Patient Rights & Responsibilities during treatment in the UAE

Patient Rights & Responsibilities during treatment in the UAE

An illustrative image of a healthcare professional explains treatment options, informed consent and patient rights during a clinical consultation in the UAE healthcare system.

By Mohammad Ali, former Medical Secretary and Licensing Officer, Burjeel Medical City, Abu Dhabi | Published: 8th November 2026  |  Last reviewed: 8th November 2026

Every person who walks into a UAE hospital arrives with rights, and every person who works there carries duties that protect them. That includes physicians, nurses, pharmacists, radiographers, paramedics, patient aides, porters, biomedical technicians, IT staff, maintenance teams, and managers. A porter who moves a patient through a corridor, an IT specialist who sees a record on a screen, and a surgeon who explains a procedure all affect whether a patient’s rights are respected in practice.

This guide explains patient rights and responsibilities in the UAE, built around the national Patient’s Rights and Responsibilities Charter issued by the Ministry of Health and Prevention (MOHAP). It covers Dubai Health Authority (DHA) and Department of Health (DOH) Abu Dhabi requirements, informed consent, medical records, and how medical malpractice complaints are handled. It is written for healthcare staff and is general information, not legal advice.

Featured Educational Video

Healthcare Talks | Patient Rights & Responsibilities

Published by AA Health Central | Healthcare Talks | Comprehensive discussion on empowering patients, clinical rights, and mutual responsibilities in healthcare.

Copyright & Courtesy Notice: This video embed is shared strictly for educational, awareness, and informational purposes to assist healthcare professionals, hospital staff, and patients in understanding patient rights and responsibilities during treatment. All rights, titles, ownership, and intellectual property remain with the original publisher, platform creator, and copyright holders (AA Health Central YouTube Channel). Special thanks and due credit are extended to YouTube and the channel authors for permitting public embedding and digital dissemination. If you are the copyright owner and wish to request specific modifications or video removal, please contact our webmaster.

In this guide

1. The legal framework for patient rights in the UAE
2. UAE Patient Charter of Rights: what patients can expect
3. Patient responsibilities
4. Dubai Health Authority (DHA) patient rights
5. DOH Abu Dhabi patient rights and responsibilities
6. Northern emirates and government hospitals
7. Informed consent laws in UAE healthcare
8. Patient medical records access and confidentiality
9. Healthcare professional duties and patient rights, by role
10. Medical malpractice and patient complaints in the UAE
11. A note on other Gulf countries
12. Common mistakes
13. Frequently asked questions

The legal framework for patient rights in the UAE

Patient rights in the UAE rest on several instruments. Ministerial Resolution No. 14 of 2021 approved the Patient’s Rights and Responsibilities Charter, and the UAE government portal says the charter is displayed at clinics and hospitals [1][3]. Federal Decree-Law No. 4 of 2016 on medical liability sets duties for practitioners, and Federal Law No. 2 of 2019 governs the use of information and communication technology in health fields [8][11].

Instrument	What it covers	Who must follow it
Ministerial Resolution No. 14 of 2021 (Patient Charter)	Patient rights and responsibilities	Health facilities. DHA sent it to all DHA-licensed facilities, and DOH’s consent standard requires compliance [5][7]
Federal Decree-Law No. 4 of 2016, as amended by Federal Decree-Law No. 18 of 2023	Practitioner duties, consent, medical errors, liability committees	Licensed practitioners and facilities [8][9]
Federal Law No. 2 of 2019 (ICT in health fields)	Use and confidentiality of health information	Anyone handling patient information [11]
DOH Patient Consent Standard	Consent in Abu Dhabi	DOH-licensed facilities and workforce [7]

The charter says that if there is any misinterpretation, the Arabic version prevails [4]. Staff should read the official text, not a summary, when a dispute arises.

UAE Patient Charter of Rights: what patients can expect

The charter begins with general principles. Every person has the right to the protection of their health without distinction by religion, gender, color, age, or socioeconomic status, and some groups, such as emergency cases, disabled and elderly people, children, and pregnant women, may need priority [4]. In an emergency, facilities must give priority to the patient’s clinical needs, and administrative and financial matters are settled afterward [4]. Facilities must also provide translation services for patients who cannot understand the physician’s language, and must consider and respond to feedback and complaints [4].

The charter then lists specific patient rights. Based on MOHAP’s published charter, patients can expect:

• respect for dignity, and access to a copy of the charter and to care in a language they can understand, with an interpreter when necessary [2];
• respect for privacy and protection of the information in their health file [2];
• to know the reason for examinations and treatments, and the nature and severity of their illness, unless their interest requires otherwise or their psychological condition does not permit it, in which case a legal representative is informed [2];
• a medical report on their condition, accurate results of examinations, and a copy of their health file [2];
• ownership of their personal health information, which may be disclosed to third parties only with the patient’s permission or where the law requires [2];
• the right to consent to a health service, which belongs to the patient or the legal representative of a patient who lacks capacity [2].

The charter also lets a conscious, capable patient leave the facility on his or her own responsibility [2]. Individual hospitals add their own wording. For example, a SEHA facility lists the right to refuse or stop treatment, or leave against medical advice, as permitted by law [12].

Patient responsibilities

MOHAP’s summary of the charter says patient duties include respecting the physician’s independence in assessing and deciding the appropriate treatment, accepting the prescribed treatment methods, and following the facility’s internal rules [10]. Hospital pages commonly add practical duties, such as bringing a valid Emirates ID or passport and giving accurate and complete medical information [12]. For staff, these duties explain why a clear conversation about responsibilities, held respectfully, is part of good care and not a threat.

Dubai Health Authority (DHA) patient rights

DHA circulated the ministerial resolution to all DHA-licensed health facilities in Dubai on April 12, 2021, under circular CIR-2021-00000064 [5]. In practice, that means Dubai facilities are expected to apply the charter in the same way as facilities elsewhere in the UAE. DHA also lists a medical complaints service among its services for individuals, so patients have a formal route when they believe a right was not respected [6].

DOH Abu Dhabi patient rights and responsibilities

In Abu Dhabi, the DOH Patient Consent Standard applies to all DOH-licensed healthcare facilities and their workforce [7]. It states that facilities must comply with Ministerial Resolution No. 14 of 2021 and deliver culturally and socially relevant patient information and education. It also requires staff to respect patients’ right to confidentiality and to give patients the information they want or need in a way they can understand, so that they can make informed decisions [7]. DOH accepts medical error complaints, and the UAE government portal links to the request service [3].

Northern emirates and government hospitals

The UAE government portal lists three complaint routes. Emirates Health Services (EHS) handles complaints about government hospitals, MOHAP handles complaints about private health facilities and their medical staff, and DOH handles medical error complaints in Abu Dhabi [3]. Abu Dhabi’s public hospitals, including SEHA facilities, publish their own patient rights pages based on the national charter [12]. If you work in a government facility, follow your employer’s policy and check which authority oversees it.

Informed consent laws in UAE healthcare

Article 4 of the Medical Liability Law sets the core duties. A practitioner must keep the patient informed of the nature of the medical condition and its seriousness, unless the patient’s interest requires otherwise or the patient’s psychological condition does not allow it, and must keep the patient or relatives informed of possible complications [8]. A practitioner may not treat a patient without consent, except in emergencies where consent cannot be obtained, or where the disease is infectious or threatens public safety or health [8]. For a patient who lacks legal capacity, consent is accepted for examination, diagnosis, and the first dose of treatment, provided a relative or accompanying person is told the treatment plan [8]. The law also lists, among prohibited acts, carrying out medical procedures or unnecessary surgeries without the patient’s informed consent [14].

The DOH standard separates implied consent, which covers minimal-risk steps such as screening tests or monitoring vital signs, from informed consent for more significant treatment. It treats emergency situations needing immediate intervention to save life as an exception, and requires signed consent forms to be kept in the patient’s medical record [7].

A practical consent checklist for staff

1. Explain the condition, the proposed treatment, the risks, and the alternatives in language the patient understands, using an interpreter when needed.
2. Confirm who is entitled to consent: the patient, or the legal representative of a patient who lacks capacity.
3. Give the patient time to ask questions, and record that the discussion happened.
4. Keep the signed form in the medical record.
5. Keep the patient informed as treatment progresses.

Patient medical records access and confidentiality

The charter gives patients the right to a medical report and to a copy of their health file, and it treats personal health information as the patient’s own data that may be disclosed to third parties only with permission or where the law requires [2]. Federal Law No. 2 of 2019 supports this by requiring confidentiality of health information, with limited exceptions [11]. Facilities set their own request procedures and may charge fees, so staff should follow the written process and avoid improvising [12].

Records protection is a job for everyone. Clinicians should open only the records they need for care. IT staff should treat system access as a duty of trust. Porters, security, and maintenance teams should avoid reading charts or discussing what they see. Nobody should photograph patients or screens. Our guide to the importance of medical records in modern healthcare explains why accurate, protected records matter for safe care.

Healthcare professional duties and patient rights, by role

Role	Duties that protect patient rights
Physicians and surgeons	Explain diagnosis, risks, and alternatives, obtain valid consent, and keep information confidential
Nurses and midwives	Protect privacy during care, confirm understanding, escalate concerns, and document accurately
Pharmacists and technologists	Verify identity, explain medication or test information, and protect records and samples
Paramedics and emergency staff	Prioritize clinical need, treat in emergencies as the law allows, and communicate with relatives appropriately
Patient aides and porters	Preserve dignity during transport, protect privacy, and report concerns to a nurse
Biomedical and MEP staff	Work safely around patients, protect privacy in care areas, and keep equipment safe and available
IT and management	Control access to records, provide interpreter and complaint processes, and respond to feedback

Medical malpractice and patient complaints in the UAE

Patients who believe their rights were violated, or that a medical error occurred, can file a complaint with the relevant authority: DHA in Dubai, DOH in Abu Dhabi, EHS for government hospitals, or MOHAP for private facilities and their staff outside those areas [3][6]. Under the Medical Liability Law, the health authority refers complaints to a Medical Liability Committee, which reports on the facts. The law also provides a Supreme Committee for grievances against committee reports [8].

The Ministry of Justice text of the law also states that compensation claims arising from medical liability are not accepted before referral to the medical liability committees, and that the health authority may temporarily suspend a license until the committee reports on a medical error [14]. Cabinet Resolution No. 40 of 2019 contains the executive regulations [10].

For staff, a complaint is a process, not an accusation of guilt. Cooperate with your facility’s quality or risk team, keep your records complete and unaltered, and do not discuss the case with the patient or colleagues outside official channels. If you are personally named, seek advice from your employer, your insurer, or a lawyer.

A note on other Gulf countries

This guide covers the UAE. Other Gulf countries have their own rules. For example, the Saudi Ministry of Health publishes a Patient Bill of Rights and Responsibilities [13]. If you work in Qatar, Bahrain, Oman, Kuwait, or Saudi Arabia, check the national health authority’s current charter and complaint process before applying anything here.

Featured Educational Video

Understanding Patient Rights and Responsibilities in Healthcare

Published by Navigating the Business of Medicine | Professional analysis on patient rights, clinical communication, informed decision-making, and mutual responsibilities in healthcare delivery.

Copyright & Courtesy Notice: This video embed is shared strictly for educational, awareness, and informational purposes to assist healthcare professionals, hospital staff, and patients in understanding patient rights, informed consent, and professional responsibilities during treatment. All rights, titles, ownership, and intellectual property remain with the original publisher, platform creator, and copyright holders (Navigating the Business of Medicine YouTube Channel). Special thanks and due credit are extended to YouTube and the channel authors for permitting public embedding and digital dissemination. If you are the copyright owner and wish to request specific modifications or video removal, please contact our webmaster.

Common mistakes

• Treating a signature as consent when the patient has not understood the explanation.
• Letting a family member consent for a capable adult.
• Using a family member as the interpreter for a risky decision when a professional interpreter is available.
• Discussing a patient in a corridor, lift, or on social media.
• Photographing patients, wristbands, or screens.
• Delaying emergency care over administrative or payment questions.
• Altering or backdating a record after a complaint.

Case Study: The Silence That Spoke Volumes: Navigating Language Barriers with Dignity

In my 15 years traversing the bustling, multi-disciplinary hospital corridors of the UAE, I have learned that medicine is only half the battle. The other half is communication. We work in a melting pot of nationalities, where English is the professional lingua franca. However, for a significant portion of our patient demographic, this linguistic bridge is missing, and the resulting gap is often filled with fear. 

I recall a case that remains etched in my memory; a stark reminder of why our role as administrative professionals extends far beyond scheduling appointments. It involved a middle-aged Arabic woman, let’s call her Fatima. She arrived at the clinic alone, clutching a worn file. Her body language screamed distress; she kept her gaze fixed on the floor, her abaya seemingly shrinking around her as if she wanted to disappear. When she approached my desk, I greeted her in Arabic, a skill I consider essential in the UAE. Her relief was palpable, but it was quickly overshadowed by profound shame. Through hesitant whispers, she explained her predicament. She was uneducated and spoke no English. In a hospital where every form, sign, and doctor spoke a foreign tongue, she felt invisible. But the deeper issue was financial. She had been unemployed for six months and was struggling to afford her treatment. She needed to ask for charitable assistance or a payment plan, but the thought of explaining this to an English-speaking finance team; or worse, having to beg through gestures; filled her with unbearable humiliation. 

She broke down, apologizing for "bothering" me. She was terrified that her lack of English and her poverty would be broadcast to the waiting room. As a medical secretary, the first rule is confidentiality. I immediately guided her away from the main reception to a private consultation room. I offered her water and tissues, allowing her a moment to compose herself. This is where empathy transitions into action. I did not simply point her to a translator phone; I took ownership of the situation. I assured her, "Your privacy is my priority. No one will know your financial situation except the people who need to help you." 

I arranged for a certified medical interpreter—not just a bilingual staff member, but a professional bound by confidentiality protocols—to join us discreetly. I briefed the interpreter on the sensitive nature of the conversation beforehand. We then walked her through the hospital’s social welfare program quietly, bypassing the public counters. I personally liaised with the finance department and the treating physician, ensuring her clinical care continued without interruption while the financial aid application was processed. 

This incident highlights a critical nuance in our healthcare system: the intersection of language and socio-economic vulnerability. A common mistake healthcare professionals make is assuming that if a patient nods, they understand. Another is overlooking the shame associated with financial hardship in certain cultures. 

For my colleagues, the strategy is simple: Anticipate the vulnerability. When you see a patient withdraw, do not force them to perform their distress in public. Use private spaces, utilize hospital interpreter services rather than family members (who may filter information or breach privacy), and act as a patient navigator. We are the gatekeepers of the patient experience. By protecting Fatima’s dignity, we didn't just treat a patient; we validated a human being. In the UAE’s diverse landscape, cultural competency and compassion are not just soft skills; they are clinical necessities.

Frequently asked questions

What is the UAE Patient Charter of Rights?

It is the Patient’s Rights and Responsibilities Charter approved by Ministerial Resolution No. 14 of 2021, which lists the rights patients enjoy and their responsibilities toward health facilities [1][2].

Can a patient get a copy of their medical file?

Yes, the charter gives patients the right to a copy of their health file and a medical report, subject to the facility’s procedures [2].

Can treatment be given without consent?

Generally not. The law allows exceptions for emergencies where consent cannot be obtained and for infectious diseases that threaten public safety or health [8].

Where does a patient file a medical complaint?

With DHA in Dubai, DOH in Abu Dhabi, EHS for government hospitals, or MOHAP for private facilities elsewhere [3][6].

Do patients have responsibilities?

Yes. They include respecting the physician’s independence, accepting prescribed treatment, and following the facility’s rules [10].

Does this apply outside the UAE?

No. Other Gulf countries have separate rules [13].

Conclusion

Patient rights are practical, daily commitments: clear explanations, valid consent, privacy, access to records, and a fair route for complaints. Learn the charter, follow your authority’s standards, and treat patient responsibilities as part of a respectful partnership, not as a reason to withhold care.

Disclaimer: This article provides general information only. It is not legal or medical advice, and it does not create a professional relationship. Laws, standards, and procedures change and differ between authorities and facilities, so confirm current requirements with DHA, DOH, MOHAP, EHS, your employer, or a qualified lawyer. Gulf Care Careers is an independent website and is not affiliated with the authorities named here.

References

1. Ministry of Health and Prevention. Ministerial Resolution No. (14) of 2021 on the Patient’s Rights & Responsibilities Charter. mohap.gov.ae
2. Ministry of Health and Prevention. Patient’s Rights & Responsibilities Charter (PDF). mohap.gov.ae (PDF)
3. UAE Government Portal. “Patients’ rights and responsibilities.” u.ae
4. Emirates Health Services. Ministerial Resolution No. (14) of 2021, annex (English). ehs.gov.ae
5. Dubai Health Authority. Circular CIR-2021-00000064, Ministerial Resolution No. (14) of 2021. services.dha.gov.ae
6. Dubai Health Authority. Services for individuals (medical complaints). dha.gov.ae
7. Department of Health, Abu Dhabi. Patient Consent Standard. doh.gov.ae
8. Federal Decree-Law No. (4) of 2016 Concerning Medical Liability (English text). uaelegislation.gov.ae
9. Federal Decree-Law No. (18) of 2023 amending Federal Law No. 4 of 2016 on medical liability. uaephl.mohap.gov.ae
10. Ministry of Health and Prevention. Legislation brief, Ministerial Resolution No. (14) of 2021, and Cabinet Resolution No. (40) of 2019 on the executive regulations. uaephl.mohap.gov.ae and uaelegislation.gov.ae
11. Federal Law No. (2) of 2019 on the Use of ICT in Health Fields (English text). uaelegislation.gov.ae
12. Sheikh Khalifa Medical City (SEHA). Patient rights and responsibilities. skmc.seha.ae
13. Saudi Ministry of Health. Patient Bill of Rights and Responsibilities (PDF). moh.gov.sa (PDF)
14. UAE Ministry of Justice. Federal Decree-Law No. 4 of 2016 on Medical Liability, consolidated text (English). elaws.moj.gov.ae

About the author

Mohammad Ali is a former Medical Secretary and Licensing Officer at Burjeel Medical City in Abu Dhabi and runs Gulf Care Careers (GCC), where he writes about healthcare licensing and job-search guidance for the Gulf. He is Certified Healthcare Documentation Specialist, and Certified Medical Coder and MBA in Healthcare Supply Chain Management LinkedIn profile

About the Reviewer

Dr. Syed Faheem Ahmed, is a Specialist General Surgeon at Burjeel Medical City in Abu Dhabi and part of Gulf Care Careers (GCC) team, where he co-authors and reviews about healthcare licensing and job-search guidance for the Gulf. He has more than ten years of experience as a general surgeon in SSMC and Mafraq Hospital, Abu Dhabi, before joining Burjeel Medical City. He graduated with his MBBS from Quaid-e-Azam Medical College, Bahawalpur, Pakistan. He can manage all types of general surgical emergencies, and patients with acute abdomen & trauma.