General medical care in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Sharjah is quite good, with clinics
for general and specialized care widely available, including some which are now
open 24 hours a day. Hospitals in the major centers are well-equipped to deal with
any medical emergencies. There is an ambulance system in all major population centers;
however, coverage can be patchy in the more remote areas. Ambulances are designed
for transportation rather than providing care as first responders, so don't expect
top-flight on-site care. The main government hospital in Abu Dhabi is quite good;
in Dubai, The government hospitals are Rashid hospital, which has a new Trauma Centre
and Dubai Hospital which are very good. Welcare Hospital American Hospital Zulekha
Hospital NMC Hospital, and Belhoul Hospital in the private sector all have a good
reputation. The country is free of malaria and prophylaxis is not needed. In Sharjah,
the Kuwaiti (Government) Hospital accepts expatriates. The private hospitals in
Sharjah are the Zahra hospital, Zulekha Hospital and Central Private Hospital. Prices
including healthcare are generally cheaper in Sharjah and although all hospitals
meet the Ministry of Health standards the Central Private Hospital and Zulekha Hospitals
are considered more affordable. These are your best bets (pay extra to the ambulance
or taxi drivers to take you to one of these hospitals in UAE); it may save your
life.
The water is safe to drink in the UAE, although most people prefer bottled water
for its taste. The food is clean and in most restaurants is served to Western standards,
particularly in tourist areas; however, hygiene can be an issue in some establishments
outside, particularly roadside stalls. That said, food poisoning does happen, so
use your common sense!
The heat in summer can reach 50 degrees C (122 degrees F), so avoid outdoors activity
at the height of the day and watch out for signs of heat stroke. Be sure to drink
lots of water as dehydration happens easily in such heat. If traveling off road
(most of the country is desert), ensure you carry sufficient water to allow you
to walk to the road should vehicles become bogged.
Although the UAE is somewhat more accommodating to handicapped travellers than other
countries in the Mideast, it would nonetheless be a difficult country to navigate
in a wheelchair. Curbs are high and there are few, if any, ramps or other accommodations.
This includes an almost complete lack of handicapped-friendly bathrooms.
* Collected from
http://wikitravel.org/en/United_Arab_Emirates