Operating an X-ray machine, CT scanner, mammography unit, or any ionising radiation device in the UAE without a valid FANR Approval Certificate is a criminal offence. Every year, dozens of clinics across Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Sharjah face closure, fines and reputational damage simply because they did not understand the registration process or allowed their licence to lapse. This guide walks you through everything you need to know — from what FANR actually is, to how long registration takes, to what happens during the inspection.
The Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation (FANR) was established in 2009 under UAE Federal Law No. 6 as the nation's independent nuclear regulator. Its mandate covers all peaceful uses of ionising radiation and nuclear materials in the UAE — including medical imaging. Before FANR, radiation regulation was fragmented across health authorities. FANR created a single federal framework that applies equally in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah and every other emirate.
FANR's core mission is protecting people and the environment from the harmful effects of ionising radiation. In practice, this means every facility that operates radiation-emitting medical devices must demonstrate — before they switch on a single machine — that their room design, shielding, safety procedures and staff training meet FANR's standards.
Any healthcare facility in the UAE that owns or operates any of the following must hold a valid FANR Approval Certificate:
• Digital or analogue X-ray machines (including wall-mounted, ceiling-mounted and portable) • CT scanners (all slice counts) • Mammography systems (full-field digital, tomosynthesis) • Panoramic (OPG) dental X-ray • CBCT (Cone Beam Computed Tomography) for dental or ENT • Cephalometric X-ray machines • C-arm fluoroscopy systems • Fluoroscopy tables (GI, urological) • Bone densitometry (DEXA) scanners • Intraoral X-ray sensors and units
This covers hospitals, specialist clinics, dental practices, diagnostic imaging centres, physiotherapy clinics with X-ray, veterinary practices and any industrial facility using radiation-based testing equipment.
Step 1 — Pre-Application Site Survey Before submitting any paperwork, a FANR-certified medical physicist must visit your facility. They will assess the room dimensions, wall and ceiling construction, the shielding already in place, the location of adjacent occupied areas, and the proposed equipment specifications. This produces a Radiation Safety Assessment report that forms the backbone of your application.
Step 2 — Shielding Design Report If the site survey reveals the existing shielding is inadequate — which is common in older buildings or repurposed spaces — a formal shielding design report is required. This document, prepared by the medical physicist, specifies the exact lead thickness required for each wall, floor, ceiling and viewing window based on the equipment's output, workload and the occupancy of adjacent rooms.
Step 3 — Documentation Package Preparation The FANR online portal requires a detailed submission package including the facility licence, equipment technical specifications, the radiation safety assessment, the shielding design report, proof of RSO/RPO appointment, staff dosimetry records and completed application forms. Missing a single document causes delays of weeks.
Step 4 — FANR Portal Submission All submissions are made through the FANR online portal. An experienced registration agent can submit on behalf of the facility, track the application status and respond to FANR queries within the required timeframes.
Step 5 — FANR Inspection FANR inspectors visit the facility to verify that the physical installation matches the submitted design, that radiation warning signs are correctly posted, that the RSO is in place, and that dosimetry records are being maintained. After a successful inspection, FANR issues the Approval Certificate — valid for 3 years.
With complete, accurate documentation: 2 to 4 weeks from submission. With missing documents or revisions required: 6 to 10 weeks. RevirzaMed's team has a first-submission pass rate that eliminates most delays. We have processed over 500 FANR registrations across all seven UAE emirates since 2015.
A lapsed FANR licence means you are operating an unlicensed radiation source — a serious criminal offence under UAE federal law. Consequences include immediate facility closure, significant financial penalties, personal liability for the facility owner and RSO, and damage to your DOH, MOH or DHA operating licence. FANR licences are valid for 3 years. RevirzaMed sends renewal reminders 3 months before expiry and manages the full renewal process.
The most frequent mistakes that delay or derail FANR applications:
• Submitting shielding reports without a qualified physicist's signature • Failing to appoint a certified RSO before applying • Using equipment specifications that do not match the installed unit • Incorrect room dimensions in the safety assessment • No dosimetry programme in place for radiation workers • Missing the 3-year renewal deadline
RevirzaMed's application review process catches all of these before submission.
Dental practices are the most common applicant type in the UAE — and the most frequent source of violations. Many dental clinic owners believe their small periapical X-ray unit does not require full FANR registration. It does. Every ionising radiation device in a dental practice — periapical, OPG, cephalometric, CBCT — requires individual FANR registration. Dental X-ray rooms also require shielding verification, even if the walls are standard construction, because the adjacent areas (waiting rooms, reception, neighbouring businesses) must be assessed.
FANR charges a government registration fee per device. RevirzaMed's service fee covers the site survey, shielding design report, full documentation preparation and portal submission. Contact us at +971 2 491 0774 for a specific quote based on your equipment and facility type.
No. Operating radiation-emitting equipment without a valid FANR Approval Certificate is prohibited under UAE federal law, regardless of whether an application is in progress.
Yes. FANR is a federal authority. A FANR Approval Certificate is valid in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, Ras Al Khaimah and Fujairah.
RevirzaMed Healthcare Solutions — Abu Dhabi's trusted FANR Approval and medical equipment specialists since 2015.