Planning a Visit to SSMC Abu Dhabi: Appointments, Departments, Insurance & Arrival
Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City is a large hospital campus in Abu Dhabi for specialist, outpatient, inpatient, emergency and complex hospital care. The practical part of visiting SSMC is knowing the correct department, building, appointment route, insurance requirements and parking process before you travel.
Quick answer: SSMC is in the Al Mafraq area of Abu Dhabi near the Ghweifat International Highway and Fatima College of Health Sciences. The hospital’s main patient and appointment number is 800 7762. Regular outpatient clinics run Monday–Thursday from 8 a.m.–8 p.m. and Friday from 7:30 a.m.–5 p.m.; selected clinics and services also operate on Sundays from 9 a.m.–5 p.m.. Emergency services operate 24/7.
When a routine SSMC appointment is not the right route
SSMC states that its Emergency Services operate 24 hours a day. A planned outpatient appointment, insurance enquiry or online booking should not delay urgent medical care when someone is seriously unwell.
This page cannot diagnose symptoms or determine whether a condition is an emergency.
Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City at a glance
| Item | Current planning information | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Official name | Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City (SSMC) | Use the full hospital name when searching maps or arranging transport. |
| Location | Al Mafraq area, Abu Dhabi; SSMC identifies the Ghweifat International Highway area next to Fatima College of Health Sciences. | Confirm the building and entrance as well as the hospital name. |
| Postal address | Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City, PO Box 11001, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. | Use the official map for driving directions. |
| Main contact | 800 7762 | Use for appointment and general patient enquiries. |
| Clinical scope | SSMC currently describes 11 clinical departments, 30 divisions and 46 specialties and services. | Choose the exact specialty rather than booking against the hospital name alone. |
| Emergency | 24/7 | Use emergency care for serious or rapidly worsening conditions. |
| DoH facility reference | MF5598 | The Department of Health – Abu Dhabi lists Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City under this facility identifier. |
SSMC outpatient hours and Sunday clinic availability
General hospital access and a specific outpatient clinic schedule are not the same thing. SSMC publishes core outpatient operating hours and also lists extended hours for selected specialties and supporting services.
| Day / service | Published time | Planning note |
|---|---|---|
| Monday–Thursday | 8 a.m.–8 p.m. | Applies to the current published outpatient clinic schedule; individual doctors may have shorter sessions. |
| Friday | 7:30 a.m.–5 p.m. | Confirm the specialty and doctor before travelling. |
| Selected Sunday clinics | 9 a.m.–5 p.m. | Sunday opening is not a promise that every department is available. |
| Emergency Department | 24 hours, 7 days | Use for emergency care, not routine outpatient enquiries. |
Which SSMC services are listed for Sunday?
SSMC currently lists Sunday 9 a.m.–5 p.m. extended availability for Dermatology, Endocrinology, Gastroenterology, Internal Medicine, Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Paediatric Endocrinology and Paediatric Rheumatology. Supporting Sunday services listed by SSMC include pharmacy, laboratory and radiology.
How to book and prepare for an SSMC appointment
SSMC states that patients can book through its official website or contact the hospital on 800 7762. The most important preparation step is choosing the correct department before requesting a slot.
Use your referral letter, previous diagnosis or clinician instruction rather than guessing from symptoms.
Specialist or complex-care pathways may require prior clinical information or a formal referral.
Use the hospital website or call 800 7762 and confirm the doctor or clinic.
Confirm your exact network, referral, pre-authorisation and expected patient payment before planned non-emergency care.
Keep the doctor, specialty, date, time, building and any preparation instructions together.
What types of care and specialties are available at SSMC?
SSMC currently states that it provides interdisciplinary care across 11 clinical departments, 30 divisions and 46 specialties and services. The outpatient guide also separates clinics by building and desk, which is useful because SSMC is a large campus rather than a single outpatient reception.
Internal medicine, cardiology, endocrinology, nephrology, pulmonology and related medical specialties.
Specialist neurological and neurosurgical pathways with hospital-level diagnostic and procedural support.
Orthopaedic surgery, physiotherapy, physical medicine and rehabilitation services.
Laboratory, radiology, cardiology testing and other diagnostic services supporting specialist care.
General, vascular, thoracic, plastic, oral and maxillofacial and other surgical pathways.
Hospital-level cancer and blood-disorder services, including specialised clinics and treatment pathways.
General paediatrics and specialist paediatric services; confirm the exact clinic before booking.
Otolaryngology, ophthalmology, audiology, optometry, speech and related outpatient services.
Endoscopy, interventional radiology, apheresis and other services that may require referral or preparation.
SSMC registration, queue and clinic-desk process
The current outpatient guide describes self-registration through kiosks or QR-code access and live queue updates. This can reduce unnecessary waiting, but you still need to know the correct building and clinic desk.
Use the department information from your booking. If it is unclear, call SSMC before travelling.
SSMC’s outpatient guide lists self-registration kiosks and QR-based registration options.
The hospital describes live queue updates. Keep your phone accessible if you use the digital process.
SSMC’s clinic routing places many services at different desks. For example, the current outpatient guide lists cardiology, neurology, neurosurgery and orthopaedic surgery around Desk 1; internal medicine and paediatric services around Desk 2; multiple surgical, ENT and eye services around Desk 3; and gastroenterology/endoscopy around Desk 4.
How to check SSMC insurance, approvals and self-pay costs
SSMC publishes a current insurance-network page, but an insurer appearing on that page does not mean every plan, network tier, physician, test or treatment is automatically covered. Personal eligibility still depends on the exact policy and service.
Give SSMC the insurer and exact network or product shown on your card.
Ask whether the planned consultation, imaging, procedure or admission needs referral or pre-authorisation.
Confirm co-pay, deductible, excluded items and any self-pay balance before planned treatment.
Financial counselling for self-pay or non-insured patients
SSMC’s outpatient guide states that financial counsellors are available from 8 a.m.–5 p.m. at the Ground Floor and 1st Floor of the Clinic Building and in Tower B of the Hospital Building.
| Situation | Ask before care | Keep ready |
|---|---|---|
| Specialist consultation | Is the doctor in my network and is a referral required? | Emirates ID, insurance details, referral and reports. |
| MRI, CT, X-ray or other imaging | Is approval needed and is this imaging provider covered? | Doctor request, prior imaging and approval reference. |
| Planned procedure | What authorisation and financial estimate are required? | Clinical reports, insurance information and approval details. |
| Self-pay care | What is the expected cost and what may be billed separately? | Identification and accepted payment method. |
SSMC’s FAQ currently lists cash, Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Apple Pay, manager’s cheque, company cheque, online payment and electronic bank transfer among accepted payment methods.
SSMC parking: free patient parking, validation and valet
SSMC’s current parking guide says parking is free for patients. If the vehicle has been parked for more than 180 minutes, the hospital says patients should validate the parking before leaving. Validation is based on the car registration number.
| Visit type | Parking route | Validation point |
|---|---|---|
| Outpatient | Clinic Building Main Entrance | OPD welcome desk on the ground floor; provide the car registration number. |
| Inpatient | Basement 1 and Oncology Parking | Central reception desk. |
| Emergency | Emergency Parking, reserved for emergency situations | Emergency Department reception desk. |
| Radiation therapy | Dedicated radiation-therapy parking | Follow the treatment-area instructions. |
Paid valet parking is also listed for inpatient and outpatient routes. SSMC’s outpatient guide separately notes free self-parking on B1 and B2.
Where is Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City in Abu Dhabi?
SSMC is in the Al Mafraq area of Abu Dhabi. The hospital’s FAQ describes the location as the Ghweifat International Highway area next to Fatima College of Health Sciences. Its inpatient guide also places the hospital near the E11 and E22 routes with access towards Zayed International Airport.
SSMC’s inpatient guide describes the hospital as approximately 30 minutes from Downtown Abu Dhabi, subject to traffic and your exact starting point.
The inpatient guide describes a journey of roughly 90 minutes from Dubai city centre. Allow extra time for traffic, parking and registration.
What to bring to an SSMC appointment
The exact documents depend on your visit. The safest approach is to keep identification, insurance information and relevant clinical records together before travelling.
Emirates ID where applicable and any identification requested for registration.
Physical or digital insurance details plus referral or pre-approval references.
Referral letter, previous reports, discharge summaries, lab results and relevant imaging.
Current medicines, doses and known allergies, especially for specialist or inpatient care.
For imaging, procedures or specialist referrals
- Bring the doctor’s request or referral.
- Ask whether fasting or other preparation is required.
- Keep insurer approval details where required.
- Bring previous imaging or test results when useful for comparison.
- Confirm whether original reports, digital images or both are needed.
SSMC pharmacy, medication refill and financial support
SSMC’s FAQ lists two hospital pharmacies. The Tower B pharmacy in the Hospital Building is listed as operating 24/7. A second pharmacy in the Clinics Building is listed from 8 a.m.–10 p.m.
The outpatient guide also describes a pharmacy home-delivery service and says patients can request refills and delivery through the patient portal application or the call centre.
Hospital Building • listed by SSMC as open 24/7.
Listed by the SSMC FAQ as 8 a.m.–10 p.m.; confirm if collection is time-sensitive.
SSMC describes refill and pharmacy-delivery options through its patient portal or call centre.
SSMC visiting hours: check the unit before travelling
SSMC’s current visitor-guideline page lists inpatient visiting hours from 10 a.m.–8 p.m. and critical-care visiting hours from 12 p.m.–8 p.m..
The hospital’s FAQ also displays split visiting periods for some categories. Because official SSMC pages can present unit-specific timing in different formats, call 800 7762 or check with the ward before travelling, particularly for intensive care, paediatric, neonatal, maternity or other restricted units.
Current visitor-guideline page: 10 a.m.–8 p.m.
Current visitor-guideline page: 12 p.m.–8 p.m.; unit-specific restrictions may apply.
How to request an SSMC medical record
SSMC says medical records can be requested in person, through its medical-record request channel or through the patient portal application. The hospital lists the in-person Health Information Management / Release of Information service on the Ground Floor of the inpatient Hospital Building.
The hospital FAQ says patients may request records relating to clinic visits, laboratory reports, discharge summaries, operative reports, pathology, radiology, emergency visits, inpatient notes, dietitian notes and complete medical-record copies.
Planning an SSMC visit from outside the UAE
SSMC operates an international-patient service for people travelling for care. The current international-patient page provides appointment-request routes by web form, phone, email and WhatsApp.
SSMC currently lists +971 2 314 2000 for international appointment enquiries.
The international-patient page currently lists +971 50 3716 121.
Confirm specialist acceptance, reports required, appointment timing and payment or guarantee arrangements before booking travel.
SSMC, PureHealth, SEHA, Mayo Clinic and DoH: what is current?
Official descriptions of SSMC have changed over time. Historical SSMC materials describe the hospital as a joint-venture partnership involving SEHA and Mayo Clinic. More recent SSMC releases published in 2026 describe Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City as a subsidiary of PureHealth.
Because corporate descriptions can change, this independent guide does not use an old partnership statement as proof of the hospital’s present legal ownership structure. For patient purposes, the official SSMC website remains the correct source for current hospital services and contact information.
The Department of Health – Abu Dhabi currently lists Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City as an authorised research institute under facility reference MF5598. SSMC also announced JCI Academic Medical Center re-accreditation in February 2026.
Common SSMC visit problems and what to do
| Problem | What may be happening | Practical next step |
|---|---|---|
| I booked the wrong department | The hospital covers many specialties with separate clinic routes. | Call 800 7762 before travelling and give the referral reason or service requested. |
| My doctor is not available | General outpatient hours do not equal every consultant’s schedule. | Confirm the doctor and date directly with SSMC. |
| Insurance is unclear | Your insurer may be accepted but your network, doctor or treatment may require approval. | Provide the exact plan/network and ask about referral, pre-authorisation and patient share. |
| I cannot find my clinic | SSMC uses different buildings, floors and clinic desks. | Check the outpatient guide or ask reception instead of moving between buildings without confirmation. |
| Parking validation is unclear | The validation point depends on the type of visit. | Use OPD welcome desk, central reception or ED reception according to your route. |
| I am visiting an inpatient | Visitor rules can vary by unit. | Check the current visitor page and confirm with the ward before leaving home. |
| I need a medical record | Medical records are handled through a specific hospital process. | Contact Medical Records on 02 314 5015 or use the current SSMC record-request route. |
Official sources to check before your SSMC visit
Hours, doctors, insurance networks, visitor rules and hospital processes can change. These official pages are the most useful final checks before travelling.
Information reviewed for this refresh: 29 September 2026.
Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City SSMC FAQs
What is Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City SSMC?
Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City, usually shortened to SSMC, is a major Abu Dhabi hospital providing specialist outpatient, inpatient, emergency, surgical, diagnostic and complex-care services.
Where is Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City located?
SSMC is in the Al Mafraq area of Abu Dhabi. Its official FAQ identifies the Ghweifat International Highway area next to Fatima College of Health Sciences.
What is the SSMC phone number?
SSMC’s current main patient and appointment contact number is 800 7762.
How do I book an appointment at SSMC?
SSMC says appointments can be requested through its official website or by calling 800 7762. Confirm the specialty, doctor, referral requirement and insurance route when booking.
What are the current SSMC outpatient clinic hours?
SSMC currently publishes Monday–Thursday 8 a.m.–8 p.m. and Friday 7:30 a.m.–5 p.m. Selected clinics and supporting services also operate Sunday 9 a.m.–5 p.m. Specific doctors and services can follow different schedules.
Does SSMC have a 24-hour emergency department?
Yes. SSMC states that its Emergency Services operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week. For a medical emergency in the UAE, ambulance service is 998.
Does SSMC accept health insurance?
SSMC publishes a list of accepted insurers and care plans. Coverage still depends on your exact insurer, network, policy eligibility, doctor, service and pre-authorisation requirements.
Is parking free at Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City?
SSMC’s current parking guide says patient parking is free. For longer stays, patients should validate their vehicle parking before leaving. The required desk depends on the visit route.
Does SSMC have a pharmacy?
Yes. SSMC’s FAQ lists a 24/7 pharmacy in Tower B of the Hospital Building and another pharmacy in the Clinics Building. Confirm current hours if your medicine collection is time-sensitive.
How can I request my SSMC medical records?
SSMC says records can be requested through its medical-record process, in person at the Hospital Building or through the patient portal. The current inpatient guide lists 02 314 5015 for Medical Records support.
What are SSMC visiting hours?
The current visitor-guideline page lists inpatient visiting from 10 a.m.–8 p.m. and critical-care visiting from 12 p.m.–8 p.m. Unit-specific rules can differ, so verify the ward before travelling.
Is SSMC part of PureHealth?
Recent official SSMC releases published in 2026 describe Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City as a subsidiary of PureHealth. Older SSMC materials describe the historical SEHA and Mayo Clinic joint-venture relationship, so older pages may use different organisational wording.
Medical, appointment, insurance and payment disclaimer
This page is an independent information and visit-planning resource. It is not medical advice, diagnosis, treatment advice, emergency advice, insurance advice, financial advice or a guarantee of appointment availability, doctor availability, admission, treatment outcome, insurance approval or price.
SSMC doctors, departments, clinic times, visitor rules, insurance networks, co-payments, parking arrangements, medical-record procedures and other operational details can change. Confirm important decisions directly with Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City, your insurer, your referring clinician or the relevant UAE authority.