United Arab Emirates – vaccinations

Health prevention when travelling on holiday

Holidays are a time to take a break from everyday problems and worries. No one wants to get sick during their holiday, or worse, require hospitalisation. However, it is important to remember that you need to take care of your health at all times, even during your free time. Particular attention is recommended on holiday, when relaxation and fun can overshadow responsibility. If you are planning a trip to Dubai, you need to be aware of the health recommendations before travelling to the United Arab Emirates. The most important thing to consider is the high temperatures, as the weather here exceeds 30℃ for most of the year. Before departure, you must remember to purchase travel insurance, as the lack of an insurance policy can significantly increase the cost of your holiday in the event of illness or hospitalisation.

Before we answer questions such as: what are the sanitary requirements in the UAE and how to take care of your health when travelling to the UAE, we invite you to familiarise yourself with the offer of the best attractions in Dubai and the offer of accommodation in Dubai. Book a place to stay with wonderful views of the entire city and interesting attractions during your stay! And if you need additional information before going on holiday, read what you should know before coming to Dubai and the Dubai Guide with all the most important information in one place. Are vaccinations required for Dubai? Are vaccinations required for Abu Dhabi? Vaccinations for Abu Dhabi and vaccinations for Dubai – read on!

What are the vaccination requirements before travelling to the United Arab Emirates?

In the United Arab Emirates, as in other countries around the world, there are health regulations governing mandatory vaccinations when crossing the national border. If you are planning a holiday in the UAE, you will find the answers to your questions here, but we always recommend consulting a travel medicine doctor if you have any doubts.

What vaccinations are mandatory before travelling to the UAE?

Are mandatory vaccinations required when entering the United Arab Emirates? This is a very important question that every traveller asks themselves before departure. Are there any mandatory vaccinations in the UAE? No, there are no mandatory vaccinations for tourists in the United Arab Emirates. The UAE has liberal health requirements for tourists. The only exception is the yellow fever vaccination if you are travelling to the UAE from countries with a high incidence of yellow fever. These mandatory vaccinations are thoroughly checked at the airport in the UAE, but they are irrelevant for 95% of arrivals and for virtually 100% of arrivals from Europe. Similarly, there is no connection between visas and vaccinations in the UAE, and everyone is granted a free tourist visa, regardless of their vaccination status.

What vaccinations are recommended before travelling to the UAE?

If there are no mandatory vaccinations, what vaccinations to the UAE are recommended by doctors? Are vaccinations to the UAE necessary, or are the recommendations only a guideline for people with health problems? For a detailed answer, you need to contact a travel medicine doctor. Below is a list of vaccines recommended before travelling to the United Arab Emirates:

• Typhoid fever – 1 or 3 doses at least 7-10 days before travel.
• Tetanus, Diphtheria and Pertussis – 1 booster dose before travel every 10 years.
• Hepatitis A (HAV) – 2 doses (1 dose before departure) 2–4 weeks before departure (vaccination acceptable until the day of departure).
• Hepatitis B (HBV) – 3 doses (at least 2 doses before departure) at least 6 weeks before travel (accelerated schedule is 3 weeks before travel).
• Other routine vaccinations – against influenza, chickenpox, etc.

Do children need to be vaccinated when travelling to the UAE?

No, the UAE 2026 mandatory vaccinations do not mention anything in the regulations about mandatory vaccinations for children. The only requirement is vaccination against yellow fever, as in the case of adults. For the rest, the recommended vaccinations and the usual vaccination schedule agreed with your general practitioner, whom you visit with your child, are sufficient.

Health safety in the Emirates

What is healthcare like in the United Arab Emirates? Are there any tropical diseases in the UAE? We have already written about this based on healthcare in Dubai, but it can be summed up in a few words: medical care in the United Arab Emirates is of the highest global standard. If it is paid for, it is not cheap, but in the United Arab Emirates, especially in hospitals and clinics in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, you will find the best doctors and specialists from around the world. In the UAE, you can take advantage of all possible medical services without any worries.

Tropical diseases are practically non-existent in the UAE, and the risk of contracting a tropical disease in the United Arab Emirates is very low. The country is free of malaria and other serious health risks. The main risk is stomach problems due to changes in the bacterial flora, but in the UAE this tends to affect people who are highly susceptible to such problems.

What is medical care like for tourists in the UAE?

Tourists can use private facilities on the basis of health insurance. This gives them access to a wide range of specialists and basic medical services, as well as well-equipped hospitals and specialist facilities. If you do not have travel insurance, a visit to the doctor can be very expensive.

Safe holidays in the United Arab Emirates

Safety on holiday is the basis for a successful holiday. Therefore, before travelling to the United Arab Emirates, it is worth familiarising yourself with the list of recommended vaccinations and deciding for yourself whether you need them, based on your own health and possibly consulting a travel medicine doctor. In addition, it is important to remember to protect yourself from high temperatures and sunlight, which are the most common reasons for tourists visiting doctors in the United Arab Emirates.

Questions and answers (FAQ)

• Are vaccinations required for the United Arab Emirates?

No, UAE travel medicine does not require tourists to receive mandatory vaccinations, except for yellow fever vaccination if you are travelling from countries at risk of yellow fever. Only vaccinations are recommended before departure to the United Arab Emirates.

• When is the best time to get vaccinated before travelling to the UAE?

It is recommended that vaccinations before travelling to the United Arab Emirates be administered several weeks before travel or according to the schedule provided by your travel medicine doctor.

• Is COVID-19 vaccination required in the UAE?

No, several years ago, the United Arab Emirates abolished the requirement to provide proof of vaccination against Covid-19, and vaccination against this disease, which was a threat several years ago, is now a thing of the past.