Basic medical care at any time and any location will now be available to those who suffer from the common cold to something more serious.
The Mobile Doctors 24-7 helpline, accessible via landline or mobile phone, will be manned by licenced physicians and nurses and provide advice for anyone who needs it, said Adam Chilcote, the vice president of Mobile Doctors 24-7 International.
The service is available in English, Arabic and Hindi by a team of 10 physicians, although more experts will be taken on board if demand calls for it.
The availability of professional medical advice over the telephone as a first port of call should reduce the strain on the country's emergency departments, which have high numbers of non-urgent cases daily.
By offering easy access to a health professional, people can then make an informed decision on whether to visit a hospital or not, Mr Chilcote said.
"I can call a doctor and talk to a doctor anytime and from anywhere in the country.
"It is an integrated care delivery system. In simple terms, if someone has a need, they can call into our physician helpline. People can gain access to a physician and from there we guide them to what they might need, whether it is an answer over the phone, a referral and an appointment, or sending a physician to their home."
First introduced in November, the service - 800 63247 - is now available nationwide. Currently all consultations are free. However, a new pricing plan will be implemented in the spring. Mr Chilcote said he expects prices to begin at Dh30 for a single consultation.
There are plans to invite insurance companies and employers to buy packages for their employees, he added.
The service is one that could be useful in the country, said Dr Jamal Al Kaabi, the director of customer care and corporate communications at Health Authority-Abu Dhabi (Haad).
"If they provide clinical management without examining them, then this is wrong," he said. "But, sometimes, people don't know what to do, so advice is needed."
Offering basic advice and education to callers will ultimately help the doctors who treat them face-to-face, said Dr Al Kaabi, who said the authority might also consider creating a helpline.
"The ground is very strong for this right now," he said.
Currently, if callers are faced with health-related issues, most will turn to a hospital, Mr Chilcote said.
"For most people, they are just worried. Something is happening to themselves, their child, their parent, and they don't know what to do, so they err on the side of caution and go to the emergency room. Up until now it has been the only place they can go."
For one expectant mother, knowing that a licenced health-care professional is on hand if she ever has a question is a comfort.
"That's good. Absolutely," said the Canadian. "You can see in any of the online forums that people ask for advice all the time. People go on and say their baby has a fever, and is that OK.
"There are a lot of people who ask advice of strangers, so if you are sure there is someone who is medically trained that's a good thing."
Charging people for the helpline would be a shame, said the expectant mother, who is due to give birth in several weeks. "The government should create one. Maybe they will, because it would be a plus to them."
zalhassani@thenational.ae
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Match info
Uefa Nations League A Group 4
England 2 (Lingard 78', Kane 85')
Croatia 1 (Kramaric 57')
Man of the match: Harry Kane (England)
Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026
1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years
If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.
2. E-invoicing in the UAE
Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption.
3. More tax audits
Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks.
4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime
Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.
5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit
There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.
6. Further transfer pricing enforcement
Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes.
7. Limited time periods for audits
Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion.
8. Pillar 2 implementation
Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.
9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services
Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations.
10. Substance and CbC reporting focus
Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity.
Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer
MATCH INFO
Chelsea 0
Liverpool 2 (Mane 50', 54')
Red card: Andreas Christensen (Chelsea)
Man of the match: Sadio Mane (Liverpool)
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