Who decides whether a doctor committed malpractice in the UAE?

In the UAE, whether a practitioner committed a medical error is decided primarily on expert medical assessment rather than by the patient or the court alone. Under the UAE Medical Liability Law (Federal Law No. 4 of 2016), a complaint is first examined by a Medical Liability Committee made up of medical specialists, which reviews the file and issues a technical opinion on whether an error occurred and how serious it was. If a party disputes that opinion, the law provides for review by a higher medical-liability committee whose decision carries greater weight and is generally relied upon in subsequent proceedings. Courts and prosecutors typically defer to these specialist findings on the clinical questions, then apply the law to decide on compensation, disciplinary measures, or, in grave cases, criminal liability. This layered structure is meant to ensure complex medical judgments are made by qualified experts. The exact composition and procedure of these bodies are set in the law and its regulations and are administered through the health authorities. Because the committee's view can be decisive, you can compare verified UAE legal professionals on LEXAI to help present your evidence effectively.