Flu Vaccination in Dubai: Where to Get It and Who Pays

A flu jab at one of Dubai's public health centres costs from AED 50, according to Emirates 24|7's September 2026 guide, and Smart Salem runs a walk-in service for AED 150. Under the UAE's 2026–27 flu campaign, the vaccine is free for citizens and residents in high-risk priority groups.

Who qualifies for a free jab

In September 2026 the Ministry of Health and Prevention widened its flu priority list from five groups to seven. Khaleej Times listed them as:

• Pregnant women
• Children aged six months and above
• Elderly people
• Healthcare workers
• People with chronic health conditions
• School students (new for 2026–27)
• People travelling for Hajj and Umrah (new for 2026–27)

The campaign says the vaccine is free for citizens and residents in these high-risk groups; everyone else pays what Khaleej Times called a "minimal charge" that varies by provider. Exact free categories can differ between emirates and health systems, so confirm your eligibility when you book.

Where to get it in Dubai

Dubai Health, which runs the emirate's public hospitals and health centres, lists the flu vaccine among the vaccination services at its ambulatory health centres. Its service locations include Al Bada'a, Al Barsha, Al Khawaneej, Al Lusaily, Al Mankhool, Al Mamzar, Al Mizhar, Nad Al Hamar, Nad Al Sheba, Umm Suqeim, Za'abeel, Al Qusais and Al Twar. Its Customer Experience Team answers on 800 60, 24 hours a day.

Booking on the Dubai Health app

Gulf News set out the app route in January 2025:

1. Open the Dubai Health app (Apple and Android).
2. Select "book flu vaccine appointment" and log in with UAE Pass.
3. Choose a health centre and a time slot.
4. Wait for the confirmation.

Pharmacies

Since 2023, some Dubai pharmacies have offered flu jabs. Pharmacists must complete DHA-prescribed training and be accredited by the DHA, Khaleej Times reported, and each store needs a licence from the health authority. At launch, Aster's pharmacy service was limited to adults aged 16 to 65; children, pregnant women and older people were directed to a doctor first. Check the current age rules with the pharmacy before you go.

Children and the nasal spray

A nasal spray flu vaccine is available in Dubai, but not over the counter. "Parents have to take the child to a facility, and the physician there has to prescribe it," Dr Hana M Saleh Salama, a DHA public health registrar, told Gulf News in September 2026.

The same report said DHA was in talks with insurers about vaccinating students inside schools. Insurers were willing to cover the jab at a healthcare facility but not in schools, and any school-level rollout in Dubai would be announced through KHDA. In the Northern Emirates, Emirates Health Services is vaccinating students free at school. For Dubai, the jab remains voluntary: "We are encouraging it, not making it mandatory," Dr Salama said.

Will insurance pay?

Coverage depends on your policy. If you are paying privately, ask the clinic for the total price, including any consultation fee, before you book. For what Dubai's minimum plan includes, see our explainer on the Essential Benefits Plan.

What to check

• Whether you fall into a free priority group, and what proof the centre needs.
• That your UAE Pass login works before you try to book on the app.
• Your insurer's position on vaccines, if you are using a private clinic.
• Age limits at pharmacies, which may exclude children and older adults.
• To confirm a clinic's licence, use the steps in how to check a healthcare practitioner's licence, or browse our Directory.

For general information. Details can change; check with Dubai Health or your insurer before relying on them.