Preventive Health

Your Health Records in Dubai: How NABIDH Works and What You Can Control

The Wellbeing Voice Desk · 30 Oct 2026

In summary

NABIDH (Network & Analysis Backbone for Integrated Dubai Health) is the Dubai Health Authority's platform linking patient records across public and private facilities. By the end of June 2025 it held more than 10.41 million records and connected nearly 1,888 licensed facilities and 53,659 healthcare professionals. Patients can opt out, but DHA material says opting out blocks access to their record even in an emergency. Questions go to the DHA on 800 342 or info@dha.gov.ae.

Key takeaways

NABIDH links medical records across connected public and private facilities in Dubai, giving each patient a single electronic file.
By the end of June 2025 it held more than 10.41 million records and connected nearly 1,888 licensed facilities.
Shared data includes allergies, lab results, radiology reports, medications, immunisations and discharge summaries.
You can opt out, but then clinicians cannot see your NABIDH record even in an emergency; you can opt back in through nabidh.ae.
You can ask for a report of who accessed your record through NABIDH.

NABIDH, the Dubai Health Authority's health information exchange, held more than 10.41 million medical records at the end of June 2025, Dubai Eye reported. It connected nearly 1,888 licensed facilities, 53,659 healthcare professionals and 91 electronic medical record systems, so a doctor at one connected clinic can see what another recorded.

What NABIDH is

The name stands for Network & Analysis Backbone for Integrated Dubai Health. The DHA describes it as giving each patient a single electronic medical file that providers across Dubai can access. In April 2025 the DHA said 82% of Dubai's medical workforce was actively using the system.

Not every facility is connected. Gulf News reported in March 2024 that the DHA was still working to connect all public and private facilities, and that a searchable list of connected ones is on nabidh.ae.

What it shares

According to Gulf News's March 2024 guide, the record can include:

Demographics, encounters, vital signs and allergies
Social and family histories, and problem lists
Procedures, lab results and radiology reports
Clinical documents such as discharge summaries
Immunisations, medication orders and insurance information

Your Emirates ID, mobile number, date of birth, nationality and name are linked to the record.

Your rights

The DHA's NABIDH policy on patient rights (version 1.0, September 2020) says you can:

View your information in a readable electronic format, without needing a doctor's approval.
Add documents from providers outside Dubai or the UAE, free of charge. You are responsible for their accuracy.
Ask who has seen your record. You can request a report of electronic disclosures, including the date and the sending and receiving facilities.
Be told about "break-the-glass" access, the emergency override, by email or phone.
Request a breach investigation if you suspect your record was accessed improperly. Requests go to the facility's data privacy and security officer or the NABIDH team.

Opting out, and what it means

Under DHA's patient leaflet, citizens, residents and tourists in Dubai have their record available on NABIDH automatically. Participation is voluntary.

If you…What happens Stay in (the default)Clinicians at connected facilities can view your record with consent. Opt outComplete the opt-out form at your facility. NABIDH blocks access to your record, even for emergency treatment, and clinicians cannot use break-the-glass. Your access to care is not affected. Change your mindRegister again at nabidh.ae. Information from the opt-out period then becomes available.

Even after you opt out, NABIDH still receives your clinical data in anonymised form, and Dubai's public health reporting and research continue to use anonymised data. The leaflet suggests making sure your provider knows your conditions and medications if you do opt out.

Security

In April 2025 the DHA added a Patient Privacy Intelligence system, built with the technology company Imprivata, which uses AI-driven analytics to monitor access to records and flag potential breaches in real time.

Seeing your own results

Two official apps show parts of your record, both with UAE Pass log-in:

Dubai Health app (Dubai Academic Health Corporation): medical records, including lab results and prescriptions, plus appointments and sick leave certificates at Dubai Health facilities.
DHA app (Dubai Health Authority): appointment history, lab results and medications.

Neither app store listing describes the app as a NABIDH viewer, so for a full copy of records held elsewhere, ask the facility that created them or contact the DHA.

What to check

Whether your clinic is on the connected list at nabidh.ae.
Before opting out, the emergency trade-off above.
For questions or to change your preference: DHA on 800 342, info@dha.gov.ae, or nabidh.ae.
To confirm the doctor treating you is licensed, see how to check a healthcare practitioner's licence.

For general information. Details can change; check with the Dubai Health Authority (800 342 or nabidh.ae) before relying on them.

Frequently asked questions

Can I opt out of NABIDH?

Yes. Participation is voluntary. You opt out by completing the opt-out form at your healthcare facility, and you can opt back in at any time by registering again at nabidh.ae, according to DHA's NABIDH policy and patient leaflet.

What happens in an emergency if I have opted out?

DHA's NABIDH patient leaflet says that if you opt out, NABIDH blocks access to your health information even for emergency treatment, and clinicians cannot retrieve it by 'breaking the glass'. Opting out does not affect your access to medical care.

How do I check whether my clinic is connected to NABIDH?

Gulf News reported in March 2024 that a searchable list of connected facilities is available at nabidh.ae. You can also ask the clinic or call the DHA on 800 342.

Sources & references

Last updated 31 Oct 2026

Medically/editorially reviewed by The Wellbeing Voice Desk · 31 Oct 2026

Back to all articles