Saud bin Saqr issues a law regarding control procedures for communicable diseases in facilities related to public health in Ras Al Khaimah

His Highness Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah, issued Law No. (4) of 2026 regarding procedures for controlling communicable diseases in facilities related to public health in the emirate, in a step aimed at strengthening the health prevention system, raising preventive readiness, and consolidating compliance with approved health requirements.

The provisions of the law apply to establishments related to public health, and to those working in them within the emirate, including the economic areas of Ras Al Khaimah.

The Department of Public Health and Safety in the Ras Al Khaimah Municipality Department is responsible for implementing the provisions of the law, including raising awareness of health risks, developing a unified system for notifying communicable diseases, conducting the necessary medical examinations for workers, periodic inspection of facilities, and coordinating with the competent health authorities to isolate those infected or suspected of being infected in accordance with the approved controls, in addition to collecting, analyzing and updating data on communicable diseases on a periodic basis, and extracting the epidemiological indicators necessary to make appropriate preventive decisions and determine control priorities.

The department is also responsible for issuing certificates of occupational health fitness and certificates of occupational health unfitness for candidates to work in facilities, conducting the necessary medical examinations for workers and approving their results, and monitoring and periodic inspection of facilities related to public health.

The law requires workers in these establishments to obtain a valid occupational health fitness certificate and present it upon request, to comply with instructions to stop working when unfit or suspected of being unfit, to notify the employer or management immediately upon the appearance of symptoms of a communicable disease on them or their contacts, to adhere to examination, isolation and treatment procedures, to take the necessary preventive measures to prevent the transmission of infection, and not to return to work except after a new health fitness certificate is issued.

The law requires the issuance and renewal of an occupational health fitness certificate to submit an application for issuance or renewal through the approved system, and to pass the necessary medical examinations, provided that the certificate is issued for a period of one year from the date of its issuance. A temporary certificate may be issued for a period of three months for workers under probation or training, and it may be renewed only once.

This law shall be effective from the date of its issuance and shall be published in the Official Gazette.