Health, pharmacies and emergencies in Dubai: a visitor's guide

Save the emergency numbers before you need them

The two numbers most visitors need are easy to remember, but it is still worth saving them in your phone on the first day. The Dubai Corporation for Ambulance Services (DCAS), the government body that runs ambulance services in the emirate, lists 998 as its number for emergencies. Dubai Police use 999 as the emergency number, and they ask the public to keep it for genuine emergencies.

For anything that is not urgent, Dubai Police point people to 901, their non-emergency number for general enquiries and for requests about police services. According to Dubai Police, the 901 call centre also answers emails and live chat requests through the Dubai Police website, which can be easier than a phone call if you are not comfortable speaking on the phone or want a written record. DCAS separately lists a non-emergency line, 04 292 2999, alongside its emergency number.

As practical advice: write these numbers on a card as well as saving them in your phone, and share them with everyone in your group, including teenagers. A phone with a flat battery or no signal is no help in an emergency, so our guide to staying connected in Dubai with a phone or SIM is worth reading before you travel.

• 998: ambulance and medical emergencies (DCAS).
• 999: police emergencies (Dubai Police).
• 901: non-urgent police enquiries and services (Dubai Police).
• 04 292 2999: DCAS non-emergency line.

What to tell the ambulance operator

When you call for help, the operator needs enough information to send the right response to the right place. Staying calm and answering their questions clearly is the most useful thing you can do. The points below are general advice rather than an official DCAS script, but they reflect what any emergency service needs to know.

Location is the hardest part for visitors. Hotel names, tower names and mall entrances can sound alike, so give the name of the building, the area and any nearby landmark, and say which entrance, floor or beach section you are at. If you are in a hotel, a mall or a venue, ask staff to help: they usually know the exact address and can send someone to meet the ambulance at the door.

• Where you are: building or venue name, area, entrance or floor, and a nearby landmark.
• What happened: an injury, a fall, a collapse, breathing difficulty, a road collision.
• How many people need help, and roughly how old they are.
• Whether the person is conscious and breathing.
• Any known medical conditions, allergies or regular medicines.
• A phone number where you can be reached, and stay on the line until the operator tells you to hang up.

Hospitals, clinics and less urgent care

Not every health problem needs an ambulance. A sore throat, a minor cut or an upset stomach is usually better handled at a clinic or by a pharmacist, while chest pain, severe bleeding, difficulty breathing, a serious head injury, sudden confusion or loss of consciousness calls for 998 straight away. As a rule of thumb, if you are unsure whether a situation is an emergency, treat it as one and call.

For less urgent care, your accommodation is a sensible first stop: ask reception whether they can arrange a doctor or point you to a nearby clinic. If you have travel insurance, call your insurer's assistance line early: insurers often have arrangements with particular hospitals and clinics and may need to approve treatment before it happens, and your policy documents will explain what they need from you.

DCAS also describes a non-emergency patient transfer service, which moves patients between hospitals or from home by request and appointment. This is not something most visitors will need, but it is useful to know that ambulance services in Dubai cover planned transfers as well as emergencies.

Whatever kind of care you receive, keep every receipt, prescription and medical report. You will need them for an insurance claim, and they help your own doctor understand what happened once you are home.

Pharmacies and everyday medicines

For many minor problems, a pharmacist is a quick first source of advice. The guidance in this section is practical advice, not an official rule, because the medicines available and the conditions for supplying them can differ from what you are used to at home. If you are not sure where the nearest pharmacy is, ask at your accommodation.

Brand names vary from country to country, so the most useful thing you can bring is the generic name of any medicine you rely on, written down or saved on your phone. If a pharmacist cannot supply something without a prescription, they may suggest seeing a doctor, and it is wise to follow that advice rather than look for workarounds.

Pack a small kit for the first few days of your trip so that you are not searching for a pharmacy after a long flight: any regular medicines in their original packaging, a copy of your prescriptions, plasters, oral rehydration sachets and sunscreen. Our first-time Dubai checklist covers wider trip preparation.

Bringing prescription medicines into Dubai

Rules on carrying medicines across borders are strict in many countries, and the UAE is no exception. Dubai Customs' passenger guidance says travellers, residents and non-residents alike, can bring in a supply of medicine for personal use of no more than three months, accompanied by an original prescription. The same page says the prescription should be stamped and signed by the UAE embassy in the country of origin and include the patient's details and a description of the condition, and that all medicines should be in their original packaging and not expired.

Dubai Customs also states that psychotropic medicines are not allowed without prior approval from the UAE's federal health authority, even for personal use, in small quantities or with a prescription, and that seizure of such medicines is punishable by law. Some medicines that are sold freely elsewhere may fall into a controlled category in the UAE.

Because these requirements are detailed and the responsible authorities and procedures can change, check the current rules for your specific medicine well before you travel, ideally with the UAE embassy in your country, and ask your doctor whether anything you take is likely to be controlled. As practical advice, carry medicines in your hand luggage, keep them in their original labelled packaging, and travel with a copy of the prescription and a short doctor's letter. Our Dubai airport arrival guide explains what to expect when you land.

Travel insurance: check it before you fly

Medical treatment abroad can be costly, so plan how you would pay for care before you need it. We have not been able to verify a single official statement of what visitors are charged for emergency or routine care in Dubai, so this guide does not quote prices. The safe assumption is that you should not travel without insurance that covers medical treatment.

As general advice, read the policy before you go rather than after something has happened. Look for cover for emergency treatment and hospital stays, medical repatriation, and any activities you plan to do, such as water sports or desert trips. Declare any existing medical conditions honestly, because an undeclared condition can be a reason for an insurer to refuse a claim. Save the insurer's 24-hour assistance number and your policy number in your phone and on paper, and share them with someone at home.

Recognising and responding to heat illness

Heat is the health risk most specific to Dubai, especially in the warmer months. The best protection is planning: being outdoors at the cooler times of day, drinking water regularly, wearing a hat and light clothing, and taking breaks in shade or air conditioning. Our guide to planning around Dubai's heat explains how to structure a day so that you are outdoors at the right times. The UAE's National Center of Meteorology publishes weather warnings on a map on its website, which is worth checking before a long day outside.

The advice below is general first-aid guidance, not an official medical protocol. Early warning signs of heat exhaustion can include heavy sweating, tiredness, dizziness, headache, cramps and nausea. If you notice them, stop what you are doing, move somewhere cool, sip water and rest. Do not carry on and hope it passes.

Some signs mean the situation is an emergency. If someone becomes confused, faints, has a seizure, stops responding normally or seems to be getting worse despite resting in the cool, call 998. While you wait, move them to shade or an air-conditioned space, loosen tight clothing and help cool them with water and moving air. Children, older travellers and anyone with a heart condition or other long-term illness can be affected more quickly, so keep a closer eye on them.

Heat also matters at the beach, where sun, exercise and the water combine. Our guide to Dubai's public beaches and swimming safety covers lifeguard hours and safe swimming.

Lost belongings and reporting to the police

Losing a phone, wallet or bag is stressful, but it is worth reporting quickly. Dubai Police run a Lost and Found Department and say it uses a smart system that links reports of lost items with belongings that have been handed in. According to Dubai Police, reports of lost belongings are received at police stations across Dubai and at approved drop-off points, including shopping centres and Smart Police Stations, as well as through other digital channels.

For non-urgent matters such as a lost item, 901 is the number Dubai Police direct people to, rather than 999. If something is stolen or you feel unsafe, that is an emergency and 999 is the right call.

As practical advice: if you lose something in a hotel, mall, taxi, metro station or at the airport, ask the staff or operator there as well, because an item may have been handed in on site. Note where and when you last had the item, keep a photo of your passport and the serial numbers of your phone and laptop, and ask for any reference number when you make a report. Our guide to getting around Dubai without a car covers the transport network, where many items go missing.

If you find something, Dubai Police ask the public to hand it in through official channels, particularly police stations.

Lost passport and contacting your embassy

A lost or stolen passport is one of the most disruptive things that can happen on a trip, because you will need a replacement or an emergency travel document before you can fly home. Your own country's embassy or consulate is the authority that can issue one, so contact it as soon as possible.

The UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs publishes a directory of foreign missions accredited to the UAE. Its page lets you choose a country and find the locations and contact details of that country's missions. It is a good idea to look up your own embassy or consulate before you travel and save the details, rather than searching for them in a stressful moment.

As practical advice, your embassy may ask for a police report of the loss, so report it to Dubai Police too, and keep a photocopy or a secure digital copy of your passport's photo page and your visa or entry stamp separately from the passport itself. Tell your airline and your travel insurer as well, as they may be able to help with changes to your journey.

Checklist before you leave home

A few minutes of preparation before departure makes almost any problem in Dubai easier to handle. Run through this list as part of your packing, alongside our first-time Dubai checklist.

• Save 998, 999 and 901 in your phone and write them on a card.
• Buy travel insurance that covers medical treatment, and save the 24-hour assistance number.
• Check the current UAE rules for any prescription medicine you will carry, well before you travel.
• Pack medicines in their original packaging with a copy of your prescription and a doctor's letter.
• Write down the generic names of any medicines you rely on, and any allergies.
• Look up your embassy or consulate in the UAE and save its contact details.
• Keep a copy of your passport photo page and visa or entry stamp separate from the passport.
• Plan outdoor activities around the heat and pack water, a hat and sunscreen.
• Make sure your phone will work in Dubai so that you can call for help and use maps.