Starting at the end of July, Dubai will implement a new public health law that updates how medical fitness tests are handled for residency, work permits, and driving licences. The changes come under Law No. (5) of 2025 on Public Health, a regulation that aims to unify health standards and improve screening processes for everyone living and working in the city.
If you’re applying for a residence visa, a job in the UAE, or renewing either one, requires an applicant to go through a standardised medical fitness test. These tests will include screenings for communicable diseases like tuberculosis and HIV, and must be done at centres approved by the Dubai Health Authority (DHA).
The same rule applies to driving licence applicants, who now must also pass a medical fitness check to ensure they’re safe to be behind the wheel. Only authorised medical centres are allowed to carry out these evaluations, helping maintain consistency and reliability in results.
And this isn’t the only part of the law worth noting — back in April, the same legislation introduced additional frameworks around disease control and food safety, pushing forward a more integrated public health system for the city.
