All day surgery centres in Dubai have been handed an 18-month deadline to get international accreditation.
Facilities that fail to do so face the risk of getting downgraded.
Until now accreditation was mandatory only for hospitals, but the Dubai Health Authority (DHA) is introducing tighter checks after two recent high-profile claims of negligence.
One of the cases involved a woman who slipped into a coma following a routine cosmetic procedure, while in the other case, a woman died during a hip replacement surgery at a private hospital.
The DHA has reassured patients and medical tourists that Dubai remains a safe place for medical treatment.

Dubai mandates front number plates for delivery bikes
UAE, European Commission Presidents explore closer ties
UAE, Cyprus Presidents discuss enhancing strategic partnership
Emirates, Dubai Humanitarian launch airbridge for Sri Lanka cyclone victims
RTA chalks out route map for Dubai Metro Blue Line
UAE opens Emirates Medical Centre to serve patients in Gaza
UAE President receives official welcome at Presidential Palace in Nicosia
Rain hits parts of UAE: Dubai Police issues public safety SMS alerts
