Filing paperwork while you are unwell is nobody’s idea of recovery. The UAE sick leave attestation process now starts at the clinic or hospital that issued your certificate, after the Ministry of Health and Prevention launched an upgraded version of its attestation and approval services on Wednesday, 4 November 2026.
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What actually changed
Previously the patient had to open the application themselves after being discharged or signed off. The starting point has now moved to the facility that issued the document:
- Licensed health facilities can submit attestation requests directly on behalf of patients and their companions.
- Qualifying requests move automatically to the approval stage, with no need to file a separate second application.
- Companion (escort) leave is included, so a facility can file the companion’s request alongside the patient’s own sick leave.
Abdullah Ahli, Acting Assistant Undersecretary for the Support Services Sector at the ministry, said the redesign is meant to simplify the customer journey and cut the number of steps. The change sits under the federal Zero Bureaucracy programme.
Who the automatic approval covers
This is the detail worth reading twice. The automatic link between attestation and approval applies to federal government employees and to local government employees in Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, Ras Al Khaimah and Fujairah, under approved controls.
The ministry did not state whether government staff in Dubai, Abu Dhabi or Sharjah, or private sector employees, fall inside the automatic path. If you work in the private sector, assume your employer’s usual sick leave procedure still applies until your HR team confirms otherwise.
What the ministry’s service page lists
The published service requirements give a useful picture of what a facility will need from you:
| Leave length | Documents required |
|---|---|
| 5 days or less | Original sick leave certificate |
| More than 5 days | Certificate plus the related medical report |
| Companion leave | Proof of relationship, certificate and medical report |
Other listed conditions still apply. The facility must be licensed, and the gap between the certificate being issued and the request being submitted must not exceed one month — so do not sit on the certificate. Sick leave issued in Dubai or Abu Dhabi must first be approved by that emirate’s own health authority before it goes through the federal system. The service page lists a fee of AED 50 and a turnaround of two working days for electronic applications, with roughly five more working days if a medical committee has to review a longer leave.
What is still unconfirmed
The announcement did not say whether the AED 50 fee or the UAE PASS login step changes under the new facility-led route, and no effective date was given beyond the announcement itself. Nothing was published about changes to private sector or Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation procedures.
What to do next
When you are signed off, ask at the reception desk whether the facility will submit the attestation for you rather than assuming you must do it yourself. Keep the original certificate and any medical report, and check your leave status with your employer if the approval has not appeared within a week. Full requirements for UAE sick leave attestation are published on the ministry’s own service page, and broader resident services are listed on the UAE Government portal.
It is also worth knowing your statutory entitlement before you need it. Our guide to the UAE labour law covers the sick leave rules employees can rely on, and you can confirm your cover using our walkthrough on how to check medical insurance status with Emirates ID. Together with the new UAE sick leave attestation route, that should keep the admin side off your plate while you recover.
