United Arab Emirates Travel Vaccinations
What vaccinations do I need for the United Arab Emirates?
It depends on where you’re going, for how long, and what you’ll be doing. As a guide, UK travel health guidance groups the vaccinations for the United Arab Emirates like this — your pharmacist will confirm exactly what you need at your consultation:
| Protects against | Who should consider it | Doses & schedule |
|---|---|---|
| Most travellers Hepatitis A | Advised for most travellers — food- and water-borne risk exists even on five-star trips once you eat beyond the hotel. | 1 dose at least 2 weeks before travel; a booster at 6–12 months gives ~25 years. |
| Most travellers Diphtheria, Tetanus & Polio | A single combined booster if your last dose was more than 10 years ago. | 1 injection; effective almost immediately. |
| Some trips Typhoid | Worth considering for longer stays, frequent regional travel and adventurous street-food eating. | 1 injection, ideally 2 weeks before travel; protects ~3 years. |
| Some trips Hepatitis B | For longer stays, work placements — healthcare especially — and anyone likely to need medical or dental treatment locally. | 3 doses; an accelerated 21-day course is available. |
| Some trips Rabies | Only for long stays or regular contact with animals; standard tourism and desert safaris don’t normally qualify. | 3 doses over 3–4 weeks — book early if you need it. |
| Certificate Meningitis ACWY | Required with a certificate if you’re combining your trip with Hajj or Umrah in Saudi Arabia; also sensible for very crowded events. | 1 dose at least 10 days before arrival in Saudi Arabia; certificate issued at the clinic. |
The UAE does not require a yellow fever certificate for travellers arriving from the UK. Combining your trip with Hajj or Umrah in Saudi Arabia? You’ll need a meningitis ACWY certificate issued at least 10 days before you arrive — we issue it at the same visit. Full details of what you need are on the travel clinic price list. Vaccine prices are kept up to date on our travel clinic price list.
Do I need malaria tablets for the United Arab Emirates?
No — the UAE is malaria-free. No antimalarial tablets are needed for any part of the country: not Dubai, not Abu Dhabi, not the Northern Emirates, and not desert or mountain trips.
Mosquitoes do exist, and a little bite avoidance is still sensible for comfort — repellent for evening desert barbecues and dawn excursions covers it. There is no ongoing malaria transmission to protect against.
The exception is your wider itinerary: if the UAE is a stopover on the way to East Africa, South Asia or another malaria region, tablets may be needed for those legs. Bring your full route to the consultation and we’ll map it properly — including a Hajj or Umrah leg in Saudi Arabia, which changes the vaccine picture rather than the malaria one.
How our travel clinic works
Book online in 2 minutes
Choose a time that suits you — same-week appointments are usually available, and families can be seen together in one visit.
Personalised risk assessment
Your pharmacist reviews your itinerary, health history and previous vaccinations against current UK travel health guidance, and agrees a plan with you.
Vaccinated the same visit
Most vaccinations — and antimalarial tablets, if you need them — are given there and then. You only pay for what you actually need.
The diseases explained
More detail on each illness you can be protected against before travelling to the United Arab Emirates:
Hepatitis A
A viral liver infection spread through contaminated food and water — risk exists even for careful eaters staying in good hotels, which is why vaccination is advised for virtually all travellers to the United Arab Emirates. Illness causes weeks of fatigue, nausea and jaundice. A single injection before travel protects, and a booster 6–12 months later extends protection for around 25 years.
Tetanus, diphtheria & polio
These are covered by the UK childhood programme, but protection fades. Tetanus enters through cuts and animal scratches; diphtheria spreads person-to-person. Travellers whose last dose was over ten years ago need a single combined booster.
Typhoid
A bacterial infection from contaminated food and water causing prolonged fever, headache and abdominal illness. Risk is highest for adventurous eaters and travellers staying with friends and relatives. One injection gives around three years’ protection.
Hepatitis B
A blood-borne viral liver infection transmitted through unprotected sex, tattoos, piercings, medical procedures and injuries. Advised for longer stays, healthcare workers and anyone whose plans carry a risk of blood contact. The standard course is three injections; an accelerated 21-day schedule suits imminent departures.
Rabies
the United Arab Emirates has rabies in its animal population, and a lick, scratch or bite from a dog, cat, monkey or bat can transmit it. Once symptoms appear rabies is almost always fatal — and treatment after a bite can be expensive and hard to obtain quickly. Pre-travel vaccination is a course of three injections over 3–4 weeks, so it rewards booking early. Particularly advised for longer stays, rural travel, children and anyone likely to be around animals.
Meningitis ACWY
Meningococcal meningitis spreads person-to-person and outbreaks occur in the African “meningitis belt”, mainly in the dry season (roughly December to June). A single ACWY injection protects for around five years and is advised for longer stays, VFR travel and close contact with local communities.
Where in the United Arab Emirates are you going?
Dubai
City breaks, beach resorts and theme parks: routine boosters plus hepatitis A cover the vast majority of Dubai trips. Tap water is safe in hotels; classic food hygiene sense still applies at markets and street stalls.
Abu Dhabi
The capital’s mix of city, corniche and Grand Mosque visits carries the same low-risk profile as Dubai — routine cover plus hepatitis A, with typhoid for longer or more adventurous stays.
Northern Emirates & the desert
Sharjah, Ras Al Khaimah, mountain wadis and overnight desert camps: no extra vaccines needed, but pack repellent for evenings and take the heat seriously — most UAE health trouble is sun and dehydration, not infection.
Combining with Hajj or Umrah
Many travellers pair a UAE stay with pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia — and that changes the requirements: a meningitis ACWY certificate (issued at least 10 days before arrival) is mandatory for Hajj and Umrah visas. We run a dedicated Hajj & Umrah clinic and can issue everything in one visit.
Planning your timing
UK travellers visit the UAE year-round, peaking October to April for winter sun and around every school holiday. Most UAE-relevant vaccines work quickly, so 2–4 weeks ahead is comfortable and even last-minute trips are worth protecting. Adding Hajj or Umrah? The meningitis ACWY certificate must be issued at least 10 days before you arrive in Saudi Arabia — don’t leave that one late.
Everyday health essentials for the United Arab Emirates
Food & water: drink bottled or boiled water, avoid ice of unknown origin, choose freshly cooked food served hot, and peel fruit yourself. Bites: 50% DEET repellent, cover arms and legs at dawn and dusk, sleep under nets or in screened rooms. Sun & heat: high-SPF sunscreen, hydration, and shade in the middle of the day. If you're unwell after you return — especially with fever — see a doctor promptly and mention your travel history. Our pharmacists can advise on travel first-aid kits, oral rehydration and stomach remedies at your appointment.
Frequently asked questions
How far in advance should I book my the United Arab Emirates vaccinations?
Ideally 6–8 weeks before travel — multi-dose courses such as rabies take 3–4 weeks to complete. Flying sooner? Single-dose protection against hepatitis A and typhoid works at shorter notice — book the earliest appointment you can and we’ll prioritise.
Do I actually need vaccinations for Dubai?
Very few — and we’ll tell you that plainly. For a typical Dubai holiday the sensible list is routine boosters (tetanus, diphtheria, polio) plus hepatitis A; typhoid joins for longer, street-food-heavy or regional multi-stop trips. The bigger health risks in the UAE are sun, heat and road traffic, not infections.
I’m combining the UAE with Hajj or Umrah — what do I need?
Saudi Arabia requires a meningitis ACWY vaccination certificate, issued at least 10 days before arrival, for Hajj and Umrah pilgrims — plus up-to-date routine boosters, and hepatitis A is strongly advised for the crowds and shared meals. Our Hajj & Umrah vaccination clinic handles the full requirement, certificate included, in one visit.
How much do travel vaccinations cost?
You only pay for the vaccinations you actually need, agreed at your consultation. Current prices are on our travel clinic price list.
Can my family be vaccinated at the same appointment?
Yes — we routinely see couples and families together. Book one slot and mention the number of travellers, or call us on 01276 21002 and we’ll arrange it.
What should I bring to my appointment?
Your itinerary (destinations, dates, rural stops), your vaccination history if you have it, and a note of any medicines you take or allergies.
Rated by 1,200+ patients of our Camberley pharmacy and clinics.
GPhC registered pharmacy 1105418 · Superintendent pharmacist Jirina Thielens (GPhC 2069634).
This guide follows UK national travel health guidance (TravelHealthPro / NHS) and was last reviewed in August 2026. Recommendations can change — your consultation always reflects the latest advice.
Flying to the United Arab Emirates? Get protected in one visit.
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