INTERNATIONAL PATIENTS · UNITED KINGDOM

Stem Cell and Longevity Treatment in Dubai for UK Patients: A Practical Guide

Dr Shiva Faramarzi, MD · Apogee Clinic, JBR, Dubai · Reviewed October 2026

The short answer. In the UK, stem cell and other cell therapies are regulated as medicines, and most uses outside licensed products are available only within clinical trials. Some UK patients therefore look at treatment abroad. Dubai is about seven hours away, British citizens can currently get a visa on arrival, and our clinic is inside Address Beach Resort on JBR beach. This guide covers how it works, and the honest questions to ask first.

How cell therapies are regulated in the UK

In the UK, stem cell and other cell therapies are classed as advanced therapy medicinal products (ATMPs) and regulated as medicines by the MHRA. A product needs a marketing authorisation, assessed for quality, safety and effectiveness, before it can be sold. Unlicensed cell therapies can be used only in limited circumstances, such as within clinical trials or under a hospital exemption for an individual patient.¹

In practice, that means mesenchymal stem cell or exosome treatment for autoimmune, neurological or longevity purposes is generally available in the UK only within research.

What that means for you

If there is a UK clinical trial you are eligible for, it is worth asking your specialist about it first. Trials are free, closely monitored, and add to the evidence for everyone.

The evidence for stem cell treatment differs from one condition to another. In some areas, randomised trials have shown measurable benefits: in a placebo-controlled trial in type 2 diabetes, HbA1c fell by 1.3 percentage points with umbilical cord MSCs and insulin needs dropped,² and in advanced liver cirrhosis, MSC treatment improved liver function and long-term survival.³ For many other uses, including most autoimmune and longevity indications, the human evidence is earlier. None of these is yet a standard guideline treatment.

Treatment is given under my Dubai Health Authority (DHA) licence, with cells and exosomes prepared by two established, regulated laboratories. I explain the evidence for your own condition before you decide, and I would rather tell you before you travel from the UK that treatment is not worth the trip than after.

Getting here

Flights: direct flights from London and several other UK airports take about seven hours.
Time difference: Dubai is four hours ahead of the UK in winter and three hours ahead in summer, so jet lag is mild.
Visa: British citizens can currently get a visa on arrival. Check the current rules on the UAE government portal before you book.⁴
How long: For stem cell treatment, whether with your own cells or a donor’s, plan at least four nights in Dubai, so we can keep you under observation after treatment. Some other treatments fit a shorter trip.

Before you travel

Send your records first. Recent blood tests, diagnosis letters, scans and a list of your medications. I review them before you book flights, so you know whether treatment is reasonable for you.
Have a first conversation by WhatsApp. We agree what you want to achieve, what the evidence does and does not support, and which treatments make sense.
Decide your dates together with us. We plan your appointments around your flights, so assessment, treatment and review fit into your stay.
Tell your own doctor. I am happy to write to them before and after treatment.

Planning a visit from the UK?

Send your records and travel dates. I will review them and tell you honestly what is worth doing. WhatsApp +971 52 328 6185.

Where we are

Apogee Clinic is inside Address Beach Resort, a five-star beachfront hotel on Jumeirah Beach Residence (JBR) in Dubai, with direct access to JBR beach and a spa on the 75th floor. Dubai Marina, Bluewaters Island and Ain Dubai are a few minutes away.⁵

For patients who travel, this matters more than it sounds. You can stay in the same building as the clinic, so there is no commute between your hotel and your appointments, and you can rest in your room straight after treatment. The resort also has residences for longer stays, which suit patients combining several treatments.⁵

Working with your GP or consultant

Tell your GP or specialist what you are planning. With your permission, I write to them before treatment, and send a summary afterwards. Your GP may not be able to arrange follow-up tests for private treatment you have had abroad. Private blood testing is widely available in the UK, and I can review the results with you remotely.

After you go home

You leave with a written summary of what was done, which products were used, and what to monitor.
With your permission, I send the same summary to your doctor at home.
Follow-up blood tests can usually be done near home and reviewed with me remotely.
Check your travel insurance before you go. Many policies exclude planned medical treatment abroad and its complications.

Frequently asked questions

Is stem cell therapy legal in the UK?

Cell therapies are regulated as medicines. They can be given as licensed products, within clinical trials, or in limited cases under a hospital exemption.¹

Will the NHS pay for treatment in Dubai?

No. This is private treatment.

Can I come for a long weekend?

Not for stem cell treatment: plan at least four nights so we can keep you under observation. Some other treatments can fit a long weekend. We confirm the schedule before you book flights.

Can I bring blood results from a UK private lab?

Yes. Recent results help me plan, and may mean fewer tests in Dubai.

Do I need a visa?

British citizens can currently get a visa on arrival in the UAE. Check the latest rules before travelling.⁴

Start with your records.

Send your records and travel dates. We will plan the rest together. WhatsApp +971 52 328 6185.

About the author. Dr Shiva Faramarzi, MD, is an aesthetic, regenerative and longevity physician at Apogee Clinic, JBR, Dubai (DHA licence 43705219). She offers autologous and donor stem cell therapy and exosome IV treatment. This article is patient education and does not replace the advice of your GP or specialist.

References

1. Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA). Advanced therapy medicinal products: regulation and licensing in the UK. GOV.UK, updated September 2026. gov.uk
2. Zang L, et al. Efficacy and safety of umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells in Chinese adults with type 2 diabetes: a single-center, double-blinded, randomized, placebo-controlled phase II trial. Stem Cell Res Ther. 2022;13:180. doi:10.1186/s13287-022-02848-6
3. Shi M, et al. Mesenchymal stem cell therapy in decompensated liver cirrhosis: a long-term follow-up analysis of the randomized controlled clinical trial. Hepatol Int. 2021;15(6):1431–1441. doi:10.1007/s12072-021-10199-2
4. UAE Government portal (u.ae). Visa on arrival: who is eligible and for how long. u.ae
5. Address Hotels + Resorts. Address Beach Resort, Jumeirah Beach Residence, Dubai. addresshotels.com