Abu Dhabi Medical Information

An Expat guide to Abu Dhabi medical information.

If you become ill or require emergency medical assistance:

Dial 999 

The direct number for an Ambulance is 998 – however the emergency 999 number will also dispatch the appropriate emergency services where required.

Vaccinations for Travel to Abu Dhabi

For guidance on the required vaccinations for short or long term travel to Abu Dhabi, click here.

Medical Care and Facilities

Public hospitals will provide 'emergency care' free of charge. 

Travel and health insurance are essential as non-emergency treatment in the UAE can be very expensive. 

The quality of Abu Dhabi medical care in the UAE is 'good' which includes medical procedures, the use of sterilised needles and provision of blood transfusions. 

For regular ailments, General Pracitioner clinics provide care, usually with a same day appointment. 

Children must be seen by a Paediatrician, cannot be seen by the 'family GP'. Paediatrician clinics can be found at all the major hospitals.

English and Arabic are the primary languages of communication however, most facilities contain physicians who speak also speak French and German.

Accident and Emergency 

A&E departments are available at the following Abu Dhabi medical hospitals:

Sheikh Khalifa Medical City 
Al Karamah St 
T: +971 2 6102000 
F: +971 2 6104962 
http://www.skmc.gov.ae 

Al Noor Hospital (New)
Airport Road Branch , next to Grand Mosque, Airport Rd 
T: 00971-2-444 66 55, 80055666 
F: 00971-2-444 41 99 
www.alnoorhospital.com 

Corniche Hospital 
Top of Salam St, Tourist Club area 
T: 00971 2 6724900 
F: 00971 2 6720782 
http://www.cornichehospital.ae/ 

Al Noor Hospital (Old) 
Khalifa Branch, Khalifa Street (3rd) next to National Bank of Abu Dhabi (NBAD)
T: 00971-2-626 52 65, 80055666 
www.alnoorhospital.com 

Al Rahba Hospital 
Sheikh Maktoum Bin Rashid Rd, Al Rahba, Abu Dhabi 
T: (009712) 506 4444 
F: (009712) 506 4848 
http://www.alrahba.ae 

Mafraq Hospital 
Sheikh Maktoum Bin Rashid Rd, Mafraq, Abu Dhabi 
T: +971 2 5011111 
F: (009712) 5825581 
http://www.mafraqhospital.ae

Abu Dhabi Hospitals

For a comprehensive list Abu Dhabi Hospitals, click here.

GP Clinics

Dr McCulloch (British GP Surgery) 
Old Al Noor Hospital, 10th Floor 
+971 2 6262677

Dr Sami Kendrian (Children) 
# 305, 3rd Floor, Block B, City Seasons Hotel 
+971 2 6787846

Dental Surgery

Advanced American Dental Clinic 
www.americandentalclinic.com 
+971 2 6812921 

Austrian Dental Clinic 
+971 2 6211489 

British Dental Clinic 
+971 2 6773308 

Al Ahlia Dental Clinic
www.alahliadental.ae 
+971 2 6767166 

Dr Rocoo’s Arzoumanian 
+971 2 6332900 

Petra Medical Care Centre 
+971 2 6411899 

Dr Shaikh's Dental Clinic 
+971 2 6767895

Pharmacies

Most medicines are readily available at the many pharmacies in Abu Dhabi. 

NB: Codeine based pain relief (see the list of banned medicines) is a banned over the counter medicine in the UAE and will is only available via hospitals/prescription. 

24 hour pharmacies are available at all the major hospitals.

Medicines

Many medications (such as codeine) are restricted or controlled in the UAE so care must be taken when travelling to Abu Dhabi with prescribed or over the counter medicines. 

Statement on medication from the website of The Embassy of the UAE in the UK at October 26 2010: 

"Individuals may bring medicine into the country for their personal use. Up to three months’ supply of a prescription item can be brought into the country by a visitor and 12 months’ supply by a resident if they can produce a doctor’s letter or a copy of the original prescription. 

Narcotic items can only be brought into the UAE in exceptional cases with prior permission from the director of medicine and pharmacy control. These guidelines relate to medicines brought in by an individual through an airport or border crossing and medicines arriving by post."

The UAE Ministry of Health’s Drug Control Department publishes a list of controlled medicines and medications which can be viewed by clicking here.

Medications newly listed as narcotic substances 
- Orbifen 
- Tramadol hydrochloride 
- Trihexyphenidyl (Artane, Apo-Trihex) 
- Kemadrin (procyclidine hydrochloride

The Ministry of Health’s Drug Control Department can be contacted on +971-2-6117000.