What are your deadlines?
Enter your dates. You get the last day to complain to the health authority, to appeal a committee report and to bring a civil claim.
Which time limits apply to you?
| Step | Time limit |
|---|---|
| Complaint to Dubai Health Authority | 3 years from the date of the event |
| Complaint to Department of Health Abu Dhabi | 3 years from the date the error happened or was discovered |
| Complaint to Emirates Health Services | 3 years from the incident |
| Complaint to Ministry of Health and Prevention | Not stated on its service page |
| Complaint to Sharjah Health Authority | Not stated on its service page |
| Appeal against a committee report | 30 days from being notified of the report |
| Civil claim for compensation | 3 years from knowing of the harm and who caused it, and never more than 15 years from the act |
A worked example
Treatment in Dubai on 10 March 2026: the last day to complain to DHA is 10 March 2029. A committee report you were notified of on 12 November 2026 can be appealed until 12 December 2026. If you knew of the harm and who caused it on 1 July 2026, a civil claim runs until 1 July 2029.
A court claim for compensation is not accepted until the case has been referred to a medical liability committee. If the claim arises from a crime, the 3 years for a civil claim may not start until the criminal case ends. Both rules, and the old law before 1 June 2026, are on the time limits page.
Sources
- Submit Medical ComplaintDubai Health Authority. Service record last updated 23 September 2026. Read 12 November 2026.
- Investigation Request for Medical ErrorDepartment of Health Abu Dhabi. Page last updated 10 November 2026. Read 12 November 2026.
- Submit Medical ComplaintsEmirates Health Services. Page as published on 17 January 2026. Read 12 November 2026.
- Complaints about private health and pharmaceutical facilities and their medical staffMinistry of Health and Prevention. Page as published on 14 February 2026. Read 12 November 2026.
- Medical Complaint ServiceSharjah Health Authority. Read 12 November 2026.
- Appeal request for medical error complaintDepartment of Health Abu Dhabi. Page last updated 10 November 2026. Read 12 November 2026.
- Request to Appeal Against the Decision of Medical Liability CommitteeEmirates Health Services. Page as published on 12 November 2025. Read 12 November 2026.
- Federal Decree-Law No. (4) of 2016 on Medical LiabilityUAE Legislation. Articles 18 to 21. Official English translation; the Arabic text prevails. Read 12 November 2026.
- Federal Decree by Law No. (25) of 2025 Promulgating the Civil Transactions LawUAE Legislation. Article 258. In force 1 June 2026. Read 12 November 2026.