DHA Standards for People of Determination: Healthcare Compliance Requirements in Dubai

Access to healthcare involves more than providing medical treatment. Patients must also be able to communicate with healthcare professionals, access appropriate facilities, receive suitable care and have their personal information protected.

For People of Determination, these requirements may involve additional considerations, including accessible medical equipment, adapted communication methods, appropriate patient assessments and trained healthcare staff.

The Dubai Health Authority (DHA) has addressed these requirements through its Standards for People of Determination, Version 2, issued on 16 April 2025 and effective from 16 June 2025. The standards establish requirements intended to improve the safety, quality and accessibility of healthcare services provided by DHA-licensed health facilities.

On 20 October 2026, DHA highlighted these standards at AccessAbilities Expo 2026 alongside its Sanadhum initiative and Unified Medical Report. The announcement renewed attention to healthcare accessibility and regulatory compliance in Dubai.

For healthcare facility owners, administrators, medical directors and compliance teams, the standards provide an important reference for assessing whether their services adequately address the needs of People of Determination.

1. Which Healthcare Facilities Must Comply?

The DHA standards expressly apply to all DHA-licensed health facilities in Dubai. Their scope covers services provided to People of Determination within these facilities.

The requirements extend beyond the physical design of a clinic or hospital. They address leadership, service planning, organisational practices, staffing, patient assessment, communication, documentation, data protection and emergency preparedness.

Consequently, healthcare facilities should not treat accessibility as a matter limited to ramps, lifts or wheelchair access. The standards also address how healthcare services are planned, delivered, monitored and improved.

Facilities should review the requirements against their own services, patient populations, staffing arrangements and operational procedures.

2. Leadership and Service Planning Responsibilities

The standards place responsibility on healthcare facility leadership to support safe and appropriate care for People of Determination.

Under Standard One, facility leadership must actively participate in developing and implementing a quality and safety management plan with relevant stakeholders. The standards also require an ethical framework to support safe clinical decision-making and the management of ethical concerns.

Standard Two addresses service planning. It requires facilities to consider patients’ physical, psychological and social needs and to use appropriate assessment tools. Patient and family input should form part of this process.

The standards also address screening and assessment to identify relevant disability categories and recognise when a facility cannot adequately meet a patient's needs.

Where a facility cannot provide the required care, the standards address explaining the reason and facilitating access to other services, including appropriate referrals where necessary.

These provisions make service planning an operational responsibility rather than a one-time accessibility exercise. Facilities should review whether their policies, staffing and available services are appropriate for the needs of the patients they serve.

Budget allocation for accessibility

One specific requirement deserves particular attention. Clause 6.1.7 states that each health facility shall allocate at least 5% of its annual budget for disability-related accessibility improvements, staff training and assistive technology.

Healthcare administrators should review how this allocation is addressed in annual budgeting and financial planning. They should also maintain suitable records to demonstrate how relevant spending supports the stated purposes.

The allocation should be read in accordance with the wording and applicability of the DHA standards, rather than assumed to be a general requirement for every business in Dubai.

3. Staff Training and Professional Competence

Healthcare staff play an important role in ensuring that People of Determination receive appropriate treatment and support.

Standard Three addresses staffing levels, professional responsibilities, recruitment, qualifications, training and staff competence.

The standards require healthcare facilities to ensure that suitable staff are available to provide safe, high-quality care. They also address the use of a multidisciplinary team where appropriate to the patient's needs.

A particularly important requirement appears in Clause 7.2.6(c), which states that all healthcare professionals shall undergo a minimum of 12 hours of annual disability competency training.

The training covers areas including inclusive communication, the use of assistive technology and emergency response for People of Determination.

The standards further identify relevant training subjects such as:

• Assessing the physical health of People of Determination.

• Recognising health concerns and knowing when specialist referral is required.

• Understanding learning disabilities and communication needs.

• Protecting patient confidentiality and respecting patient rights.

• Understanding relevant legal and ethical responsibilities.

• Communicating effectively through a person-centred approach.

Healthcare facilities should incorporate these requirements into staff training plans, attendance records and competency assessments. Annual training should be planned and documented rather than treated as an informal activity.

4. Accessibility of Healthcare Facilities

The standards address the physical environment in which healthcare services are delivered.

Standard Four requires healthcare facility accessibility to follow the Dubai Universal Design Code and the Dubai Guide for Built Environment Universal Design.

This requirement is relevant to the accessibility of clinical rooms, physician rooms and other healthcare facilities. The broader standards also address organisational practices and service arrangements intended to support safe access to healthcare.

For facility operators, the practical review should extend beyond the main entrance. Relevant considerations may include patient movement within the facility, accessible service areas, the suitability of medical equipment and whether patients can use the services offered.

The precise requirements applicable to a particular building or facility should be checked against the referenced design guidance and any relevant licensing or facility-specific conditions.

Healthcare operators should also consider whether their existing premises remain suitable when services, equipment or patient needs change.

5. Patient Assessment, Treatment and Continuity of Care

The standards recognise that People of Determination may have different physical, psychological, communication and social needs. Their healthcare requirements should therefore be assessed individually.

Standard Six addresses patient assessment and care. It requires facilities to consider appropriate screening, assessment and care arrangements in line with the patient's needs and the services provided.

The standards also address situations where a facility cannot meet a patient's requirements. In such circumstances, the facility should explain the reason and facilitate access to suitable alternative services where appropriate.

This is important for continuity of care. A patient should not be left without clear information about available alternatives simply because a particular facility cannot provide the necessary service.

Healthcare providers should review their patient assessment procedures, referral arrangements and clinical documentation to ensure that these processes are consistent with the applicable standards.

6. Patient Documentation and Data Protection

Healthcare accessibility must also be considered alongside confidentiality and appropriate handling of patient information.

Standard Five addresses documentation and data protection. Healthcare facilities should review their recordkeeping arrangements and the controls used to protect patient information.

This is particularly relevant where patient assessments, disability-related information, clinical reports and support requirements are recorded or shared among authorised healthcare professionals.

Facilities should ensure that access to records is appropriately controlled and that relevant information is documented in accordance with applicable requirements.

The standards should be read alongside other applicable UAE and Dubai requirements governing health information, confidentiality and data protection. Compliance with one document does not automatically satisfy every other legal obligation.

7. Communication with Patients and the Public

Clear communication is an important part of accessible healthcare.

Standard Seven addresses public and patient communication. Facilities should consider how patients obtain information about services and how communication needs are accommodated during their healthcare journey.

For example, a patient may require assistance understanding medical instructions, communicating symptoms or receiving information about treatment and follow-up arrangements.

Healthcare facilities should assess whether their communication procedures are suitable for the needs of People of Determination. This may include reviewing patient-facing information, staff practices, accessible communication methods and the process for obtaining feedback.

The objective is to help patients understand the services available to them and participate meaningfully in decisions concerning their care.

8. Emergency Preparedness and Response

Emergency arrangements should also account for the needs of People of Determination.

Standard Eight addresses emergency preparedness. Healthcare facilities should review whether their emergency procedures, staff training and response arrangements adequately consider patients who may require additional assistance during an emergency.

The relevant arrangements should be consistent with the facility's operations, patient population and applicable safety requirements.

Facilities should assess whether staff understand their responsibilities, whether communication methods remain suitable during emergencies and whether patients who require assistance can be identified and supported appropriately.

Emergency preparedness should be reviewed as part of the facility's wider safety-management arrangements rather than treated as a separate accessibility exercise.

9. Sanadhum Initiative and Regulatory Inspections

In its announcement of 20 October 2026, DHA also highlighted the Sanadhum initiative, which aims to strengthen healthcare facilities' compliance with requirements relating to People of Determination.

According to the official announcement, the initiative includes field inspection campaigns across healthcare facilities to assess readiness, accessibility, priority and fast-track services, and compliance with approved regulatory requirements.

This development reinforces the importance of practical implementation. Having a written policy is not the same as ensuring that the facility, its staff and its services are ready to meet patients' needs.

Healthcare operators should therefore review both their documented procedures and the way those procedures are implemented in practice.

They should also ensure that staff understand applicable requirements and that supporting records can be produced when required.

The announcement does not itself establish a new penalty schedule or replace the existing DHA standards. Facilities should consult the applicable official circulars and regulatory instruments for the requirements governing their particular circumstances.

10. Practical Compliance Checklist for DHA-Licensed Facilities

Healthcare facility owners and compliance teams can use the following checklist as a starting point for reviewing their arrangements.

Governance and planning

• Review the DHA Standards for People of Determination, Version 2.

• Confirm that leadership responsibilities and the quality and safety management plan address relevant patient needs.

• Review service planning, patient feedback and referral procedures.

• Assess the budget allocation required under Clause 6.1.7.

Staffing and training

• Review staffing arrangements and the responsibilities of healthcare professionals.

• Plan and document the required annual disability competency training.

• Maintain suitable training and competency records.

Facilities and patient care

• Assess accessibility against the applicable Dubai Universal Design requirements.

• Review patient screening, assessment, treatment and referral processes.

• Check that communication arrangements are appropriate for patients' needs.

Records and emergencies

• Review patient documentation and data-protection controls.

• Check emergency plans and staff preparedness.

• Confirm that relevant policies are implemented and reviewed when needed.

Regulatory readiness

• Review the latest DHA circulars and official guidance.

• Keep supporting documentation organised.

• Address identified gaps and assign responsibility for corrective action.

This checklist is intended as a practical starting point. It does not replace a complete assessment against the standards and other applicable regulatory requirements.

Conclusion

The DHA Standards for People of Determination establish requirements for improving healthcare quality, safety and accessibility across DHA-licensed health facilities in Dubai.

Their scope extends beyond the physical environment to include leadership, service planning, staff competence, patient assessment, communication, data protection and emergency preparedness.

The requirement for at least 5% of the annual budget to be allocated to specified disability-related improvements, together with the minimum 12 hours of annual disability competency training for healthcare professionals, highlights the need for healthcare facilities to address accessibility through both financial planning and operational procedures.

DHA's October 2026 announcement and the Sanadhum initiative further highlight the importance of implementation and regulatory compliance.

Healthcare facilities should review the applicable standards, assess their existing arrangements and address gaps in policies, staff training, facilities and patient services. A documented and regularly reviewed approach can help facilities provide more accessible and appropriate healthcare while supporting compliance with DHA requirements.