitals and clinics.

In case of emergency, visitors will be treated for free at public hospitals, but other non-emergency medical services must be paid for, while private hospitals charge for all medical services provided. Visitors are therefore advised to purchase travel and health insurance from their home countries before travelling, especially if they need to visit a private hospital or clinic during their stay in Abu Dhabi as treatment can be very expensive. For emergencies, call 998 for ambulance services.

Health certificates are not required of visitors to Abu Dhabi, except for those visitors arriving from cholera or yellow fever infected areas.  No special immunizations are required, but visitors are advised to take extra precautions when travelling from health-risk areas.  Although malaria is uncommon in the UAE and malaria tablets are rarely prescribed for travellers to the country, visitors are advised to use mosquito repellants to avoid any risks. Check the World Health Organization website before your trip for updates on required immunizations, if any.

In order to avoid common stomach ailments that can spoil your trip, avoid buying food or drink from street vendors, especially in the summer, as it is relatively easy for such food to become contaminated. Remember to pack a few medications to guard against travel ailments, but these can also be purchased from local pharmacies.

Take note that some prescriptions or over the counter medicines purchased in other countries are illegal in the United Arab Emirates. Codeine, for example, is banned in the UAE and no products containing codeine can be imported or sold in the country. If in doubt, contact the Ministry of Health’s Drug Control Department (+971-2-6117000) prior to your trip. It is advisable to carry a physician’s prescription for any medication you may require during your stay in the emirate as well as a medical report if you need to travel with syringes or other medical equipment.

If you did not bring enough prescription medicine for your entire trip, you will find most medicines readily available at pharmacies in the emirate. You may need to have your doctor state both the trade and generic names for your medications on your prescription, in case the specific brand isn’t available.

Pharmacies in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi are abundant. While most are generally open from 8:30 to 22:30, some are open 24 hours a day. For a list of pharmacies on duty, see the Abu Dhabi Police website or call the Abu Dhabi Municipality 24 hour hotline (+971-2-6777929).

Major Hospitals and Clinics