Medical devices are regulated by the Drug Control Department of the Ministry of Health. To this end, the UAE Medical Device Regulation Guideline is aimed to maintain a balance between ensuring product safety, quality and effectiveness and providing the public with timely access to medical devices and preventing the entrance of unsafe or ineffective devices into the UAE market. The UAE Medical Device Registration Guideline states that medical device manufacturers must register with the MOH before they can market their products in the UAE. Accordingly, companies who wish to export their products into the UAE must do so via a local representative or distributor who is licensed.

Where the subject matter of advertising is medical products and services, advertisers must comply with special requirements.  It is prohibited to publish any advertisements and / or to advertise medicine or pharmaceutical products without the approval of the Ministry of Health.  Such an approval shall only be granted if the relevant advertisement complies with the requirements of the applicable regulations.