Yes, a home-visit doctor in Dubai can issue a valid sick leave certificate, but only if four conditions are met: the doctor holds an active Dubai Health Authority (DHA) licence; they work under a DHA-licensed facility that carries a home healthcare permit; they conduct a genuine in-person clinical assessment; and the certificate is issued through the DHA’s Sheryan system. A freelance or unlicensed “home doctor” cannot issue one, and any certificate they produce will be rejected by your employer.
This guide explains who is legally allowed to issue the certificate, how the home-visit process works, the day limits that apply, and how to confirm a certificate is genuine.
What a DHA sick leave certificate actually is
A DHA sick leave certificate is a legal medical document confirming that an employee is medically unfit to work for a defined number of days. It is issued by a licensed physician or dentist through a DHA-approved facility and is governed by the DHA Issuance of Sick Leave Certificate Policy and the UAE labour law —Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021.
Each certificate records the diagnosis, the ICD-10 code, and the recommended rest days and is logged in Sheryan, the DHA’s online licensing and inspection system. Because it is a legal document, issuing a false or inflated certificate exposes the doctor to disciplinary action, which is exactly why the licensing conditions below are non-negotiable.
Who is legally allowed to issue one in Dubai
Only a DHA-licensed healthcare professional , a physician or a dentist working under a DHA-licensed healthcare facility can issue the certificate. Two things both have to be true:
- The doctor must hold an active full-time or part-time DHA professional licence registered on Sheryan.
- The facility must be DHA-licensed. Home visits specifically require that facility to hold a home healthcare add-on on its licence, alongside any telehealth or mobile-unit permissions.
This is the part most people miss: the certificate is issued under the facility’s licence, not the doctor’s personal goodwill. A doctor “on call” who is not attached to a properly permitted facility or a certificate bought from outside the UAE is invalid. (See the official Issue Sick Leave Certificate service on the DHA portal.)
So, can a home-visit doctor issue it?
Yes, this is a recognised, routine service. Licensed doctor-on-call and house-call providers in Dubai operate under DHA home-healthcare licences and can issue a sick-leave certificate when the doctor’s assessment supports it. The key word is when: a home visit does not guarantee a certificate. The doctor issues one only if your condition genuinely makes you unfit to work.
Practical tip: confirm at the time of booking that the provider is DHA-licensed for home healthcare and can issue a DHA certificate, and tell the doctor during the consultation that you need one for work. Don’t assume it’s automatic.
How a home doctor issues the certificate (the Sheryan process)
The steps mirror a clinic visit; the consultation simply happens at your home, hotel, or office.
- Book a DHA-licensed home healthcare provider and request a sick leave certificate.
- Clinical assessment — the doctor examines you and decides whether rest is medically justified.
- Issuance via Sheryan — if justified, the doctor enters your details, the diagnosis/ICD-10 code, and the rest days into the DHA system.
- Upload and delivery — the certificate is logged with the DHA, and a copy (digital or printed) is given to you.
- Submit to your employer, usually within three calendar days of the absence as required under the UAE Labour Law.
You can later view or download the certificate and check its status (issued / pending) using your Emirates ID or UAE Pass.
Day limits: how much leave a home doctor can certify
A home-visit doctor is bound by the same authority limits as any DHA doctor. The cap depends on the doctor’s grade, per the DHA Sick Leave Policy and the DHA circular dated 23 October 2024:
| Doctor grade | Maximum sick leave they can authorise |
| General practitioner / dentist | Up to 5 days |
| Specialist | Up to 14 days |
| Consultant | Up to 30 days |
Most home-visit doctors are general practitioners, so expect a ceiling of around five days per certificate. Longer or extended leave may need a specialist, a follow-up, or, for very long absences, a review by a higher medical committee. Figures reflect current DHA policy and can change, so confirm before relying on them.
Home visit vs telehealth — the one-day rule
There’s a sharp difference between a physical home visit and a remote telehealth consultation:
- Physical home visit: the doctor examines you in person, so the standard day limits above apply.
- Telehealth (video) consultation: allowed for short illnesses only, and leave granted this way cannot exceed one day under DHA policy.
If you need more than a single day certified, an in-person home visit is the route; a video call won’t cover it.
How to verify a certificate is genuine
Because counterfeit and edited certificates exist, the DHA lets anyone, including your HR department, verify authenticity:
- Use the Verify Document service on the Sheryan portal with the certificate’s barcode and PIN.
- An attested certificate can be downloaded via DHA online services; attestation carries a fee of around AED 70.
If a certificate can’t be verified on Sheryan, treat it as invalid.
When a home doctor cannot issue a valid certificate
Watch for these red flags Any one of them makes the certificate worthless:
- The doctor or facility is not DHA-licensed, or the facility lacks a home-healthcare permit.
- A certificate is issued without any examination (a real assessment is mandatory).
- It’s issued for more days than the doctor’s grade allows.
- It comes from outside the UAE without proper legalisation.
- More than one day is certified via a video/telehealth consultation.
Submitting a false or purchased certificate is treated as misuse under the UAE Labour Law and DHA rules and can lead to fines, termination, or legal action for both the employee and the issuing doctor. The full policy is set out in the official DHA Sick Leave and Escort Leave Certificate Policy (PDF).
FAQs
Is a sick leave certificate from a home doctor accepted by employers in Dubai?
Yes, provided it’s issued by a DHA-licensed doctor through a DHA-licensed home-healthcare facility and logged on Sheryan. Employers can verify it online.
Do I need a certificate for one or two days off?
For very short absences (one to two days) DHA approval may not be mandatory, but many employers still require documentation under their own policy. Check your contract.
Does the home visit guarantee I’ll get a certificate?
No. The doctor issues one only if your condition genuinely prevents you from working.
How many sick days can a home GP give me?
Typically up to five days, since most home-visit doctors are general practitioners. Specialists and consultants can certify more.
Can I get a multi-day certificate over video call?
No — telehealth leave is capped at one day. You’d need an in-person visit for more.
