Dialysis in the UAE is provided by public networks in each emirate and by private hospitals. In Abu Dhabi, SEHA Kidney Care runs the public dialysis network; in Dubai, Dubai Health runs dialysis units including Al Twar Dialysis Center; in the northern emirates, Emirates Health Services (EHS) hospitals offer dialysis. Treatment is available as in-centre haemodialysis, peritoneal dialysis and home dialysis, and some centres offer holiday dialysis for visitors.
Dialysis centres are licensed by the health authority of the emirate they operate in: the Department of Health (DOH) in Abu Dhabi, the Dubai Health Authority (DHA) in Dubai, and the Ministry of Health and Prevention (MOHAP) for federal facilities in the northern emirates. What a patient pays depends on their health insurance plan and the facility, so check cover with the insurer and the centre before starting treatment.
Dialysis Centers in the UAE
Abu Dhabi
SEHA Kidney Care (SKC) is the dialysis network of SEHA, Abu Dhabi’s public healthcare provider. It delivers about 210,000 dialysis sessions a year at centres including SKC Central, Abu Dhabi, Al Ain, Madinat Zayed, Liwa, Ghayathi, Al Wagan, Al Marfa, Delma and Sila. Services include haemodialysis and haemodiafiltration, peritoneal dialysis, home haemodialysis, overnight haemodiafiltration and holiday dialysis for visitors, with kidney transplants done with the Transplant Institute at Sheikh Khalifa Medical City. SKC’s appointment line is 80050. More on the network is in our guide to SEHA hospitals.
| Dialysis Center | Website |
|---|---|
| SEHA Kidney Care, Central Center | Visit SEHA Kidney Care |
| SEHA Kidney Care, Sheikh Khalifa Medical City | Visit SEHA Kidney Care |
| SEHA Kidney Care, Al Ain | Visit SEHA Kidney Care |
| Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi | Visit Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi |
| Burjeel Hospital | Visit Burjeel Hospital |
| Burjeel Medical City | Visit Burjeel Medical City |
| Reem Hospital | Visit Reem Hospital |
| Healthpoint Abu Dhabi (Mubadala/Imperial College London Diabetes Centre) | Visit Healthpoint |
| Mediclinic Abu Dhabi (Airport Road Hospital and Mediclinic Al Ain Hospital) | Visit Mediclinic |
| NMC Hospitals (Abu Dhabi City, Al Ain) | Visit NMC Hospitals |
| Medcare Hospitals | Visit Medcare Hospitals |
Dubai
Dubai Health runs haemodialysis units for regular and emergency dialysis and a peritoneal dialysis programme that trains patients to dialyse safely at home. Al Twar Dialysis Center is managed by Mediclinic Middle East as part of Dubai Health’s dialysis programme.
| Dialysis Center | Website |
|---|---|
| Al Twar Dialysis Centre (Mediclinic/Dubai Health) | Visit Al Twar Dialysis Centre |
| Al Barsha Dialysis Centre (Mediclinic/Dubai Health) | Visit Al Barsha Dialysis Centre |
| Mediclinic Dubai (City Hospital, Parkview Hospital, Welcare Hospitals, Al Twar and Al Barsha Dialysis Centres) | Visit Mediclinic |
| American Hospital Dubai | Visit American Hospital Dubai |
| King’s College Hospital Dubai | Visit King’s College Hospital Dubai |
| Canadian Specialist Hospital | Visit Canadian Specialist Hospital |
| Fakeeh University Hospital | Visit Fakeeh University Hospital |
| HMS Al Garhoud, Dubai | Visit HMS Al Garhoud |
| NMC Hospitals | Visit NMC Hospitals |
| Iranian Hospital Dubai | |
| International Modern Hospital | Visit International Modern Hospital |
| Merrimac Dialysis Center, Dubai Healthcare City | Visit Merrimac Dialysis Center |
| Saudi German Hospital, Dubai | Visit Saudi German Hospital |
| Al Zahra Hospital, Dubai | Visit Al Zahra Hospital |
| Zulekha Hospital, Dubai | Visit Zulekha Hospital |
| Medcare Hospitals | Visit Medcare Hospitals |
| AMSA Renal Care | Visit AMSA Renal Care |
Sharjah
| Dialysis Center | Website |
|---|---|
| University Hospital Sharjah | Visit University Hospital Sharjah |
| Emirates European Hospital Sharjah | Visit Emirates European Hospital Sharjah |
| Medcare Hospitals | Visit Medcare Hospitals |
| NMC Hospitals | Visit NMC Hospitals |
| Al Dhaid Hospital (EHS) | Visit Al Dhaid Hospital |
| Kalba Hospital (EHS) | Visit Kalba Hospital |
| Khorfakkan Hospital (EHS) | Visit Khorfakkan Hospital |
Ras Al Khaimah
| Dialysis Center | Website |
|---|---|
| Ibrahim Bin Hamad Obaidullah Hospital (EHS) | Visit Ibrahim Bin Hamad Obaidullah Hospital |
Fujairah
| Dialysis Center | Website |
|---|---|
| Al Fujairah Hospital (EHS) | Visit Al Fujairah Hospital |
| Al Sharq Hospital, Fujairah | |
| Dibba Hospital (EHS) | Visit Dibba Hospital |
Nephrology Jobs and Licensing in the UAE
Nephrologists who want to work in these units need a licence from the authority of the emirate: DHA for Dubai, DOH for Abu Dhabi, or MOHAP for most northern emirates facilities. All three use the same Unified Professional Qualification Requirements, so a specialist or consultant with a Tier 1 board certificate from one of 22 countries, including the UK, USA, Canada and Australia, is exempt from the licensing exam. Once licensed with one authority, a doctor can apply for an exam exemption at another for the same title. The guide to UAE medical licensing for doctors covers the steps, and Allocation Assist handles DOH licensing and DHA licensing for doctors moving into hospital roles.
Hospital Guides by Emirate
For every hospital in each emirate, not only those with dialysis units, see the guides below. The UAE Healthcare System explains how DOH, DHA and MOHAP split regulation.
Related guides:
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I get dialysis in Dubai?
Public dialysis in Dubai is run by Dubai Health at units such as Al Twar Dialysis Center. Private options include American Hospital Dubai, King’s College Hospital Dubai, Saudi German Hospital, Fakeeh University Hospital and Merrimac Dialysis Center in Dubai Healthcare City. The full list is in the Dubai section above.
Where can I get dialysis in Abu Dhabi?
SEHA Kidney Care runs Abu Dhabi’s public dialysis network, with centres in Abu Dhabi city, Al Ain and the Al Dhafra region. Private hospitals with nephrology and dialysis services include Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, Burjeel, Mediclinic and NMC.
Is peritoneal or home dialysis available in the UAE?
Yes. SEHA Kidney Care in Abu Dhabi offers peritoneal dialysis and home haemodialysis, and Dubai Health runs a peritoneal dialysis programme that trains patients to dialyse at home. Suitability is decided by the treating nephrologist.
Is there free dialysis in the UAE?
There is no single free dialysis scheme for everyone. UAE nationals in Abu Dhabi are covered by Thiqa, the Abu Dhabi government health programme, which gives full cover in the Thiqa network with no annual benefit limit. Residents are covered through the health insurance their employer must provide, and what that pays towards dialysis depends on the plan.
Can visitors get dialysis in the UAE?
Yes. SEHA Kidney Care in Abu Dhabi lists holiday dialysis for visitors, and several private hospitals in Dubai offer dialysis to non-residents. Visitors should book sessions and confirm cost and insurance cover with the centre before travelling.
Which is the largest dialysis provider in the UAE?
SEHA Kidney Care describes itself as the largest multidisciplinary nephrology network in the UAE. It delivers about 210,000 dialysis sessions a year across its Abu Dhabi centres.
