Dubai Health Authority sets social media advertising standards for doctors, clinics and influencers

The Dubai Health Authority has issued Standards for Medical Advertisement Content on Social Media, a circular to DHA-licensed health facilities and professionals, Gulf News reported on 1 September 2026. The National reported on 3 September that the circular went out in August and that failure to comply could result in disciplinary action. The standards cover Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, YouTube, Snapchat, WhatsApp and LinkedIn and extend to influencers who promote a facility's services or results.

Banned content includes words such as "the best", "safest", "miraculous", "100 per cent" and "immediate results", claims of superiority over other doctors or facilities, scare tactics and testimonials comparing health professions. Before and after images must show the same person, use the same lens, be unedited and carry a disclaimer that results vary. Written patient consent is required for images, videos or statements, and filming or live-streaming in operating theatres during surgery for promotion is banned. Titles must match the DHA licence and "Dr" is limited to physicians, dentists and holders of attested PhDs. Posts naming a facility need the medical director's approval, and the facility stays liable for content filmed on its premises, even on an influencer's personal phone. Doctors practising in Dubai and abroad must keep a separate Dubai account.

Graduates planning to work in Dubai should check the DHA circular; Emirates 24|7 also published a guide to the standards on 4 September.