Dubai School Medical Form: What's Required and How to Complete It Fast

What the Dubai school medical form is

Every KHDA-registered school in Dubai requires a completed medical form before a child is enrolled or starts a new academic year. The form is a fitness-to-attend declaration combined with a vaccination record, growth measurements, vision and hearing check, and a brief medical history. Some schools use their own template; most accept the standard DHA template.

The form must be completed and signed by a DHA-licensed physician — most commonly a GP, family physician or paediatrician — within a defined window (usually 3 months) before submission.

What's included in the standard form

Child identification — name, Emirates ID, date of birth, nationality.

Parent/guardian details and consent for routine school medical care.

Past medical history — chronic conditions, surgeries, hospitalisations, allergies, current medications.

Family history — significant inherited conditions.

Vaccination record — full UAE-compliant schedule documented or catch-up plan if incomplete.

Growth measurements — height, weight, BMI, head circumference (under 2).

Vision screening — Snellen chart or equivalent.

Hearing screening — basic audiometry or whisper test depending on age.

Cardiovascular examination — heart sounds, blood pressure in older children.

Respiratory examination — chest auscultation, peak flow if asthmatic.

Abdominal examination, dental and ENT inspection.

Specific declarations — fit to attend school, fit to participate in physical education, fit to travel on school trips, dietary requirements, special accommodations.

Who can sign it

Any DHA-licensed physician with a valid eligibility number can complete and sign the form. Most commonly a family physician, general practitioner or paediatrician. International school medicals (from a UK GP, US paediatrician etc) are usually accepted only if accompanied by a DHA physician's countersignature confirming the child has been seen locally.

How long it takes at our clinic

A complete school medical including all measurements, examinations and the signed form takes 30–45 minutes for a healthy child. We complete and sign the standard DHA form, the KHDA template, or any specific school form on the spot. Vaccination records are reviewed against the UAE schedule and any gaps caught up the same day if you wish.

Cost: AED 500 for the full medical and signed form; vaccinations charged separately if needed.

Children with chronic conditions

For children with asthma, type 1 diabetes, severe allergies (anaphylaxis), epilepsy, ADHD on medication, or any condition requiring school-based medication or accommodation: the form requires additional documentation. We prepare a school-facing care plan in plain language — what the school nurse needs to know, what medication to keep on-site, what triggers to avoid, what an emergency looks like and what to do.

Examples: an asthma action plan with named inhalers and step-up criteria; an anaphylaxis plan with EpiPen dose and IM site; an epilepsy plan with seizure description, rescue medication and call thresholds; a diabetes plan with insulin doses, hypoglycaemia treatment and PE adjustments.

Dietary and physical education declarations

The form asks whether the child has any dietary restrictions (medical, not preference) and any physical education limitations. Common documented restrictions: peanut and tree nut allergy, severe coeliac disease, lactose intolerance. PE limitations are uncommon — most chronic conditions are compatible with full PE participation with appropriate planning.

If you're new to Dubai with an international record

Bring the original international vaccination record, any specialist letters and current medications. We review against UAE requirements, identify gaps, recommend catch-up, and translate the record into the UAE format. Most international records (UK red book, US shot record, EU yellow card) are accepted with conversion.

What schools cannot ask for

Detailed mental health history, family financial information unrelated to care, HIV status without specific clinical indication, or any information not relevant to fitness to attend and safety in school. We complete forms with the minimum clinically necessary disclosure.