HIV testing in Dubai.
20-minute rapid, 4th-generation lab confirmation, and a senior GP on the phone with your result — the same day, whichever way it goes.
Which test, and when
- · Rapid finger-prick (20 min) — screening from 4 weeks post-exposure
- · 4th-generation lab combo — antibody + p24 antigen; reliable at 4 weeks, definitive at 6
- · HIV RNA (PCR) — detects the virus from ~10 days; used for PEP monitoring or needlestick
- · Western blot — confirmatory, only run on reactive screens
Post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP)
If you've had a high-risk exposure within the last 72 hours, PEP — a 28-day antiretroviral course — can prevent HIV from taking hold. It must be started as early as possible; every hour matters. Book a same-day doctor call and we'll assess and initiate within hours if indicated.
Privacy — the honest version
Every DHA-licensed clinic in Dubai must verify Emirates ID or passport at registration, and every lab result uploads to the NABIDH health information exchange. That means authorised providers you consent to can access it — nothing is sent to your employer, and insurance is only billed if you ask us to. Full detail on our privacy & data FAQ.
FAQs
How accurate is a rapid HIV test in Dubai?+
The 4th-generation rapid HIV test we use at Aafiyah detects both HIV antibodies and the p24 antigen with >99% sensitivity and specificity after the window period. A positive rapid is always confirmed with a laboratory Western blot before it is reported as a definitive positive. A negative rapid at 6 weeks post-exposure is considered conclusive.
How much does an HIV test cost?+
Rapid 20-minute in-clinic test AED 250. 4th-generation lab HIV Combo AED 300. Full STI panel including HIV AED 850. Home visit adds AED 250 for a DHA-licensed nurse to attend your address anywhere in Dubai.
How soon after exposure can I test?+
A 4th-generation antibody/antigen test is reliable from 4 weeks and definitive at 6 weeks. RNA (PCR) testing can detect HIV from 10 days post-exposure — we use it when very early diagnosis matters (needlestick, PEP monitoring).
Do I need to give ID?+
Yes. Every DHA-licensed clinic in Dubai verifies Emirates ID or passport at registration — HIV tests included. Results upload to the NABIDH health information exchange, which authorised providers you have consented to can view. Clinics advertising 'anonymous' HIV testing in Dubai are misrepresenting the law.
What happens if the test is positive?+
A senior GP calls you the same day. HIV is now a manageable long-term condition with modern antiretroviral therapy; life expectancy on treatment is close to normal. We refer you into the DHA HIV specialist pathway for treatment initiation, and stay involved for ongoing primary care.
Is post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) available?+
Yes, if you attend within 72 hours of a genuine high-risk exposure. PEP is a 28-day course of antiretrovirals that reduces the risk of seroconversion. Sooner is better — book a same-day doctor call the moment you're concerned.
Can I test at home?+
Yes. A DHA-licensed nurse comes to your home or hotel in Dubai, takes the sample (finger-prick rapid or venous blood for the 4th-generation lab test), and the doctor discusses the result by video the same day.
Will my visa, employer, or insurance be affected?+
Routine HIV screening by Aafiyah is not reported to your employer or insurer. Visa medical fitness screening (managed by DHA Smart Salem / Al Manara) is a separate, government-mandated process — we do not perform that. Results from Aafiyah upload to the NABIDH exchange under normal DHA rules.
Healthcare should feel simple.
Send an enquiry and our team will come back to you — no waiting rooms, no run-around.
Trusted by families and professionals across Dubai.
"Called at 8am with a fever, had a British-trained doctor at my door by 11. He sat with me for 45 minutes — not the 5 minutes I'm used to. Prescription delivered same day. Felt like having a proper GP again."
"We finally have one doctor who knows all of us. The kids actually like going. Follow-up calls happen without us chasing. Worth every dirham."
"The 40+ marker report came back with a real conversation, not a PDF dumped in my inbox. Caught a vitamin deficiency I'd been ignoring for years."
"After surgery I dreaded going back to a hospital for dressings. Their nurse came every other day, the doctor checked in by WhatsApp. Healed faster than I expected."
"Fell ill on day two of our trip. Doctor in the suite within 90 minutes, full assessment, prescription to the hotel pharmacy. Genuinely NHS-standard care in Dubai."
"My father refuses to leave the house. Aafiyah's team comes monthly, manages his medication, and treats him with such dignity. It changed everything for our family."
"Called at 8am with a fever, had a British-trained doctor at my door by 11. He sat with me for 45 minutes — not the 5 minutes I'm used to. Prescription delivered same day. Felt like having a proper GP again."
"We finally have one doctor who knows all of us. The kids actually like going. Follow-up calls happen without us chasing. Worth every dirham."
"The 40+ marker report came back with a real conversation, not a PDF dumped in my inbox. Caught a vitamin deficiency I'd been ignoring for years."
"After surgery I dreaded going back to a hospital for dressings. Their nurse came every other day, the doctor checked in by WhatsApp. Healed faster than I expected."
"Fell ill on day two of our trip. Doctor in the suite within 90 minutes, full assessment, prescription to the hotel pharmacy. Genuinely NHS-standard care in Dubai."
"My father refuses to leave the house. Aafiyah's team comes monthly, manages his medication, and treats him with such dignity. It changed everything for our family."
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