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Locum Doctor Agreement (UAE)

Locum Doctor Agreement (UAE)

LOCUM DOCTOR AGREEMENT

Dated: [Agreement Date]

Healthcare Facility: [Facility Name] (Facility Licence: [Facility Licence]), of [Facility Address] (the "Facility");

Locum Doctor: [Doctor Name] (Practice Licence: [Doctor Licence]), Specialty: [Doctor Specialty], of [Doctor Address] (the "Doctor").

The Facility and the Doctor are together the "Parties".

1. ENGAGEMENT AND SCOPE

1.1 The Facility engages the Doctor as a locum practitioner for the following period: [Engagement Dates].

1.2 The Doctor shall perform the following clinical duties: [Clinical Scope].

1.3 The Doctor shall practise within the scope of their practice licence issued by [Regulatory Authority] and in accordance with the professional standards required by Medical Liability Federal Law No. 4 of 2016.

1.4 The Doctor shall comply with the Facility's clinical protocols, infection control policies, and patient management procedures in effect during the engagement.

1.5 The engagement is for the agreed period or sessions only. The Doctor is engaged as an independent professional, not as an employee of the Facility for the purposes of the Labour Law (Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021). The Doctor shall not make any representation to patients or third parties that suggests otherwise.

2. LOCUM FEE AND PAYMENT

2.1 The Facility shall pay the Doctor a locum fee of [Locum Fee].

2.2 Payment terms: [Payment Terms].

2.3 All amounts are subject to Value Added Tax at the prevailing rate under the VAT Law (Federal Decree-Law No. 8 of 2017), administered by the Federal Tax Authority (FTA), and the Doctor shall issue valid tax invoices meeting FTA requirements if VAT-registered.

3. REGULATORY COMPLIANCE AND MEDICAL LIABILITY

3.1 The Doctor confirms that their practice licence issued by [Regulatory Authority] covers the clinical scope agreed in this Agreement and is valid for the full engagement period.

3.2 The Doctor shall maintain professional indemnity insurance as required by [Regulatory Authority] and Medical Liability Federal Law No. 4 of 2016 throughout the engagement, and shall provide evidence of cover to the Facility on request.

3.3 The Facility shall maintain its facility licence from [Regulatory Authority] and shall not require the Doctor to perform clinical activities outside the Doctor's licensed scope of practice.

3.4 Patient records created during the locum engagement are the property of the Facility and shall be maintained in accordance with the standards of [Regulatory Authority] and the Personal Data Protection Law (Federal Decree-Law No. 45 of 2021).

3.5 The Doctor shall keep confidential all patient information and non-public information of the Facility obtained during the engagement.

4. LIABILITY

4.1 Professional medical liability for clinical negligence is governed by Medical Liability Federal Law No. 4 of 2016. The Doctor and the Facility are each responsible for their own professional obligations under the law.

4.2 Contractual liability for breach of this Agreement follows Articles 282 and 389 of the UAE Civil Code (Federal Law No. 5 of 1985).

5. TERMINATION

5.1 Either Party may terminate this Agreement before the end of the engagement period on [Termination Notice].

5.2 The Facility may terminate immediately if the Doctor's practice licence is suspended or revoked by [Regulatory Authority], or if the Doctor commits conduct that would constitute a material breach of Medical Liability Federal Law No. 4 of 2016.

5.3 The Doctor may terminate immediately if the Facility requires the Doctor to act outside the Doctor's licensed scope of practice or in a manner inconsistent with Medical Liability Federal Law No. 4 of 2016.

6. GENERAL

6.1 This Agreement is governed by the laws of the United Arab Emirates and the Parties submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the [Governing Forum].

6.2 This Agreement is the entire agreement between the Parties for the locum engagement and may be amended only in writing signed by both Parties.

Signed for and on behalf of the Facility: [Facility Name]

Signed by the Doctor: [Doctor Name]

Healthcare Facility

________________

Signature

Locum Doctor

________________

Signature

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What Is a Locum Doctor Agreement (UAE)?

A Locum Doctor Agreement in the United Arab Emirates is a short-term commercial engagement between a licensed healthcare facility and a qualified medical practitioner who covers clinical duties for a defined period — typically to replace an absent colleague, manage temporary excess patient demand, or staff a new service while a permanent appointment is made. The agreement governs the clinical scope, the engagement dates, the fee, the regulatory obligations of each party, and the allocation of professional liability under Medical Liability Federal Law No. 4 of 2016.

Two legal frameworks apply simultaneously. The UAE Civil Code (Federal Law No. 5 of 1985) provides the general law of contract: Article 125 on contract formation, Article 246 on good-faith performance, Articles 282 and 389 on compensation for breach, and Article 272 on rescission for non-performance. Medical Liability Federal Law No. 4 of 2016 is the specialist statute that defines the standard of care for medical practitioners in the United Arab Emirates, establishes Medical Liability Committees at federal and emirate levels to hear complaints, and requires all practitioners to maintain professional indemnity insurance as a condition of practice.

Every locum doctor practising at a UAE healthcare facility must hold a personal practice licence from the relevant health authority. The Dubai Health Authority (DHA) issues practice licences in Dubai, the Department of Health Abu Dhabi (DOH) in Abu Dhabi, the Ministry of Health and Prevention (MOHAP) in the other emirates, and the Sharjah Health Authority (SHA) in Sharjah. The practice licence specifies the practitioner's specialty and scope, and Medical Liability Federal Law No. 4 of 2016 makes the practitioner liable where they act outside that scope.

A Locum Doctor Agreement differs from an employment contract. Under the Labour Law (Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021), administered by the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE), an employed doctor is under the direction and control of the employer and is entitled to statutory protections including end-of-service gratuity, leave, and working-hour limits. The locum doctor is an independent professional who retains their own licence, maintains their own professional indemnity insurance, and controls the professional manner of their clinical practice, even when following the facility's protocols.

Value Added Tax under the VAT Law (Federal Decree-Law No. 8 of 2017), administered by the Federal Tax Authority (FTA), may apply to the locum fee depending on the VAT status of the arrangement. Patient data processed during the engagement is health data subject to the Personal Data Protection Law (Federal Decree-Law No. 45 of 2021), administered by the UAE Data Office. The agreement should specify the governing forum — the Dubai Courts or Abu Dhabi Judicial Department for onshore parties, or the DIFC Courts or ADGM Courts for free-zone parties.

When Do You Need a Locum Doctor Agreement (UAE)?

A Locum Doctor Agreement in the United Arab Emirates is needed in every situation where a healthcare facility engages a doctor on a short-term or sessional basis and wants enforceable terms that protect both the facility's licence and the locum's professional position.

Annual leave and sick cover is the most common context. Healthcare facilities across Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and the other emirates cannot reduce clinical services when permanent staff are absent, and a locum agreement with a pre-vetted practitioner allows the facility to maintain coverage while the regular doctor is on DHA, DOH, or MOHAP-regulated leave.

Temporary demand peaks arise during seasons when patient volumes spike — Ramadan, summer months, or outbreaks of seasonal illness — and facilities use locum arrangements to expand capacity without making permanent hires. Medical conferences, training commitments, and elective leave of regular staff create additional gaps that locum doctors fill.

New service launches require practitioner cover before a permanent appointment can be made and credentialled. A locum doctor with the right specialty and practice licence allows the facility to open a new service line immediately under the commercial launch timeline while the permanent recruitment is completed.

Specialist fly-in visits, common in smaller UAE emirates and in facilities without specialist resident populations, use locum agreements to formalise the engagement of visiting consultants who hold UAE practice licences and travel to the facility for defined session days.

In every case, a written Locum Doctor Agreement protects the facility by confirming the locum's practice licence is valid for the engagement, sets the clinical scope to avoid Medical Liability Federal Law No. 4 of 2016 out-of-scope exposure, addresses data protection under the Personal Data Protection Law (Federal Decree-Law No. 45 of 2021), and provides a clear basis for fee payment and termination.

What to Include in Your Locum Doctor Agreement (UAE)

A UAE Locum Doctor Agreement compliant with Medical Liability Federal Law No. 4 of 2016 and the UAE Civil Code (Federal Law No. 5 of 1985) must contain the following elements. The forms-legal.com UAE Locum Doctor Agreement template addresses each component.

Party identification must record the facility's full legal name and facility licence number from the Dubai Health Authority, the Department of Health Abu Dhabi, the Ministry of Health and Prevention, or the Sharjah Health Authority as applicable, and the doctor's full name, practice licence number, specialty, and address. Both the facility licence and the doctor's practice licence must be verified before the engagement begins.

Clinical scope must set out precisely what clinical activities the locum will perform — consultations, prescriptions, referrals, emergency cover — within the doctor's licensed specialty. The scope must not extend beyond the practitioner's licensed scope of practice, because Medical Liability Federal Law No. 4 of 2016 attaches liability to out-of-scope practice.

Engagement period must specify the dates and hours of the engagement clearly. A locum arrangement is time-limited by nature, and a precise term distinguishes it from the open-ended commitment that characterises employment under the Labour Law (Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021).

Locum fee and VAT treatment must state the fee in AED — per session, per day, or by another measurable unit — clarify whether VAT under the VAT Law (Federal Decree-Law No. 8 of 2017) is included or excluded, and set the payment period and invoicing requirement. The Federal Tax Authority (FTA) requires compliant tax invoices for all VAT-registered suppliers.

Professional indemnity insurance must be expressly required of the locum doctor, consistent with Medical Liability Federal Law No. 4 of 2016. The facility should require the doctor to provide evidence of cover before the engagement begins and to maintain it throughout.

Status and independent practice must confirm that the locum is engaged as an independent professional, not as an employee, to avoid misclassification under the Labour Law (Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021) and MOHRE scrutiny.

Patient records must confirm that records belong to the facility, that the doctor processes patient data only for the clinical purpose of the engagement under the Personal Data Protection Law (Federal Decree-Law No. 45 of 2021), and that the doctor retains no patient data after the engagement ends.

Termination must provide for notice by either party and immediate termination where the locum's practice licence is suspended or revoked by the DHA, DOH, MOHAP, or SHA, or where the facility requires the doctor to act outside their licensed scope.

How to Fill Out Your Locum Doctor Agreement (UAE)

Completing a Locum Doctor Agreement for the United Arab Emirates is straightforward when the facility has verified the doctor's practice licence and agreed the clinical scope in advance.

Begin with the parties. Enter the facility's full legal name and facility licence number from the Dubai Health Authority, the Department of Health Abu Dhabi, the Ministry of Health and Prevention, or the Sharjah Health Authority as applicable. Enter the doctor's full name, practice licence number, specialty, and contact address. Verify that the practice licence number covers the specialty required and that it is valid for the engagement period — the relevant health authority's practitioner register is available online.

Enter the date of the agreement in DD/MM/YYYY format.

Describe the engagement period precisely: state the start date, end date, and the working hours or shift pattern. If the engagement covers specific sessions rather than full days, list them. A clear engagement period distinguishes the locum arrangement from employment under the Labour Law (Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021).

Describe the clinical scope in specific terms — the exact duties the locum will perform, the patient categories they will see, and any protocols they must follow. The scope must not exceed the doctor's licensed specialty.

Set the locum fee in AED and specify the unit — per session, per day, or per half-day. Determine whether VAT under the VAT Law (Federal Decree-Law No. 8 of 2017) is charged on top of the fee, and set the payment period and invoicing instructions. Require the doctor to produce a valid tax invoice if VAT-registered.

Select the applicable health authority from the dropdown to ensure the compliance clauses reference the correct body.

Set the termination notice period. Include the immediate termination trigger for licence suspension.

Select the governing forum and arrange signatures. Electronic signatures are valid under the Electronic Transactions and Trust Services Law (Federal Decree-Law No. 46 of 2021). Keep signed copies on file.

Common Mistakes to Avoid in Your Locum Doctor Agreement (UAE)

A UAE Locum Doctor Agreement is one of the shortest contracts in healthcare but contains several traps that produce serious legal consequences when they are missed.

1. Not verifying the doctor's practice licence before the engagement begins. A facility that allows a locum to see patients without a valid practice licence from the Dubai Health Authority, the Department of Health Abu Dhabi, the Ministry of Health and Prevention, or the Sharjah Health Authority exposes itself to regulatory penalties and jeopardises its facility licence. Verify the licence number and validity date on the relevant health authority's register before the engagement starts.

2. Scope wider than the licensed specialty. Requiring the locum to perform procedures outside their licensed specialty breaches Medical Liability Federal Law No. 4 of 2016 and exposes both the doctor and the facility to liability. The scope in the agreement must match the doctor's licensed specialty precisely.

3. No professional indemnity insurance requirement. Medical Liability Federal Law No. 4 of 2016 requires practitioners to hold professional indemnity insurance as a condition of practice. An agreement that does not require the locum to maintain and produce evidence of insurance leaves the facility exposed if a claim arises.

4. Misclassifying a long-term locum as an independent contractor. Where a locum works full-time hours consistently over a sustained period, the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE) may recharacterise the engagement as employment, entitling the doctor to end-of-service gratuity under Article 51 of the Labour Law (Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021) and other statutory rights. Keep locum engagements genuinely short-term and project-based.

5. No plan for patient records on termination. Without a records clause, there is ambiguity about who owns the clinical notes the locum created. State clearly that all patient records belong to the facility and that the locum has no right to retain patient data after the engagement ends, consistent with the Personal Data Protection Law (Federal Decree-Law No. 45 of 2021).

6. Unclear fee and VAT treatment. Ambiguity about whether the fee is inclusive or exclusive of VAT and about the invoicing process leads to payment disputes. Specify the fee, the VAT treatment, the unit of measurement, the invoicing obligation, and the payment period.

Cite this page

Reference this free template in an article, syllabus, or research note:

APA

Forms Legal. (2026). Locum Doctor Agreement (UAE) (United Arab Emirates) [Legal document template]. Forms Legal. https://forms-legal.com/uae/business/contracts/locum-doctor-agreement-uae

MLA

"Locum Doctor Agreement (UAE) (United Arab Emirates)." Forms Legal, 2026, https://forms-legal.com/uae/business/contracts/locum-doctor-agreement-uae.

BibTeX
@misc{formslegal-locum-doctor-agreement-uae,
  author       = {{Forms Legal}},
  title        = {Locum Doctor Agreement (UAE) (United Arab Emirates)},
  year         = {2026},
  howpublished = {\url{https://forms-legal.com/uae/business/contracts/locum-doctor-agreement-uae}},
  note         = {Free legal document template. Based on Medical Liability Federal Law No. 4 of 2016}
}

Frequently Asked Questions

Based on Medical Liability Federal Law No. 4 of 2016 — Template last modified June 2026

This template is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Laws vary by jurisdiction and change over time. Consult a qualified attorney for advice specific to your situation.Full disclaimer

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