Booking a Doctor's Appointment Online in Dubai: What to Know First

Dubai Health, the network that runs six public hospitals, 26 ambulatory health centres and 20 medical fitness centres in the emirate, takes appointments in three ways: by phone on 80060, through its website, and through its Smart App. The phone line is staffed 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Private hospitals and clinics run their own booking systems. Either way, a few checks before you book will save time at reception.

Public hospitals and health centres: Dubai Health

Dubai Health's facilities include Rashid, Dubai, Latifa, Hatta and Al Jalila Children's hospitals and the Jebel Ali Emergency and Trauma Centre. You can book with any of them through:

• The Dubai Health app. Its App Store listing says you can book, manage and cancel appointments at Dubai Health facilities, see lab results and prescriptions, and manage dependants' records. Sign-in is by Dubai Health account or UAE PASS.
• The website. Dubai Health's doctor list can be browsed by department and specialty, and its Book Appointment page lets you filter for doctors offering virtual consultations.
• Phone. The 24/7 Customer Experience Team is on 80060.

The DHA app, run by the regulator, shows appointment history, lab results and medications on a health dashboard, but bookings at public facilities sit with Dubai Health. Our guide to the two apps explains the difference.

Insurance: check before you go

Dubai Health says its facilities accept a variety of insurance plans, and suggests confirming yours by calling 80060, checking its Insurance page or asking your insurer. For a video or phone consultation, the DHA's telehealth standards (Issue 4, effective 26 November 2025) require any provider to verify your insurance eligibility before the consultation and to tell you in advance about any expected out-of-pocket costs.

If you hold Dubai's basic plan, our explainer on the Essential Benefits Plan covers what it includes.

Booking a private clinic

Many private clinics take online bookings through their own websites or apps. Before you confirm, it is worth checking two things:

1. The practitioner's licence. The DHA licenses healthcare professionals in Dubai, and a licence can be looked up. Our explainer shows how to check a healthcare practitioner's licence.
2. Your insurance network. Ask whether the clinic is in your plan's network and what the co-payment is.

Emergencies don't go through booking

Call 999 in an emergency. Dubai Health says all six of its hospitals have emergency departments, and Al Barsha Health Center and Nad Al Hamar Health Center also offer emergency services. For children under 13, Dubai Health directs families to Al Jalila Children's Hospital, which provides paediatric emergency care from birth to age 18. Emergency care at Dubai Health is not free; coverage depends on your insurance plan.

Before you book

• Have your Emirates ID and insurance card details ready.
• Decide whether a virtual consultation suits the problem; the DHA standards say complex or emergency cases are referred for a face-to-face visit.
• Note the cancellation route: the Dubai Health app lets you cancel without calling.
• Complaints about a Dubai Health service go to 80060 or the 04 platform for Dubai Government customers.

For general information, not medical advice. Details can change; check with Dubai Health or your insurer before relying on them.