LASIK Cost in the UAE: Full Price Guide (2026)

Dubai commands the highest LASIK prices in the UAE, with Femto-LASIK averaging AED 5,500–6,000 per eye at established clinics. Abu Dhabi is marginally lower at AED 5,000–5,500 per eye for the same procedure. Sharjah offers the most competitive pricing, with Femto-LASIK available from AED 4,000–5,000 per eye. Many patients from Dubai and Abu Dhabi travel to Sharjah specifically for LASIK savings. Clinics in Ajman and the northern emirates are even more affordable but have fewer specialist options.

Standard LASIK is effective for most patients but uses a blade to create the corneal flap. Femto-LASIK (bladeless) uses a laser for the flap, providing more precision and a slightly faster recovery. Contoura Vision maps 22,000 points on your cornea for a customised treatment — it is the most personalised laser option. SMILE (Small Incision Lenticule Extraction) is a flapless procedure that extracts a small disc of corneal tissue through a tiny incision, resulting in less dry eye and faster recovery. SMILE Pro is the latest iteration with a 10-second laser time. Your ophthalmologist will recommend the best option based on your prescription, corneal thickness, and lifestyle.

LASIK is classified as an elective procedure and is not covered by standard UAE health insurance plans. Some enhanced corporate plans include a vision correction allowance of AED 3,000–10,000 per lifetime. Check your policy's Refractive Surgery clause. Most clinics offer 0% finance options over 6–12 months through partnerships with banks like Mashreq, ADCB, or Emirates NBD. Many clinics also accept Tabby or Tamara buy-now-pay-later for the full surgery fee.

You must be at least 18 years old with a stable prescription for 12+ months. Contact lens wearers need to stop wearing lenses 1–4 weeks before the pre-op assessment (soft lenses: 1 week; toric lenses: 2 weeks; hard lenses: 4 weeks). Not everyone is a candidate — thin corneas, keratoconus, extremely high prescriptions, or certain autoimmune conditions may disqualify you. A thorough pre-operative assessment (60–90 minutes) determines your eligibility and the best technique for your eyes.