Air Ambulance Services in Dubai
Medilife arranges air ambulance transfers into, out of and within Dubai with its partner aircraft operators, and coordinates every stage from the patient's bed to the receiving facility.
Before travel, our own doctors can assess the patient, so the transfer is planned around their real medical needs. That might mean a dedicated air ambulance, a stretcher on a commercial flight or a medical escort.
In a medical emergency, call Dubai Ambulance on 998.
- DHA-licensed doctors assess before travel
- Licensed partner operators
- Home healthcare in Dubai since 2016
How Medilife Arranges Your Air Ambulance Transfer
An air ambulance is a form of air medical transport: an aircraft equipped and staffed so a patient can receive medical care while travelling. Most families need more than a flight, though. The patient has to leave one bed and arrive safely in another, often in a different country, with a ground ambulance at each end.
Medilife is your single point of contact for that whole bed-to-bed transfer. We arrange the flight with a licensed operator, coordinate the ground legs and prepare the handover to the receiving hospital, while our own doctors look after the medical side before departure.
Your enquiry and the patient's medical details
- The licensed operator provides
- The aircraft
Medical review and, where needed, a doctor visit before travel
- The licensed operator provides
- The flight medical crew
Arranging the flight with the operator
- The licensed operator provides
- Onboard medical equipment
Ground ambulance transfers to and from the airport
- The licensed operator provides
- Aviation permits and flight clearances
Handover arrangements with the receiving facility
- The licensed operator provides
- Home healthcare in Dubai after arrival, if needed
| Medilife handles | The licensed operator provides |
|---|---|
| Your enquiry and the patient's medical details | The aircraft |
| Medical review and, where needed, a doctor visit before travel | The flight medical crew |
| Arranging the flight with the operator | Onboard medical equipment |
| Ground ambulance transfers to and from the airport | Aviation permits and flight clearances |
| Handover arrangements with the receiving facility | Home healthcare in Dubai after arrival, if needed |
Who May Need an Air Medical Transfer
Air medical transfers cover many situations, from intensive care moves between hospitals to helping a recovering patient travel home. The right option depends on the patient's condition, which is why every transfer starts with a medical review.
Critically ill patients moving between hospitals
When a patient needs continuous monitoring and intensive care during the journey, a dedicated air ambulance with a critical care crew is usually the appropriate choice.
Stable patients who need to lie flat
Patients who are medically stable but cannot sit upright for a flight can often travel on a stretcher fitted aboard a scheduled airline flight, with medical staff alongside.
Patients who can sit but need supervision
For someone who is stable and able to sit, such as an older traveller or a patient recovering from surgery, a doctor or nurse escort on a commercial flight may be enough.
Visitors and expatriates returning home
If illness or surgery happens during a stay in Dubai, Medilife can arrange a medical repatriation so recovery can continue in the patient's home country.
Patients travelling to Dubai for care
Inbound transfers bring patients to a hospital in Dubai, with ground transport from the airport to the receiving facility.
Families, hospitals and insurers arranging a transfer
Most transfers are organised by someone acting for the patient. Medilife works directly with the family member, hospital team or assistance company coordinating the move.
Choosing the Right Type of Medical Flight
Most air transfers fall into four types. The choice depends on how much care the patient needs in the air, how far they are travelling and how soon they need to move. The doctor's assessment before travel guides that decision, and Medilife will explain the options that suit your patient.
- 01
Dedicated air ambulance
Ask about a dedicated transferA private aircraft used only for your patient, set up for intensive care when needed and staffed by the operator's critical care team. Sometimes called a flying ICU, it suits patients who need ICU-level care or cannot travel on a scheduled flight, and it is the usual choice for an urgent medical evacuation.
- 02
Commercial stretcher transfer
A stretcher installed on a scheduled airline flight, with a medical escort travelling alongside. It suits stable patients who must lie flat. The airline needs to give medical clearance first, so this option takes some advance planning.
- 03
Medical escort
A doctor or nurse travels with the patient on a commercial flight, monitoring them and supporting their medication. It suits stable patients who can sit, including older travellers and people recovering from surgery, and is often a practical alternative to a dedicated aircraft.
- 04
Medical repatriation
Discuss a repatriationA planned return to the patient's home country, using whichever transfer type fits their condition. Medilife can coordinate with the insurer, employer or family members funding the journey.
Medical Crew and Equipment on Board
The operator matches the crew and equipment to the level of care your patient needs, from basic and advanced life support to full intensive care. On an intensive care flight, the medical crew usually includes a flight physician and a critical care nurse, working with equipment such as:
a ventilator
a cardiac monitor and defibrillator
infusion pumps
medical oxygen
Medical Assessment Before the Flight
Whether a patient can fly safely, and what support they need in the air, depends on a proper medical assessment. This is where Medilife's own team makes the difference.
A Medilife doctor can see the patient at home, in a hotel or at the office anywhere in Dubai, review their condition and recent records, and help shape a transfer plan that fits. Doctor on Call visits are available 24/7, with a typical response time of approximately 30 to 45 minutes. If the doctor finds the patient is unstable, they will arrange hospital or ambulance care first.
Doctor assessment before travel
A DHA-licensed Medilife doctor examines the patient, checks vital signs, reviews medication and medical history, and shares findings that inform the level of care needed on the flight. Visitors can also book a doctor at their hotel.
Portable ECG
When a heart check is needed before a long journey, a trained technician can record an ECG where the patient is staying in around 5 to 10 minutes. A cardiologist reviews the tracing, and the doctor advises on any follow-up.
Blood tests where the patient is staying
Medilife's home diagnostics team can collect blood samples at the patient's location, with same-day appointments available, so recent results are ready for the assessment and the receiving medical team.
Meet Some of Medilife's Doctors
Dr Marina Girgis
General Practitioner
Dr Marina Girgis is a General Practitioner with an MBBS qualification and seven years of clinical experience. She holds DHA Professional Licence 71970809-004 and is associated with Medilife Healthcare Services LLC.
- DHA licence
- 71970809-004
- Facility
- Medilife Healthcare Services LLC
Dr Mauada Siddiq
General Practitioner
Dr Mauada Siddiq is a DHA-licensed General Practitioner with an MBBS from Sebha University, Libya, and MD Part 1 Respiratory Medicine training. Her supplied professional training includes BLS, ALS, an ICU course and Emergency Medicine Essentials.
- DHA licence
- 88142075-001
Dr Fahimunnisa
General Practitioner
Dr Fahimunnisa is a DHA-licensed General Practitioner with an MBBS qualification. Her professional training includes BLS and ACLS through the American Heart Association, and she is registered with the Karnataka Medical Council.
Dr Sharon Mary
General Practitioner
Dr Sharon Mary is a DHA-licensed General Practitioner with an MBBS from Vinayaka Mission Kirupananda Variyar Medical College, India. Her professional credentials include Karnataka Medical Council registration, BLS AHA and ACLS AHA.
How a Bed-to-Bed Transfer Works
- 1
Contact Medilife.
Call or send a WhatsApp message to tell us about the patient and where they need to go.
- 2
Share the patient's details.
Send the information listed below, including a recent medical report if you have one.
- 3
Medical review and assessment.
Our doctors review the records and, where needed, assess the patient in person before travel.
- 4
Quote and arrangement.
Medilife sends you a quote and, once you confirm, arranges the flight with a licensed operator.
- 5
Transfer day.
A ground ambulance takes the patient to the airport, such as Dubai International (DXB) or Al Maktoum International (DWC), and the operator's medical crew cares for them during the flight. Any permits needed for international transfers are arranged with the operator.
- 6
Handover and care after arrival.
The patient is handed over to the receiving facility. For patients arriving in Dubai, Medilife's home healthcare team can continue their care afterwards.
What to Share When You Request a Quote
The patient's current condition and the level of care they need
Where the patient is now and their destination
Your preferred travel date
Any oxygen or medical equipment needs
Details of the receiving hospital or facility
A recent medical report, if available
What Affects the Cost of an Air Ambulance
Every air transfer is priced individually, so Medilife provides a quote once we understand the patient's needs. The main factors are:
the distance and route
the type of transfer
the medical crew and equipment required
ground ambulance transfers at each end
how soon the patient needs to travel
For stable patients, a commercial stretcher or medical escort often costs less than a dedicated aircraft.
Transfers are commonly paid for by travel insurance or an assistance company, an employer, an embassy or the patient's family. If insurance is involved, check what the policy covers and share the details when you request a quote.
Emergencies and Specialist Transfers
Add approved emergency language.
Air ambulance transfers are planned, medically assessed journeys. If someone is having a medical emergency right now, such as signs of a stroke, chest pain, severe difficulty breathing or a serious injury, call Dubai Ambulance on 998 or go to the nearest emergency department.
Some transfers need highly specialised teams and equipment, including newborn and paediatric intensive care, ECMO support and patients who must travel in isolation. Contact Medilife and we will advise on the right specialist route.
Care Before and After the Flight
A transfer is one stage of a patient's recovery. Medilife's own home healthcare team in Dubai can support patients before they travel and after they arrive.
Doctor on Call
Medilife doctors visit homes, hotels and offices across Dubai, day and night, for illness, a check before travel or a review after arrival. Visitors can book a doctor directly at their hotel.
Home Nursing
Patients arriving in Dubai can continue their care at home with Medilife nurses, available 24/7 for nursing care and day-to-day monitoring.
Physiotherapy at Home
Home physiotherapy supports patients working to rebuild strength and mobility after surgery, illness or a long hospital stay, without travelling to a clinic.
Elderly Care
Older patients returning to Dubai, or settling in after a transfer, can receive ongoing support at home from Medilife's elderly care team.
Also from Medilife: Occupational Therapy and Speech Therapy for recovery after a stroke or neurological illness, Home Diagnostics, IV Therapy and Vaccination at Home. Medicines are available through Medilife Pharmacy, our separately licensed pharmacy.
Why Arrange Your Transfer Through Medilife
Assessed before travel
Medilife's DHA-licensed doctors can see the patient wherever they are in Dubai before the flight, so the transfer plan rests on a current medical picture, not paperwork alone.
One point of contact
One Medilife team coordinates the ground ambulances, the flight with a licensed operator and the handover, so your family deals with one contact instead of several companies.
Care continues after arrival
Patients arriving in Dubai can move straight into home nursing, physiotherapy or elderly care delivered by Medilife's own team.
Established in Dubai
Medilife has provided home healthcare in Dubai since 2016, with doctors, nurses and therapists working as one team.
What Patients Say About Medilife
Medilife has served more than 47,000 patients and reports a 99.8% patient satisfaction rate. Read independent reviews from Medilife patients on Google and Trustpilot.
Air Ambulance Questions
It depends on the patient's condition, the aircraft and crew required, and any permits or airline clearances. A commercial stretcher flight usually needs more notice than a dedicated air ambulance. Contact Medilife with the patient's details and we will give you a realistic timeline.
No. Medilife arranges each transfer with a licensed partner operator, which provides the aircraft and flight crew. Medilife coordinates the transfer from start to finish, and our own doctors provide the medical assessment before travel.
An air ambulance is an aircraft dedicated to one patient, with intensive care capability when needed. A medical escort is a doctor or nurse who travels with a stable patient on a commercial flight. The medical assessment shows which one is suitable.
Often, yes. Many airlines can fit a stretcher for a stable patient, with a medical escort on board. The airline must give medical clearance first, so allow time for planning.
It depends on the policy. Check with the insurer or assistance company, and share the policy details when you request a quote.
Tell us where the patient is and where they need to go, and we will confirm the options available for that journey.
Yes. Medilife arranges repatriation from Dubai to the patient's home country, using the transfer type that fits their condition, from a medical escort to a dedicated air ambulance.
Airlines and operators need medical information before they accept a patient. A Medilife doctor can assess the patient in Dubai and share the clinical findings needed to plan the transfer. Ask us which documents your airline or operator requires.
No. Air ambulance transfers are planned around a medical assessment. In an emergency, call Dubai Ambulance on 998.
Yes. Medilife's home healthcare team provides doctor visits, home nursing, physiotherapy and elderly care across Dubai, so care can continue once the patient arrives.
Request a Case Review
Tell us about the patient, where they are and where they need to go. A Medilife doctor will review the case, and we will explain the transfer options and send you a quote.
It helps to have the patient's current condition, their destination and a recent medical report ready.
Find us & get in touch
Visit Medilife Healthcare Services LLC or contact our team about the care you need.
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Medilife Healthcare Services LLC
DHA-licensed healthcare provider offering 24/7 home healthcare services in Dubai. Our team is ready to deliver comprehensive medical support to your location.