Radiation safety in the UAE is regulated at federal level and supported by emirate-level health authorities, and any hospital or clinic that installs a C-arm must plan for it before the unit arrives. This guide gives compliance teams an overview of the typical building blocks: licensing of the facility, a radiation protection officer, personal dosimetry, shielding and quality assurance. Always confirm current requirements with the authorities.
Who regulates radiation protection in the UAE
Ionising radiation sources in the UAE, including diagnostic X-ray equipment such as C-arms, fall under the Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation (FANR). In practice, facilities are expected to obtain the relevant FANR authorisation or licence before operating X-ray equipment and to meet ongoing conditions.
Separately, medical devices are registered with the relevant health authority (federally MOHAP), while facilities and professionals are licensed by DHA in Dubai, DOH in Abu Dhabi and the relevant authority in other emirates. Rules, forms and timelines change, so treat this article as an orientation, not as legal advice.
FANR licence for X-ray equipment: what to prepare
A typical FANR licence application for a new X-ray source involves information on the facility and the equipment, evidence of shielding design, the qualifications of the people responsible, a description of the safety and quality assurance programme, and sometimes a shielding or radiation safety assessment of the room. Ask your supplier early for the technical data sheet, the manufacturer's declaration and the maximum kV, mA and workload figures that the shielding designer needs.
Your supplier should be able to confirm registration of the device and provide installation documentation. The same applies in Abu Dhabi, where the emirate's health authority has its own licensing requirements alongside the federal ones. Check radiation protection Abu Dhabi requirements separately if you operate in that emirate.
Remember acceptance testing after installation: a signed test report showing the unit performs to its datasheet is usually needed both by the regulator and for your own quality programme.
Radiation protection officer and training
Facilities are generally required to appoint a qualified radiation protection officer (RPO) who is responsible for the safety programme, local rules, dose investigations and communication with the regulator. Users of the C-arm, including surgeons, nurses and radiographers, need appropriate radiation protection training and, depending on their profession, a professional licence.
Our article on who can operate a C-arm describes the training side in more detail, and the guide to C-arm radiation safety covers practical dose management for staff.
Dosimetry, room design and radiation safety assessment
Staff who work with fluoroscopy are normally issued personal dosimeters, read by an approved dosimetry service at regular intervals. Dose records are kept and reviewed, and unexpected results are investigated. Staff who work with a C-arm should wear protection described in our protective equipment guide.
Operating theatres that host a C-arm normally need a radiation safety assessment: an evaluation of expected workload and scatter, confirmation that walls, doors and windows provide adequate attenuation, warning lights or signage and controlled access. In many theatres the building already provides the required shielding, but this should be verified by a qualified expert.
Periodic quality control, such as entrance dose checks, image quality, collimator accuracy and automatic exposure behaviour, helps demonstrate that the equipment stays in good order. See C-arm maintenance and quality control for a typical schedule.
Equipment features that support compliance
Equipment cannot replace procedures, but good design helps. Features such as a dose-area product meter, laser localisers that allow positioning without radiation, collimation and pulsed fluoroscopy support dose optimisation. The Villa Arcovis DRF family lists an integrated DAP meter and laser localisers among its options, together with DICOM functions for recording dose information.
Before ordering, add these options to your specification and ask the supplier for installation, acceptance testing and application training. Beckfinity's specialists can help prepare the technical documentation for your compliance team; contact us for a quotation or consultation on the Arcovis DRF.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a FANR licence for a C-arm?
X-ray equipment generally requires authorisation from the federal radiation regulator before use. Confirm the current application process and conditions with FANR and your emirate's health authority.
Who needs a dosimeter?
Staff who regularly work in the room during fluoroscopy, such as surgeons, radiographers and scrub nurses, normally wear a personal dosimeter as part of the radiation protection programme.
Is a separate radiation protection officer necessary?
Facilities are generally expected to appoint a qualified radiation protection officer, who may be internal or an appointed expert depending on the rules.
Do the rules differ between emirates?
Radiation regulation is federal, but facility licensing is handled by emirate-level authorities such as DHA in Dubai and DOH in Abu Dhabi, so always check both.
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