Medical Malpractice Complaints in the UAE: Translation
The Short Answer
A patient who believes they were harmed by a medical error in the UAE does not start in court. Under Federal Law No. 4 of 2016 on Medical Liability (as amended), the complaint goes first to the health authority, which refers it to a Medical Liability Committee of doctors. A civil claim for compensation is heard only once the committee has reported.
Translation matters at two points: when your file contains records in a language other than Arabic or English — treatment abroad, second opinions, foreign insurance papers — and when the matter reaches the Public Prosecution or a court, where proceedings are in Arabic. Getting the medical terminology right at the first stage avoids having to correct it at the second.
This article covers the document and translation side. It is general information, not legal or medical advice.
Where the Complaint Goes
| Where the treatment happened | Health authority | How complaints are filed |
|---|---|---|
| Dubai | Dubai Health Authority (DHA) | DHA online medical complaints service |
| Abu Dhabi, Al Ain, Al Dhafra | Department of Health – Abu Dhabi (DoH) | DoH complaint channels (online or by phone) |
| Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, Ras Al Khaimah, Fujairah | Ministry of Health and Prevention (MOHAP) | MOHAP medical complaint e-service (UAE PASS login) |
A complaint can also be made to the Public Prosecution, which refers it to the health authority for the committee’s technical opinion. Check the authority’s current channel before filing; online services change.
How the Committee Process Works
- The health authority refers the complaint to a Medical Liability Committee made up of physicians in the relevant specialties, which may call on other experts.
- The committee examines the medical records and evidence and decides whether a medical error occurred, how serious it was, whether it caused the harm and, where relevant, the percentage of disability.
- The committee reports within 30 days of the referral; the health authority can extend this for similar periods.
- The patient or the practitioner can file a grievance against the report within 30 days of being notified of it; it then goes to the higher committee.
- Since an August 2024 ruling of the Federal Supreme Court, reported in November 2024, the higher committee’s findings can be challenged before the courts. Ask a lawyer how this applies to your case.
Which Documents Need Translation, and When
Records from UAE hospitals
Most private and many public hospitals in the UAE keep records in English, and the committee is made up of doctors, so English records usually go in as they are. Check with the health authority whether a translation is required at the complaint stage.
Records from abroad in other languages
Earlier treatment, test results, discharge summaries or second opinions in French, Russian, Urdu, Chinese or any language other than Arabic and English should be translated by a UAE Ministry of Justice-licensed legal translator before you file. Attach the original with the translation.
Your written complaint and timeline
Write it in Arabic or English. A clear, dated timeline of appointments, procedures and symptoms helps the committee more than long narrative.
Public Prosecution and court stage
Criminal and civil proceedings are conducted in Arabic. Documents filed with the Public Prosecution or a court — medical records, the committee report if you need it in English, expert reports and correspondence — are translated by an MOJ-listed legal translator, because courts do not accept translations by anyone else.
Medical Translation Pitfalls in Liability Files
- Abbreviations. Clinical notes are full of abbreviations (“SOB”, “NAD”, “PRN”) that mean different things in different specialties. A translator should expand them only where the meaning is certain and keep the original visible.
- Dosages and units. “mg” and “mcg”, “q.d.” and “q.i.d.” — one wrong letter changes the story of the case.
- Hedged clinical language. “Suggestive of”, “cannot be excluded” and “consistent with” are deliberately cautious; turning them into firm findings in Arabic misstates the evidence.
- Dates and times. Liability often turns on the sequence of events; keep every timestamp exactly as in the record.
- Handwritten notes. Where a word is illegible, the translation should say so rather than guess.
For medical reports used in insurance or employment matters rather than complaints, see our medical report translation service.
Do I need to translate my medical records to file a complaint in the UAE?
Not usually if they are in Arabic or English. Records in other languages should be translated by an MOJ-licensed legal translator, and once the matter reaches the Public Prosecution or a court, documents are filed in Arabic.
How long does the Medical Liability Committee take?
The committee reports within 30 days of the referral, extendable by the health authority. A grievance against its report must be filed within 30 days of notification.
Can I go straight to court for compensation?
Under the 2016 law, a civil claim for compensation is not accepted until the complaint has been through the Medical Liability Committee. Speak to a lawyer about your timing.
Can you translate a large set of hospital records?
Yes. We translate medical files of any size, keep terminology consistent across the set and agree a delivery date with you; short reports can be delivered the same day.
How SWLT Helps
We translate medical records, committee reports, expert reports and correspondence between Arabic and English, and from other languages into Arabic, for health authority complaints, Public Prosecution files and court claims. See our medical report translation in Dubai and Abu Dhabi pages.
Disclaimer
This article is general information about the translation and document side of the matter. It is not legal advice. Laws, procedures and fees change; confirm current requirements with the court or authority concerned and take advice from a lawyer on your own case.
Get Your Medical File Ready
Send us the records and tell us whether they are for a health authority complaint, the Public Prosecution or a court. Smart World Legal Translation – Sole Proprietorship L.L.C. (SWLT) is a UAE Ministry of Justice-licensed legal translation company in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, led by Dr. Hani Elimam. Our federal accreditation is accepted across the UAE, including by Dubai Courts, and we hold exclusive interpretation contracts with the UAE Federal Courts and the Federal Public Prosecution. Arabic⇄English legal translation is AED 60 per 200-word page (excl. VAT), with same-day delivery available. Send your documents on WhatsApp (+971 50 864 8439), email info@swlt.ae, or use our contact page.