Dubai Clinic Clerk Jailed for Selling Fake Sick Leave Certificates
A Dubai clinic clerk sold backdated sick notes for up to more than AED 1,000 each. What the case means for employees tempted to buy one, and how genuine sick leave works.
By Vadim Kouznetsov, published
A Dubai court has jailed a clinic clerk who sold backdated electronic sick leave certificates to private-sector workers, Khaleej Times reported. The case is a clear warning for employees: a sick note bought without a medical examination is a forged document, and it can cost far more than a day's pay.
The Dubai Criminal Court also sentenced some of the clerk's accomplices. The convictions included document forgery, breach of trust and corporate fraud.
How the fake sick leave scheme worked
According to the case, the clerk arranged with private-sector employees to issue certificates without the required medical examinations. In return, she was paid from several hundred dirhams to more than AED 1,000 per certificate.
She used the clinic's electronic health portal to create backdated documents and validated them with forged digital signatures attributed to doctors. Workers then took time off while still being paid, leaving their employers to cover absences that no doctor had checked.
During the trial, the defence described the conduct as an administrative lapse or unauthorised actions by staff. The court rejected that, finding the defendants had deliberately falsified official medical records and misused the clinic's system.
How the employer caught it
The scheme unravelled because a private company noticed a rise in sudden and recurring sick leave among some of its employees. The certificates all carried digital stamps from the same clinic.
The company's HR department ran an internal review and reported its concerns to the authorities, and Dubai Police investigators traced the certificates back to the clerk.
The lesson for employees is simple. Sick notes are now electronic, stamped and traceable, and HR teams do look for patterns.
What the law means for employees who buy fake sick notes
The court sentenced the clerk and her accomplices to varying prison terms. Expatriate defendants were also ordered to be deported after serving their sentences, and financial penalties and restitution were imposed.
Khaleej Times did not say whether the accomplices included the workers who bought certificates, so it is not clear from the report how each buyer was treated. What the ruling does make plain is that the court held the defendants responsible for causing companies to accept unverified absences as genuine sick leave.
For any employee, the risks of handing in a bought certificate include:
- Criminal exposure: a certificate issued without an examination and signed with a forged signature is a forged document.
- Deportation: in this case, expatriate defendants were ordered to leave the country after their sentences.
- Your job: submitting a false document to your employer is a serious disciplinary matter. See our guide to UAE employee disciplinary actions.
How genuine sick leave works in the UAE
Real sick leave starts with a real consultation. A licensed doctor examines you and the facility issues a certificate dated for the day you were seen, which you then give to your employer.
Your paid sick leave entitlement depends on UAE labour law and your contract. Our UAE leave guide sets out the rules, and mental health conditions can qualify too: see whether employees are entitled to sick leave for depression.
If you need time off for personal reasons rather than illness, ask for annual or unpaid leave openly. It is always safer than a certificate you paid someone for.
Key takeaway
A Dubai court has jailed a clinic clerk who sold backdated sick leave certificates for up to more than AED 1,000 each, and sentenced accomplices, with deportation for expatriates. Electronic sick notes are traceable, so only submit a certificate issued after a genuine medical examination.
FAQ
Is it illegal to buy a fake sick leave certificate in the UAE?
A certificate issued without a medical examination and signed with a forged doctor's signature is a forged document. In this Dubai case, the defendants were convicted of forgery, breach of trust and corporate fraud.
Can expats be deported over fake sick notes?
In this case, yes. The court ordered expatriate defendants to be deported after serving their prison sentences.
How did the employer discover the fake certificates?
The company noticed sudden, recurring sick leave among some staff, all with digital stamps from the same clinic. HR reviewed the cases and reported them to the authorities.
How much did the fake certificates cost?
According to Khaleej Times, the clerk was paid from several hundred dirhams to more than AED 1,000 for each certificate.
What should I do if I need a day off but am not ill?
Ask your employer for annual or unpaid leave. A genuine leave request carries no legal risk, unlike a certificate bought from a clinic insider.
Further reading
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