INTERNATIONAL PATIENTS · UNITED STATES

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

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

The short answer. In the United States, the FDA has approved very few stem cell products, and none for autoimmune, longevity or orthopedic use. No exosome product is FDA-approved. Some American patients therefore look abroad. Dubai has direct flights from many US cities, US citizens can currently get a visa on arrival, and our clinic is inside Address Beach Resort on JBR beach. This guide explains how it works, and what to be clear about first.

What the FDA has and has not approved

The FDA states that the only approved stem cell products in the US are blood-forming stem cells from umbilical cord blood, approved for disorders of blood production. It also states that there are no approved exosome products, and that no regenerative medicine product is approved for conditions such as orthopedic problems, neurological disorders, lung disease, chronic pain or fatigue.¹

Since that statement, the FDA has approved one mesenchymal stem cell product, in December 2024, for children with a serious complication of bone marrow transplantation called steroid-refractory graft-versus-host disease.²

What that means for you

The treatments I offer for autoimmune and longevity purposes are not FDA-approved for those uses. They are given in Dubai under my Dubai Health Authority licence. If there is a US clinical trial you are eligible for, it is worth asking your specialist about it first.

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,³ and in advanced liver cirrhosis, MSC treatment improved liver function and long-term survival.⁴ 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 United States that treatment is not worth the trip than after.

Getting here

Flights: there are direct flights to Dubai from many major US cities, typically around 12 to 16 hours.
Time difference: Dubai is eight to nine hours ahead of the East Coast and eleven to twelve hours ahead of the West Coast.
Jet lag: plan to arrive a day or two before treatment, so your assessment is not done on no sleep.
Visa: US citizens can currently get a visa on arrival. Check the current rules on the UAE government portal before you book.⁵

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 US?

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.⁶

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.⁶

Working with your doctor at home

Tell your doctor what you are planning. With your permission, I write to them before treatment and send a summary afterwards. Follow-up blood tests can be done at a commercial laboratory near you and reviewed with me remotely. US health insurance usually does not cover this kind of treatment abroad.

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 FDA-approved?

Only for a few specific uses: cord blood stem cells for blood disorders, and one MSC product for a complication of bone marrow transplantation in children.^1,2 Not for autoimmune, longevity or orthopedic use.

Are exosomes FDA-approved?

No. The FDA states that no exosome products are approved.¹

Will my insurance cover it?

Usually not. Check with your insurer before you travel, including cover for any complications.

How long should I stay, given the flight?

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. Add time to recover from jet lag before your assessment.

Do I need a visa?

US citizens can currently get a visa on arrival in the UAE. Check the latest rules before travelling.⁵

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 own doctor.

References

1. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Consumer alert on regenerative medicine products including stem cells and exosomes. Content current as of April 2024. fda.gov
2. Ryoncil (remestemcel-L-rknd) FDA approval history: approved 18 December 2024 for steroid-refractory acute graft-versus-host disease in children. drugs.com
3. 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
4. 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
5. UAE Government portal (u.ae). Visa on arrival: who is eligible and for how long. u.ae
6. Address Hotels + Resorts. Address Beach Resort, Jumeirah Beach Residence, Dubai. addresshotels.com