What is DOH? Abu Dhabi Department of Health

The Department of Health Abu Dhabi (DOH), formerly known as the Health Authority Abu Dhabi (HAAD), is the regulatory body responsible for the healthcare sector in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, including the city of Al Ain. Established to ensure the highest standards of healthcare delivery, DOH licenses all healthcare facilities and professionals operating within the emirate and sets policy for public health, health insurance, and patient safety. The transition from HAAD to DOH occurred in 2018 as part of a broader government restructuring, though the regulatory functions remained the same.

DOH oversees one of the most developed healthcare markets in the region. Abu Dhabi is home to major hospital groups including SEHA (Abu Dhabi Health Services Company), Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, and numerous private hospital groups. The emirate was the first in the UAE to mandate health insurance for all residents, and DOH continues to regulate insurance through its partnership with the National Health Insurance Company (Daman). UAE nationals in Abu Dhabi receive coverage through the Thiqa programme, a comprehensive insurance plan funded by the government.

The department maintains a comprehensive licensed facility register that the public can access to verify the licensing status of any healthcare provider. DOH has also been at the forefront of healthcare data initiatives, including the Malaffi health information exchange platform, which connects patient records across all providers in the emirate to improve care coordination and reduce duplicate testing.