SEHA CLINICS opens 2 visa screening centres in Abu Dhabi and Al Ain

SEHA CLINICS opened two Disease Prevention and Screening Centres for visa screening at Mazyad Mall in Abu Dhabi and Al Noud in Al Ain on 23 September 2026, according to Aletihad News Center, in a move that adds capacity to a high-volume administrative health service tied to UAE residency.

The highest-stakes readers are clinic COOs, CFOs and insurers. The practical issue is throughput. Visa medical fitness screening is a recurring step for expatriate employees and adult dependants, and delays can hold up onboarding, Emirates ID issuance and policy activation. In Dubai, the relevant regulator is the Dubai Health Authority (DHA). In Abu Dhabi and Al Ain, the service sits under the Department of Health Abu Dhabi (DOH) and Abu Dhabi Public Health Centre rules. In Sharjah, Ajman, Ras Al Khaimah, Fujairah and Umm Al Quwain, operators should check Ministry of Health and Prevention (MOHAP) channels and Emirates Health Services facilities.

What changed in Abu Dhabi

The two new centres add to SEHA CLINICS' preventive and screening network across Abu Dhabi emirate. A day earlier, the Abu Dhabi Media Office said PureHealth planned 22 new and upgraded clinics and mobile healthcare units during 2026. That roll-out included three visa screening centres, six physical primary healthcare clinics, six mobile healthcare units, five clinic service expansions and two reopened clinics.

The same announcement gave the commercial signal. SEHA CLINICS delivered 1.4 million visa screenings in 2025, up 12.5% year on year, and 4.1 million outpatient visits, up 14.5%. For private clinics near labour accommodation, free-zone clusters and high-density residential areas, that is a benchmark for recurring demand. For insurers such as Daman, Thiqa and Sukoon, the operational link is downstream: faster medical fitness clearance can shorten the gap between employment start dates, Emirates ID issuance and active insurance administration.

What operators should benchmark

Dubai gives the cleanest public price reference. Dubai Health lists medical fitness screening packages at AED 270 for a 24-working-hour service, AED 700 for a six-working-hour premium service and AED 1,020 for a two-working-hour VIP service. Domestic-worker packages are listed at AED 320 for 24 working hours and AED 750 for six working hours, with an additional AED 50 pregnancy-test fee where applicable. Abu Dhabi providers should not copy Dubai pricing into quotations. They should direct patients and corporate HR teams to the SEHA CLINICS booking channel or call centre for current Abu Dhabi tariffs before confirming costs.

DOH's Standard for Visa Screening sets the service scope for Abu Dhabi. It applies to DOH-licensed healthcare facilities approved to deliver visa screening and says expatriates aged 18 years and above need medical examination to obtain or renew residency. The standard also lists the core applicant flow as registration, physical examination, blood withdrawal and chest X-ray.

• Applicants need an original passport and an entry permit, residence visa or Emirates ID.
• Applicants with a visa issued outside Abu Dhabi need valid health insurance for Abu Dhabi screening.
• Visit-visa holders are excluded from visa screening requirements under the DOH standard.
• Fitness certificates are sent electronically to the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security.

Why clinics, insurers and patients should care

For UAE clinics, the opening is a competitive signal rather than a narrow SEHA CLINICS story. Visa screening has predictable demand, clear regulator controls and measurable waiting-time pressure. Corporate HR departments choose providers on location, appointment access and result turnaround. Centres in malls and residential nodes can take volume away from standalone facilities if the booking process is easier.

For insurers, the immediate question is data coordination. Visa screening itself is part of residency administration, but the result affects onboarding workflows for employer groups. Daman and Thiqa are most exposed to Abu Dhabi flows. Sukoon and other private insurers should watch corporate accounts with staff split between Dubai and Abu Dhabi, because employees often live in one emirate while holding a visa or worksite in another.

For patients, the useful rule is simple: check the emirate of the visa file before booking. Dubai applicants should use DHA/Dubai Health-approved medical fitness services. Abu Dhabi and Al Ain applicants should use DOH-approved visa screening providers. Northern Emirates applicants should verify MOHAP or Emirates Health Services options. For licensed hospitals, clinics and screening providers, use the UAE Open Healthcare Directory, which cross-references providers against DHA, DOH and MOHAP licensing data.