What is the Medical Liability Committee in the UAE and what does it do?

The Medical Liability Committee is a panel of medical specialists formed under the UAE Medical Liability Law (Federal Law No. 4 of 2016) to give a technical, independent opinion on complaints alleging a medical error. When a patient, a regulator, the police, or a court refers a case, the committee reviews the medical file, the practitioner's account, and the relevant standard of care, then issues a written report stating whether a medical error occurred and, if so, its degree of seriousness. This opinion is central because courts and prosecutors generally rely on it rather than deciding complex clinical questions themselves. The committee does not award compensation or impose criminal penalties; its findings feed into the disciplinary, civil, and criminal processes that follow. If a party disagrees, the law provides for review by a higher medical-liability body whose decision carries greater weight. Each emirate's health authority administers the process for facilities it licenses. Because the committee's report can decide a case, presenting your medical evidence clearly matters. You can compare verified UAE legal professionals on LEXAI for guidance on your case.