At least 12 Sharjah facilities offer in-house diagnostic labs or imaging. This guide compares lab services, prices, turnaround times, and insurance coverage for blood work and X-rays. Updated 2026.
Sharjah Has 39 Medical Facilities in Our Directory — and at Least 12 Offer In-House Diagnostic Labs or Imaging Services
Getting blood work, X-rays, or advanced imaging in Sharjah does not require a hospital visit — several polyclinics and specialist centres run their own labs and radiology departments on-site. Turnaround times range from 30 minutes for basic blood panels to 48 hours for advanced imaging reports. Prices are typically 30 to 50% lower than equivalent tests in Dubai. This guide maps out where to get tested, what it costs, and which tests need which facility. Every healthcare listing is verified on AE Profile.
Lab Services Comparison: Where to Get Tested in Sharjah
The table below covers the Sharjah facilities we confirmed offer in-house diagnostic or imaging services as of June 2026. Prices are cash rates for uninsured patients — insurance co-pays vary by policy.
| Facility | Lab (Blood/Urine) | X-Ray | Advanced Imaging | Basic Panel Turnaround | GP+Lab Combo (AED) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reem Al Nahda Medical Diagnostic Centre | Yes | Yes | Ultrasound | 30–60 min | 180–280 |
| Reem Specialist Medical Center | Yes | Yes | CT, Ultrasound | 45–90 min | 200–350 |
| University Hospital Sharjah | Yes | Yes | CT, MRI, PET | 60–120 min | 250–500 |
| Zulekha Hospital Sharjah | Yes | Yes | CT, MRI, Mammography | 45–90 min | 220–450 |
| Ahlan Medical Centre | Yes | No | No | 60–120 min | 120–200 |
| Al Wahda Medical Centre | Yes | Yes | No | 45–90 min | 150–250 |
| Al Nahda Medical Center | Yes | Yes | Ultrasound | 30–60 min | 160–260 |
| MGM Medical Centre | Yes | No | No | 60–120 min | 110–180 |
Facilities without in-house labs — like Ahlan Wa Sahlan Medical Center and Al Darary Medical Centre — collect samples on-site and send them to external labs. Results take 24 to 48 hours for basic panels and 3 to 5 working days for specialised tests.
Which Test Needs Which Facility?
Not every test is available at every facility. Here is a practical guide to matching your test to the right centre. Basic blood work — CBC, glucose, lipid panel, liver function, thyroid (TSH) — is available at every facility with a lab, including smaller clinics like Care Medical Centre and Liberty Medical Centre. X-rays — chest, limb, dental — are available at most polyclinics with radiology departments, including Al Bustan Medical Center and Right Medical Centre. Ultrasound — abdominal, pelvic, obstetric — is offered at Reem Al Nahda, Al Nahda Medical Center, and both hospitals. CT scans require hospital-level facilities — University Hospital Sharjah, Zulekha Hospital, and Reem Specialist Medical Center. MRI scans are only available at University Hospital Sharjah and Zulekha Hospital within Sharjah. Mammography is available at Zulekha Hospital and select polyclinics by appointment. Specialised tests — genetic testing, allergy panels, tumour markers — are typically sent to external reference labs and take 5 to 10 working days.
Typical Prices for Common Lab Tests in Sharjah
Sharjah lab prices are among the lowest in the UAE. Here is what you can expect to pay without insurance:
- CBC (complete blood count) — AED 30 to 60
- Glucose (fasting) — AED 20 to 40
- Lipid panel — AED 50 to 90
- Liver function test — AED 60 to 100
- Thyroid (TSH) — AED 60 to 100
- HbA1c (diabetes marker) — AED 50 to 80
- Vitamin D — AED 80 to 130
- Chest X-ray — AED 80 to 150
- Abdominal ultrasound — AED 200 to 350
- CT scan (single area) — AED 600 to 1,200
- MRI (single area) — AED 1,200 to 2,500
These prices are 30 to 50% lower than equivalent Dubai rates. For example, a vitamin D test that costs AED 130 in Sharjah typically runs AED 180 to 250 in Dubai. For Dubai pricing, see our GP costs guide. Many Sharjah facilities offer bundled health check packages — a basic executive check-up including CBC, glucose, lipid, liver, thyroid, and vitamin D typically costs AED 300 to 500, compared with AED 500 to 800 for the same panel in Dubai.
Does Insurance Cover Lab Work in Sharjah?
Insurance coverage for lab work in Sharjah depends on three factors: your insurance tier, whether the facility is in your network, and whether the test was prescribed by a network doctor. If you have DHA-issued insurance from a Dubai employer, most Sharjah facilities near the Dubai border accept your plan — Aster Al Nahda Medical Center and Al Nahda Medical Center are commonly in DHA networks. If you have MoHAP-recognized insurance or employer-provided coverage, check with the clinic billing desk before giving samples — some tests require pre-approval, especially advanced imaging and panels costing above AED 500. EBP plans from Dubai typically cover basic lab work at in-network Sharjah clinics with a 10% co-pay. Enhanced plans may cover advanced imaging with pre-approval. For a full breakdown of insurance tiers and networks, see our Dubai insurance networks guide and UAE health insurance guide. Our DHA vs MoHAP clinics guide explains how regulator licensing affects lab test approvals and drug formulary coverage.
How Fast Can You Get Results?
Turnaround time is one of the biggest reasons to choose an in-house lab over an external reference lab. Here is what to expect in Sharjah:
- Basic blood panels (CBC, glucose, lipids, liver, kidney) — 30 to 90 minutes at in-house labs. Same results take 24 to 48 hours at clinics using external labs.
- Thyroid, vitamin D, HbA1c — 2 to 4 hours at in-house labs, 24 to 48 hours externally.
- X-rays — images available immediately, radiologist report in 1 to 4 hours at hospitals, 24 hours at polyclinics.
- Ultrasound — images immediately, report same day at hospitals, next day at polyclinics.
- CT and MRI — images same day, radiologist report within 24 to 48 hours. University Hospital Sharjah offers a 4-hour urgent reporting service for an additional AED 150.
- Specialised tests (genetic, allergy, tumour markers) — 5 to 10 working days regardless of facility, as these are sent to reference labs in Abu Dhabi or Dubai.
If your doctor needs results the same day, go to a hospital with an in-house lab — Zulekha Hospital and University Hospital Sharjah both offer same-day results for most routine tests. For non-urgent testing, polyclinic labs like Al Maliha Medical Center and Yas Medical Center are perfectly adequate and typically cheaper. For context on how Sharjah fits into the wider UAE healthcare landscape, see our UAE Healthcare Index.
Diagnostic Labs Outside Sharjah: When to Travel
Some tests are not available anywhere in Sharjah and require travel to Dubai or Abu Dhabi. PET scans, for example, are only available at a handful of facilities in the UAE — none in Sharjah. Advanced cardiac imaging, certain nuclear medicine studies, and specialised genetic panels may also require a trip to Dubai hospitals like Saudi German Hospital Dubai or Abu Dhabi reference labs. If your Sharjah doctor refers you out of emirate for a test, ask whether the referral includes a letter for your insurance — without it, your insurer may reject the claim for an out-of-network facility. For Sharjah residents who prefer to stay local for routine testing, the facilities in our table above cover 90% of common diagnostic needs. For late-night pharmacy needs after your lab visit, see our guide to pharmacies in Sharjah open late. For comprehensive Sharjah clinic information, see clinics in Sharjah by specialty.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a doctor prescription for lab tests in Sharjah?
For most blood tests and X-rays, yes — MoHAP regulations require a prescription from a licensed physician. Some facilities allow walk-in blood tests for basic panels (glucose, CBC, vitamin D) without a prescription, but insurance will not cover these without one. If you are paying cash, ask the lab reception about their walk-in test policy — it varies by facility.
How much does a full health check-up cost in Sharjah?
A basic executive health check-up in Sharjah — including GP consultation, CBC, glucose, lipid panel, liver function, kidney function, thyroid, vitamin D, and chest X-ray — typically costs AED 300 to 500 without insurance. Comprehensive packages that add ultrasound, ECG, and additional blood markers run AED 600 to 1,000. Compare this with AED 500 to 1,200 for the same packages in Dubai.
Can I get MRI results the same day in Sharjah?
Images are available the same day at University Hospital Sharjah and Zulekha Hospital. The radiologist report takes 24 to 48 hours under standard processing. University Hospital Sharjah offers an urgent reporting service with results in 4 hours for an additional AED 150. Ask your referring doctor to request urgent reporting if clinically needed.
Are Sharjah lab results accepted by Dubai doctors?
Yes — lab results from MoHAP-licensed facilities are accepted by DHA-licensed doctors in Dubai. However, some Dubai specialists may prefer to repeat tests at their own facility, especially for time-sensitive results like tumour markers. Bring both the lab report and the original images (for imaging tests) to your Dubai appointment.
Which Sharjah facilities offer the fastest lab results?
Reem Al Nahda Medical Diagnostic Centre and Al Nahda Medical Center offer the fastest basic blood panel results — typically 30 to 60 minutes. Both facilities are located in the Al Nahda area near the Dubai border, making them convenient for cross-emirate patients. For advanced imaging, University Hospital Sharjah has the fastest reporting turnaround.
If you run a diagnostic lab or medical centre in Sharjah and want more patients to find you, submit your business to AE Profile. We verify every listing to help patients find the right facility fast. For related reading, see our guides on Sharjah clinics by specialty, late-night pharmacies in Sharjah, and healthcare in Ras Al Khaimah. See a licensed doctor for medical concerns.