If you are getting married in Dubai and need a premarital medical screening, the first practical question is usually where to take the test. Dubai Health currently provides premarital screening through a network of health centres across the emirate, and DHA-licensed facilities may also provide the service where they have the required approval.
The screening checks for specified infectious diseases and inherited blood conditions and results in a premarital screening report used for the applicable marriage process.
Before booking, however, check which marriage route you are using. Dubai Courts expressly lists a premarital medical certificate for its legal or Sharia marriage procedure. Its current published civil-marriage document list does not separately list the certificate, so couples using the civil marriage process in Dubai should confirm the requirements that apply to their particular application.
Where Can You Do a Premarital Medical Test in Dubai?
Dubai Health currently lists the following health centres as locations for premarital screening:
- Al Bada’a Health Center
- Al Barsha Health Center
- Al Khawaneej Health Center
- Al Lusaily Health Center
- Al Mankhool Health Center
- Al Mamzar Health Center
- Al Mizhar Health Center
- Nad Al Hamar Health Center
- Nad Al Sheba Health Center
- Umm Suqeim Health Center
- Al Qusais Health Center
- Al Twar Health Center
Availability and working hours can differ by location, so couples should check the selected centre when arranging the appointment rather than assuming every location follows the same schedule.
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How Do You Book the Premarital Screening?
Dubai Health currently directs couples to begin through the Dubai Now app.
The booking process is straightforward: open Dubai Now, select the Get Married service, follow the steps to book the appointment and then visit the selected facility to provide the required blood sample.
Dubai Health also provides assistance through its customer service number, 800 60.
Is a Medical Test Required Before Marriage in Dubai?
Premarital screening requirements need to be read together with the marriage route being used.
Dubai Health Authority’s 2026 Premarital Screening Standards state that a premarital medical examination is mandatory for non-UAE nationals who plan to marry in the UAE. For non-nationals, comprehensive genetic testing is optional. Where either or both partners are UAE nationals, the standards require premarital examination including genetic testing.
Dubai Courts also expressly requires a premarital medical examination certificate for its legal or Sharia marriage procedure.
For Dubai Courts civil marriage, however, the current published document list does not separately include a premarital medical certificate. Couples using that route should therefore confirm the requirements of their specific application rather than relying on the requirements of a Sharia marriage.
For a more detailed explanation of the screening requirement itself, see our guide to the premarital medical test in Dubai.
Can You Use a Private Clinic for Premarital Screening?
Premarital screening in Dubai is not limited only to government health centres. DHA’s current standards allow the service to be provided in DHA-licensed health facilities that have obtained the required permission to provide premarital screening.
This distinction is important. A general blood test or health package from a private clinic is not necessarily the same as an authorised premarital screening report.
If using a private healthcare facility, confirm that it is authorised to provide the official premarital screening service before booking.
What Tests Are Included in Premarital Screening?
The current DHA screening standard includes testing for infectious diseases, inherited blood disorders and blood compatibility.
Infectious Disease Screening
The screening includes:
- HIV/AIDS
- Hepatitis B
- Hepatitis C
- Syphilis
Inherited Blood Disorders
The programme also screens for conditions including:
- Beta-thalassaemia
- Sickle cell anaemia
- Other haemoglobin disorders where applicable
Blood Group and Other Checks
The screening includes ABO blood grouping and Rh factor testing. Rubella immunity is also checked for female applicants.
Comprehensive genetic testing forms part of the mandatory screening for UAE nationals under the current DHA standards, while it is optional for non-UAE nationals.
How Long Do Premarital Medical Test Results Take?
Couples should not rely on older claims that all results will be ready on the same day or within one to three working days.
Under DHA’s current 2026 standards, the standard premarital screening results are expected to be delivered within one week from the medical examination. Cases requiring confirmatory testing can take longer.
Comprehensive genetic testing also follows a different timeframe and should not be assumed to have the same turnaround as the standard infectious-disease and blood screening.
How Long Is the Premarital Medical Certificate Valid?
The premarital screening report is valid for three months from the date of issuance.
If a new certificate is needed after the three-month period, DHA’s current standard provides that infectious-disease testing must be repeated. Blood genetic tests and blood grouping do not generally need to be repeated simply because the certificate expired.
It therefore makes sense to schedule the test reasonably close to the intended marriage process rather than completing it too far in advance.
What Documents Do You Need for the Medical Test?
DHA’s current standards require:
- the original Emirates ID for a UAE resident; or
- the original passport for a visitor.
Additional information or records may be requested by the healthcare facility depending on the applicant and the screening involved.
If the applicant is below 18, the current DHA standards require a guardian to be present.
What Happens If a Test Result Is Positive?
A positive infectious-disease or genetic result does not simply mean that the couple receives no further information or that the result is ignored.
The DHA standards provide for counselling and, where necessary, confirmatory testing. The couple is informed of the findings and their implications before the premarital screening report is released.
For certain genetic findings, couples who decide to proceed with marriage may be required to acknowledge that they have received and understood the relevant results.
Medical Test or Residency Medical Fitness Test?
A premarital medical screening is different from the medical fitness examination used for UAE residence visas.
They have different purposes, tests and certificates. Couples should therefore book the specific premarital screening service rather than assuming that an existing residency medical fitness certificate can be used for marriage.
Before Booking Your Test
First confirm the marriage route you are using and whether the marriage authority requires the premarital certificate for your application.
If the certificate is required, choose a Dubai Health location or another DHA-authorised facility offering premarital screening, take your original identification and keep the three-month validity period in mind when choosing your appointment date.
The medical screening is only one part of the wider marriage process in Dubai, so the health test should be coordinated with the documents and court procedure required for the particular type of marriage.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I get a premarital medical test in Dubai?
Dubai Health provides premarital screening at several health centres, including Al Barsha, Al Qusais, Al Mizhar, Al Mamzar, Nad Al Hamar and other listed Dubai Health locations.
Is a premarital medical test required for civil marriage in Dubai?
Dubai Courts currently lists the medical certificate for legal/Sharia marriage but not in its published civil-marriage document list. Couples using the civil route should confirm the requirements for their specific application.
How long does the premarital medical test take?
DHA’s current standards state that standard screening results are expected within one week from the examination. Confirmatory or genetic testing can take longer.
How long is the premarital medical certificate valid?
The DHA premarital screening report is valid for three months from the date it is issued.
What diseases are tested during premarital screening?
The programme includes HIV, hepatitis B and C, syphilis, thalassaemia, sickle cell anaemia and other relevant blood and compatibility tests.
Can I take the premarital test at a private clinic?
Yes, where the clinic is a DHA-licensed facility authorised to provide premarital screening. Confirm that it provides the official screening service before booking.
