Travel Vaccinations from Dubai: A Practical Pre-Trip Guide
What vaccines and medications you actually need before leaving Dubai — for Hajj, Africa, India, Southeast Asia and beyond.
When to start planning
Book your travel consultation 4–6 weeks before departure. Most vaccines need 10–14 days to take effect; some courses (rabies, hepatitis B) need weeks. If you're leaving sooner, come in anyway — partial protection beats none, and we can prescribe stand-by treatment.
By destination
Hajj and Umrah: meningococcal ACWY (mandatory), seasonal flu and Covid boosters, polio for some countries of origin. Sub-Saharan Africa safari: yellow fever (certificate often required), typhoid, hepatitis A, malaria prophylaxis, rabies pre-exposure for remote trips. India / Southeast Asia: hepatitis A and typhoid as standard, hepatitis B, Japanese encephalitis for rural stays, rabies for long trips, malaria advice by region. South America: yellow fever, hepatitis A, typhoid, rabies for remote work.
Malaria — tablets, not just spray
No vaccine. The right tablet (atovaquone-proguanil, doxycycline or mefloquine) depends on destination, length of trip, pregnancy, mental health history and tolerability. Start before you arrive, take throughout, and continue for the right window after returning. Combine with DEET-based repellent and bed nets.
What we provide on the spot
Full vaccination record card. Anti-malarial prescription with dose schedule. Stand-by traveller's diarrhoea pack. Practical advice on water, food, altitude, sun and insect bites. Insurance-ready invoice. Yellow fever is a regulated vaccine in the UAE — we don't administer it ourselves, but we coordinate referral to a DHA-authorised yellow fever centre and integrate it into your travel plan.
Coming back
Any fever within 12 months of returning from a malaria area needs urgent assessment — we'll see you the same day, at home if you're unwell. Persistent gastrointestinal symptoms or skin lesions after travel deserve a proper review, not a wait-and-see.
Plan the consult 4–6 weeks before travel
Some vaccines (rabies, hepatitis B, Japanese encephalitis) need a multi-dose schedule. Others (yellow fever) require the certificate to be valid 10 days before entry. Booking your travel consult 4–6 weeks out gives the schedule room to breathe. Last-minute trips can still be vaccinated, but the protection profile is partial.
What we review in a travel consult
Destination(s), duration, accommodation type, planned activities (safari, trekking, diving, rural overnight stays), pre-existing conditions, current medications and previous vaccination history. From this we build a personalised plan: vaccines, malaria prophylaxis if needed, a travel pharmacy, advice on water, food, insect bites and altitude, and any country-specific entry requirements.
Yellow fever and the international certificate
Required for entry to many African and South American countries, and required for re-entry to the UAE from yellow fever zones. Yellow fever is a regulated travel vaccine in the UAE — only DHA-authorised centres can administer it and issue the official International Certificate of Vaccination (ICVP). We're not an authorised yellow fever centre, but we coordinate the referral as part of your travel plan. Most travellers need a single dose for lifelong protection.
Medications to take with you
We typically issue a travel prescription set: a broad-spectrum antibiotic for traveller's diarrhoea (azithromycin in most regions), an anti-emetic, an antihistamine for insect bites and allergies, basic analgesia, oral rehydration sachets, and a sleep aid for long flights if appropriate. For high-altitude or remote trips we add specific medications (acetazolamide, broader-spectrum antibiotics, EpiPen if indicated).
Children's travel vaccines and special considerations
Children need adjusted dosing schedules for many travel vaccines, and some (yellow fever in under-9 months, Japanese encephalitis in infants) have specific restrictions. Pregnancy adds further nuance — most inactivated vaccines are safe; live vaccines (yellow fever, MMR, varicella) usually aren't. We work through the family's specific situation rather than applying a generic adult schedule.
Frequently asked
Can you issue a yellow fever certificate?
No — yellow fever is a regulated travel vaccine in the UAE and only DHA-authorised centres can administer it and issue the WHO ICVP. We coordinate the referral and handle every other travel vaccine ourselves.
How much do travel vaccinations cost in Dubai?
A travel consultation is typically AED 350–500. Vaccines range from AED 150 (typhoid) to AED 600+ (Japanese encephalitis, rabies). Itemised quotes given upfront.
Do you do home travel vaccinations?
Routine travel vaccines yes. Yellow fever is regulated in the UAE and must be given at a DHA-authorised centre — we coordinate that referral and deliver the rest at home or in clinic.
Do I need malaria tablets for [country]?
Depends on region, season and activity — we map this in the travel consult using the latest CDC and WHO data, and prescribe the appropriate regimen.
Book a consultation on WhatsApp
Speak with a British-trained GP at Aafiyah Care Clinic, Unit G09, Churchill Executive Towers, Business Bay, Dubai. We reply directly on WhatsApp — clinic visits and home visits available across Dubai.
Book a consultation on WhatsAppMedical disclaimer: The information in this article is provided for general educational and informational purposes only, in line with Dubai Health Authority (DHA) guidance. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult a DHA-licensed clinician before starting, stopping, or changing any healthcare plan.