If you are seriously ill or hurt in Dubai, call 998 for an ambulance or go to a hospital emergency department; Dubai Health says its emergency departments are open 24 hours a day. For a minor problem, a pharmacy or a clinic is faster. Treatment to stabilise an emergency is free, according to the UAE government portal u.ae, but other treatment must be paid for by cash, card or insurance. This guide shows where to go for what, how insurance works, and what to do about medicines.
By SB Excursions · Published 3 November 2026 · Updated 3 November 2026
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What number do I call for an ambulance in Dubai?
Call 998 from anywhere in the UAE, according to u.ae. Police is 999 and fire is 997. In Dubai you can also use the DCAS SOS app of the Dubai Corporation for Ambulance Services, whose SOS feature finds your exact location. An air ambulance may be sent if the patient needs one.
This guide also answers:
- Is there a 24-hour doctor or hospital in Dubai?
- Where do I take a sick child in Dubai?
- How do I find a pharmacy at night?
Five places to get medical help in Dubai
#1
Hospital emergency department
Dubai Health says every one of its hospitals offers emergency care 24 hours a day, and that trauma cases go to Rashid Hospital. Its page on emergency medicine also names Jebel Ali Hospital as a partner in trauma and emergency care. You can call 998 or go directly. Private hospitals also have emergency departments, so you can use the hospital nearest to your hotel.
#2
24/7 health centre
Dubai Health's visitors guide says that outside working hours, urgent care at its health centres is available 24 hours a day at Al Barsha Health Center and Nad Al Hamar Health Center. Both pages also show 800 60 as the phone number. These are not trauma units, so for a serious injury call 998 instead.
#3
Children's emergency
According to Dubai Health, Al Jalila Children's Hospital runs an emergency department 24 hours a day and cares for children from birth to 18 years. For a serious injury or illness in a child, go there or call 998. Bring your insurance details and your child's passport copy on your phone.
#4
Private clinic through your insurer
For a cough, an ear infection or a stomach upset, a clinic is usually quicker than a hospital emergency room. Your insurer's helpline can direct you to a clinic in its network, and u.ae points to the Dubai Healthcare City website for a doctor search. Ask for the price before you are seen and keep every receipt.
#5
Pharmacy
A pharmacist can advise on small problems and sell non-prescription medicines. Take the empty box or a photo of the label so the pharmacist sees the generic name, not only the brand. Opening hours differ by branch, and we did not find an official list of 24-hour pharmacies, so we name no chains here.
Where to go in Dubai when you feel ill
Match the problem to the place. Dubai has government and private hospitals, clinics and pharmacies, and the UAE government portal u.ae says visitors can get treatment at either kind. The table below is the short version, and the sections after it give the detail.
| Situation | Go to | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Serious injury, chest pain, trouble breathing | Call 998 or go to a hospital emergency department | Rashid Hospital takes trauma cases, says Dubai Health |
| Ill or injured child under 18 | Al Jalila Children's Hospital, Al Jaddaf | Emergency department open 24/7 |
| Urgent problem at night, not life-threatening | Al Barsha or Nad Al Hamar Health Center | Listed as open 24/7 by Dubai Health |
| Cough, fever, ear or stomach problem in the daytime | A clinic in your insurer's network | Call the insurer's helpline first |
| Headache, sunburn, mild stomach upset | A pharmacy | Show the pharmacist the box or label |
| Out of your regular medicine | A clinic, with your prescription and the generic name | Controlled medicines have separate rules |
Dubai Health's central number is 800 60, with a 24/7 customer team. Check the current details on its website.
If you are not sure how serious it is, call 998 and describe the problem.
Emergencies: 998, the hospital and who pays
According to u.ae, the ambulance number is 998 from anywhere in the UAE, and an air ambulance may be sent if the patient needs one. In Dubai there is also the DCAS SOS app of the Dubai Corporation for Ambulance Services. u.ae says its SOS button works out the exact location of the patient, which helps if you do not know the street name. The full list of emergency numbers, with police and fire, is in emergency numbers and the tourist police in Dubai.
At the hospital, u.ae says a hospital will accept you for initial treatment and may transfer you to a hospital better equipped for your problem. It also says that in an emergency, treatment to stabilise your condition is free, while other treatment must be paid for by cash, credit card or insurance. In short, a real emergency will be treated, but the bill for the days after it is yours or your insurer's.
Dubai Health says all its hospitals provide emergency care 24 hours a day, and that its emergency teams include emergency physicians, surgeons and nurses. Rashid Hospital, in Umm Hurair, handles trauma, and Dubai Health says its Emergency and Trauma Center is recognised in the region for its emergency and trauma services.
Clinics, health centres and how to find a doctor
For problems that are not emergencies, the usual route is a clinic. The easiest way to choose one is to call the helpline on your insurance card. The insurer knows which clinics and hospitals will bill it directly, and it can often book the visit.
If you have no insurer to ask, u.ae lists two official search tools. The Dubai Health Authority has a directory of healthcare professionals and facilities, and Dubai Healthcare City has an online search for doctors. The British government's travel advice for the UAE also says it publishes a list of medical facilities, some with English-speaking staff, and other governments publish similar lists. Check your own country's travel advice page.
Dubai Health says it accepts guarantees of payment from all international and travel insurance plans, and asks you to contact your insurer directly so it can approve the treatment. So call the insurer early, ideally before a non-urgent visit. In an emergency, go first and call the insurer as soon as you can, which is also what the British government advises. The detail of what a policy should cover is in travel insurance for Dubai.
Pharmacies and medicines: what to expect
Pharmacies are the right stop for small problems: a headache, sunburn, an upset stomach or a blister. Opening hours differ from branch to branch, and we did not find an official published list of 24-hour pharmacies in Dubai. The u.ae page that lists pharmacies links to lists for Abu Dhabi and Ajman, not Dubai. So the practical routes are to ask your hotel reception, or to search a map app for a pharmacy that is open now. For anything at night that cannot wait, use a 24/7 health centre or a hospital emergency department.
Three habits make a pharmacy visit easier:
- Know the generic name. The brand at home may not be sold here. The US health agency CDC advises travellers to carry a list of their medicines by generic name, plus blood type and allergies.
- Bring the box or a photo of the label, and your prescription if you have one.
- Buy from a licensed pharmacy. If you think you were sold a fake or harmful medicine, u.ae gives the Ministry of Health and Prevention hotline 80011111 for reports.
The bigger issue is bringing medicines into the country. The British government's travel advice says some UK prescription and over-the-counter medicines are controlled in the UAE and need approval from the Ministry of Health before you travel. Our guide to bringing medication to Dubai explains which medicines are affected and how the permit works, so we do not repeat it here.
What it costs, and how to avoid a surprise bill
We did not find a published price list for visitors, so we give no consultation prices here. Fees differ between a government hospital, a private hospital and a clinic, and between a simple visit and one with tests or a scan. What we can say from official sources is what happens if you cannot pay. The British government's advice says you may be refused treatment if you have no insurance or means to pay, and that you may be prevented from leaving the UAE if you cannot pay a medical bill.
That is the real reason to carry insurance. A short cold costs little, but a night in hospital or a transfer can cost a great deal. To keep control of the bill:
- Ask for the price or an estimate before any non-emergency test or procedure.
- Keep every receipt, the medical report and the prescription; your insurer will ask for them.
- Pay by card where you can, and ask for an itemised invoice.
- Save your insurer's 24-hour number and policy number in your phone before you land.
- Tell your insurer at once if you are admitted to hospital.
Heat, water and a day out: avoiding the doctor
Sun, heat and too little water are the simplest health problems to avoid. The CDC warns that heat-related illness such as heat stroke can be deadly, and advises eating and drinking regularly, wearing light clothing and limiting activity in high temperatures. Our guides to Dubai in summer and is Dubai safe for tourists set out the routine month by month.
On our full-day desert safari, from $45 per person, you spend about 7 hours outdoors with an air-conditioned 4x4 and unlimited drinks at the camp. If anyone in your group has a heart, back or pregnancy concern, tell us on WhatsApp before you book, and read is dune bashing safe. We will say plainly whether the day suits you.
FAQ
What number do I call for an ambulance in Dubai?
Call 998 from anywhere in the UAE, according to u.ae. Police is 999 and fire is 997. In Dubai you can also use the DCAS SOS app of the Dubai Corporation for Ambulance Services, whose SOS feature finds your exact location. An air ambulance may be sent if the patient needs one.
Is there a 24-hour doctor or hospital in Dubai?
Yes. Dubai Health says its hospitals provide emergency care 24 hours a day, and it lists Al Barsha Health Center and Nad Al Hamar Health Center as open 24/7 for urgent care outside working hours. For children under 18, Al Jalila Children's Hospital has a 24-hour emergency department. Dubai Health's number is 800 60.
Do tourists have to pay for emergency treatment in Dubai?
u.ae says treatment to stabilise an emergency is free, and other treatment must be paid for by cash, credit card or insurance. So expect to pay for follow-up care, tests and any stay in hospital. Travel insurance is the way to cover that, and Dubai Health says it accepts guarantees of payment from international and travel insurers.
Can I use my travel insurance at a Dubai hospital?
Dubai Health says it accepts guarantees of payment from all international and travel insurance plans, and asks you to contact your insurer to arrange approval. Other hospitals have their own rules, so call your insurer's helpline first for a non-urgent visit and ask which clinics bill it directly.
Where do I take a sick child in Dubai?
For an emergency, Al Jalila Children's Hospital in Al Jaddaf, which Dubai Health says cares for children from birth to 18 years and runs its emergency department 24 hours a day. For a minor illness in the daytime, ask your insurer for a clinic. If you are worried, call 998.
How do I find a pharmacy at night?
Ask your hotel reception or search a map app for a pharmacy that is open now, because hours differ by branch and we did not find an official list of 24-hour pharmacies. If the problem cannot wait until morning, go to a 24/7 health centre or a hospital emergency department instead.
What if I run out of my regular medicine in Dubai?
See a clinic with your prescription, the empty box and the generic name of the medicine. Some medicines are controlled in the UAE and are not simply sold over the counter, so ask the doctor about alternatives. Our guide to bringing medication to Dubai explains the permit rules.
Can I be stopped from leaving Dubai because of a hospital bill?
The British government's travel advice says you may be prevented from leaving the UAE if you cannot pay a medical bill. This is why we recommend insurance with enough medical cover, and why you should ask for an estimate before any non-emergency treatment.
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Photos: 24/7 health centre — Fabio Achilli from Milano, Italy, CC BY 2.0, Children's emergency — Dinitrophenol, CC BY-SA 4.0, Private clinic through your insurer — Komban Girls, CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons).