Most UAE hospitals run on appointments, but emergency rooms accept walk-ins. Below are the private general hospitals most commonly used by the expat community.
Dubai
| Hospital | Location | Specialty | Phone |
|---|---|---|---|
| American Hospital Dubai | Oud Metha Road | General | +971-4-336-7777 |
| Mediclinic Welcare Hospital | Al Garhoud | General | +971-4-282-7788 |
| Saudi German Hospital | Al Barsha 3 | General | +971-4-389-0000 |
| HMS Mirdif Hospital | Mirdif | Orthopaedics-heavy general | (see website) |
| Medcare Women and Children Hospital | Dubai | OBGYN · paediatrics | (see website) |
These four are popular with expats. All have strong English, and most are inside major private insurance networks.
Abu Dhabi
| Hospital | Location | Specialty | Phone |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi | Hamouda Bin Ali Al Dhageri St | Complex / specialist | +971-800-82-223 |
| Burjeel Hospital & Clinics | Multiple in Abu Dhabi | Internal · uro · ortho · rehab | (see website) |
| Specialized Rehabilitation Hospital | Abu Dhabi | Rehab | (see website) |
Ras Al Khaimah
| Hospital | Location | Specialty | Phone |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sheikh Khalifa Speciality Hospital (operated by SNU Hospital, Seoul) | Ras Al Khaimah | Oncology · neuro · cardiac · GI · general | (see website) |
Operated in partnership with Seoul National University Hospital — Korean medical staff on site. See
korean-doctorsfor details.
Appointments vs emergency
Appointment care
- Book via hospital app, phone, or website
- Out-of-pocket depends on insurance. Typical copay 20–100 AED
- Prescription → in-house pharmacy or a chain (Life, Aster Pharmacy, etc.)
Emergency room
- No appointment needed. Walk in.
- Bring insurance card + Emirates ID
- Open 24h
- Minor cases can wait (triage)
- Life-threatening: call 999 / 998 first (see
emergency-numbers)
Emergency numbers (short version)
- 999 — Police
- 998 — Ambulance · Fire (UAE standard)
- 997 — Fire (Dubai)
Public vs private
| Public (SEHA, DHA direct) | Private | |
|---|---|---|
| Target | Emiratis · basic insurance | All residents (with insurance) |
| English | Available, waits longer | Excellent |
| Cost | Low | High (insurance critical) |
| Access | Regional | Concentrated in city centres |
Most expats use employer-provided insurance → private networks → the hospitals listed above.
Practical tips
- Keep Emirates ID + insurance card + passport (or copies) on you
- Verify in-network status before visiting. Out-of-network means a sharp out-of-pocket jump.
- Restricted medications: sleeping pills, sedatives, strong opioids may be controlled. Ask your doctor if they can prescribe locally. For meds brought from home, see
/guides/visa/tourist-visafor customs notes. - Card payment + direct insurance billing is standard. Cash-only hospitals are rare.
If English is a barrier
- Major private hospitals offer language coordinators for several languages on request.
- Korean speakers: see
korean-doctorsfor Korean-speaking providers. - Google Translate app + medical translator services (paid) also help.
- Some embassies / consulates can support medical interpretation in emergencies (must request — check yours).
Medications / supplements from home
- Propofol, sleeping pills, strong painkillers may require MoHAP pre-approval
- Multivitamins and OTC cold medicine are usually fine, but carry English prescriptions + doctor's letters
- For long-term residents, getting re-prescribed locally is the safer path