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Treatment went wrong? Know where to turn.

How UAE law treats a medical error, which authority takes your complaint, and the dates you cannot miss.

Where do you complain?

Where was the treatment?
Who is the complaint about?

Complain to the Dubai Health Authority.

Dubai Health Authority (DHA)

Time limit
3 years from the date of the event
Fee
Free
Stated time
1 to 6 months
Contact
800 342, or +971-45991200 from outside the UAE
Appeal
30 days from being notified of the committee report, to the Higher Committee
Open the DHA Submit Medical Complaint service
  • Al Kuwait Hospital and Al Amal Psychiatric Hospital in Dubai are run by Emirates Health Services. For those two, use the EHS route: complain to the hospital first, then to EHS on 800 8877.
Read how to complain to DHA

Complain to your insurer, then to the Dubai Health Insurance Corporation.

Dubai Health Insurance Corporation

Time limit
1 calendar year from when the dispute first arose
Fee
Free
Contact
Complain to your insurer in writing first
Open the DHA insurance complaint service

Sanadak

Time limit
3 years from the conduct, or 2 years from when you became aware of it, whichever is longer
Fee
Free for consumers. An appeal costs AED 500.
Contact
Complain to your insurer first and wait 15 calendar days
Open the Sanadak complaint service
  • A refused approval or claim is an insurance complaint, separate from a medical complaint.
Read about complaints against an insurer

Complain to the Dubai Health Authority.

Dubai Health Authority (DHA)

Time limit
3 years from the date of the event
Fee
Free
Stated time
1 to 6 months
Contact
800 342, or +971-45991200 from outside the UAE
Appeal
30 days from being notified of the committee report, to the Higher Committee
Open the DHA Submit Medical Complaint service
  • Dubai Healthcare City says all medical complaints in its free zone are managed by DHA.
Read how to complain to DHA

Complain to the Dubai Health Authority.

Dubai Health Authority (DHA)

Time limit
3 years from the date of the event
Fee
Free
Stated time
1 to 6 months
Contact
800 342, or +971-45991200 from outside the UAE
Appeal
30 days from being notified of the committee report, to the Higher Committee
Open the DHA Submit Medical Complaint service
  • Dubai Healthcare City says all medical complaints in its free zone are managed by DHA.
Read how to complain to DHA

Complain to your insurer, then to the Dubai Health Insurance Corporation.

Dubai Health Insurance Corporation

Time limit
1 calendar year from when the dispute first arose
Fee
Free
Contact
Complain to your insurer in writing first
Open the DHA insurance complaint service

Sanadak

Time limit
3 years from the conduct, or 2 years from when you became aware of it, whichever is longer
Fee
Free for consumers. An appeal costs AED 500.
Contact
Complain to your insurer first and wait 15 calendar days
Open the Sanadak complaint service
  • A refused approval or claim is an insurance complaint, separate from a medical complaint.
Read about complaints against an insurer

Complain to the Department of Health Abu Dhabi.

Department of Health Abu Dhabi (DoH)

Time limit
3 years from the error or from when you discovered it
Fee
AED 0. The details of the complaint must be in Arabic.
Stated time
The investigation might take months
Contact
800555
Appeal
30 days from receiving the report, AED 5,000, to the Higher Committee at MOHAP
Open the DoH medical error complaint service
  • DoH advises complaining to the facility first, then calling 800555.
Read how to complain to DoH

Complain to the Department of Health Abu Dhabi.

Department of Health Abu Dhabi (DoH)

Time limit
3 years from the error or from when you discovered it
Fee
AED 0. The details of the complaint must be in Arabic.
Stated time
The investigation might take months
Contact
800555
Appeal
30 days from receiving the report, AED 5,000, to the Higher Committee at MOHAP
Open the DoH medical error complaint service
  • DoH advises complaining to the facility first, then calling 800555.
Read how to complain to DoH

Complain to your insurer, then to the Department of Health.

Department of Health Abu Dhabi (DoH)

Time limit
Not stated on its service page. Ask the authority.
Fee
DoH lists AED 100 for “complaints and appeals submitted against a violation decision by a patient or sponsor”
Stated time
Most complaints resolved in 30 to 60 working days
Contact
Complain to your insurer in writing first
Open the DoH health insurance complaint service

Sanadak

Time limit
3 years from the conduct, or 2 years from when you became aware of it, whichever is longer
Fee
Free for consumers. An appeal costs AED 500.
Contact
Complain to your insurer first and wait 15 calendar days
Open the Sanadak complaint service
  • DoH’s insurance complaint service covers Thiqa, Basic, Enhanced and Aounak plans.
Read about complaints against an insurer

Complain to the authority that licensed the facility: Sharjah Health Authority or MOHAP.

Sharjah Health Authority (SHA)

Time limit
Not stated on its service page. Ask the authority.
Fee
None
Stated time
Depends on the medical committee
Contact
+971 6 509 1666
Appeal
30 days from receiving the committee’s decision
Open the SHA Medical Complaint service

Ministry of Health and Prevention (MOHAP)

Time limit
Not stated on its service page. Ask the authority.
Fee
Free
Stated time
45 days, longer for complex complaints
Contact
80011111
Appeal
30 days from being notified of the committee report, under the federal law
Open the MOHAP complaints about private facilities service
  • SHA takes complaints about facilities it licenses. MOHAP’s page, as of February 2026, still listed private facilities in Sharjah. Ask the facility which authority issued its licence.
Read how to complain in the northern emirates

Complain to the hospital, then to Emirates Health Services or Sharjah Health Authority.

Emirates Health Services (EHS)

Time limit
3 years after the incident
Fee
Free
Stated time
12 weeks
Contact
800 8877
Appeal
30 days from legal notification, AED 5,000, to the Supreme Committee for Medical Liability
Open the EHS Submit Medical Complaints service

Sharjah Health Authority (SHA)

Time limit
Not stated on its service page. Ask the authority.
Fee
None
Stated time
Depends on the medical committee
Contact
+971 6 509 1666
Appeal
30 days from receiving the committee’s decision
Open the SHA Medical Complaint service
  • EHS runs federal government hospitals in Sharjah. Al Bayan reported that Sharjah’s 2025 decision on health facilities covers Sharjah government facilities, which SHA licenses. Ask the hospital which authority it answers to.
Read how to complain in the northern emirates

Complain to your insurer, then to Sanadak.

Sanadak

Time limit
3 years from the conduct, or 2 years from when you became aware of it, whichever is longer
Fee
Free for consumers. An appeal costs AED 500.
Contact
Complain to your insurer first and wait 15 calendar days
Open the Sanadak complaint service
  • MOHAP’s medical complaint service does not take insurance or financial complaints.
Read about complaints against an insurer

Complain to the Ministry of Health and Prevention.

Ministry of Health and Prevention (MOHAP)

Time limit
Not stated on its service page. Ask the authority.
Fee
Free
Stated time
45 days, longer for complex complaints
Contact
80011111
Appeal
30 days from being notified of the committee report, under the federal law
Open the MOHAP complaints about private facilities service
  • MOHAP says the person filing must be an adult over 21, or the patient’s guardian, family member or a person with power of attorney.
Read how to complain in the northern emirates

Complain to your insurer, then to Sanadak.

Sanadak

Time limit
3 years from the conduct, or 2 years from when you became aware of it, whichever is longer
Fee
Free for consumers. An appeal costs AED 500.
Contact
Complain to your insurer first and wait 15 calendar days
Open the Sanadak complaint service
  • MOHAP’s medical complaint service does not take insurance or financial complaints.
Read about complaints against an insurer

How a complaint moves

  1. 1Get your recordsA copy of your file and a detailed report.
  2. 2Complain to the health authorityWithin 3 years in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and at EHS.
  3. 3The committee reportsIt decides if there was an error and how serious.
  4. 4Appeal, or go to court30 days to appeal. Compensation needs the report.

What the law says about your treatment

See every explainer

Compensation and the courts

See every guide

Other routes and cases

Work out your dates and documents

See every tool