1 Purpose and activity scope
This policy governs support for studies, analysis, surveys and scientific publication within licensing limits, protecting participants and independent results. Field research, surveys and publication of results do not begin before Ministry and other relevant approvals required by the Articles. Calling an activity programme evaluation does not automatically exempt it; classification is determined before data collection.(1)
2 Protocol and approvals
The protocol defines the question, methodology, sample, vulnerable groups, funding, responsible researcher, risks, data, analysis and publication. A scientific specialist reviews methods. Competent ethics-committee and regulatory approvals, where required, precede recruitment or data extraction. The Association does not create a nominal committee to replace competent approval.
3 Participation and consent
Understandable information covers purpose, risks, voluntariness, withdrawal and data. Consent, or a lawful waiver from a competent body, is documented. Assistance is not conditional on participation; caseworkers must not pressure families. Guardian consent, age-appropriate child involvement and applicable research requirements are respected without assuming an undocumented universal age or exception.(2)
4 Data and safety
Only necessary data is collected; identities are separated from analysis datasets. An approved plan defines access, retention, sharing and transfer. A memorandum alone does not justify giving a partner health data. Unexpected risk or material breach stops the affected activity; the researcher, committee and competent body are notified under their requirements while urgent participant protection is provided.
5 Trials and interests
Drug, device or treatment-intervention trials are sponsored or conducted only with required licensing, approvals, capability, insurance and oversight, through a qualified body. Researcher and funder interests are disclosed. Funders cannot conceal harmful results or distort conclusions. Contracts define data ownership, publication and liability without diminishing participant rights.
6 Integrity and closure
Analysis plans, amendments and data provenance are retained. Fabrication and misattribution of work are prohibited. Results undergo medical and statistical review, identifiers are removed and publication permissions completed. Study limitations, funding and interests are disclosed. Closure includes reports, settlements and required retention; material errors lead to corrections or retraction.
References in the approved document
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The Association’s approved 2026 Articles of Association, Article 85 on field research, surveys, publication of results and external cooperation. This document establishes internal implementation controls without changing higher legal powers or requirements.
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Health- and personal-data protection legislation; Dubai Health Authority clinical-trials policy DHA/HRS/HPSD/HP-19, version 1.1, where applicable to licensed activities and entities. This document establishes internal implementation controls without changing higher legal powers or requirements.